Post-Research Reflections: I think I want to study Architecture

Completing my Laidlaw summer research project and attending courses and conferences to explore the topics of biodiversity conservation, urban planning, community engagement, regenerative design and project management has enabled me to hone in on my passions and think of new pathways.
Post-Research Reflections: I think I want to study Architecture
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In addition to my Laidlaw summer research project titled “Co-designing a Holistic Design Approach to Meadows in the Making, St. Andrews, Fife”, I have been able to attend several courses and conferences to explore the topics of biodiversity conservation, urban planning, community engagement, regenerative design and project management. This has enabled me to hone in on my passions, sharpen my skillsets, and helped inform my decisions for the future.

Interdisciplinarity and Design-Thinking

In my research project, I had to dive into design strategies for enhancing biodiversity in urban environments. While printing out city maps of St. Andrews, taping them together and mapping the green areas and historic sites of the town, I realised I was having a lot of fun! Likewise, when I was interviewing garden designers and architects, I was fuelled by a genuine passion for and curiosity to explore the work they do to design for sustainability and regeneration in gardens, cities and buildings. These feelings kept coming back to me at different stages of my research project and after a while, I realised there was one thing missing from my current degree that I was able to explore through my research: the design aspect.

In my Laidlaw project, I directly experienced the enjoyment of co-designing spaces, projects and systems that will enrich the lives of people as well as create much-needed habitat for wildlife in urban spaces. Combining the research-based and data-driven approach of academia with the creativity and design frameworks of architecture and urban planning, I think, creates an interdisciplinary and systems-thinking framework that can make our cities more sustainable, or perhaps even regenerative. I also got to explore workshop facilitation and community engagement and got excited about creative ways to engage stakeholders in the co-design of public spaces. These experiences got me thinking about how I can combine my, on the surface, quite contradictory interests of politics, sustainability and architecture.

A mindmap I made at the end of my Laidlaw research period trying to connect all my areas of interest.


Networking and New Pathways

To continue exploring the topics of my research project, I also participated in a summer school on Green Building Solutions in Vienna. Here, I met architects, urban planners and engineers who all work with sustainability and the built environment. Speaking with so many different people and learning about their paths to what they work with today inspired me to reflect about my own plans. Through my Laidlaw project and the opportunities that the funding allowed me to pursue, I have found an area where I can combine my strengths and passions. I have therefore decided to study architecture after I finish my degree at St. Andrews - something I doubt I would have trusted was the right decision for me had I not had this experience.

Thank you!

A sincere thank you to the Laidlaw Foundation and Lord Laidlaw for facilitating and funding this unique opportunity for me and other young students to explore our passions. Another heartfelt thank you to Dr. Rehema White, my supervisor, for the invaluable inputs that have challenged me and taught me about the research process and given me insights into the role of academia in addressing the climate and biodiversity crises. Finally, I am thankful to the many passionate people I have met over the past four months who patiently answered my questions and inspired me to explore new pathways - in particular, Duncan Crowley, who generously shared his passion, enthusiasm and knowledge.

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