BCUR, or the British Conference of Undergraduate Research, is an annual academic conference in the UK dedicated to showcasing and celebrating undergraduate research across all disciplines. This year there were over 350 student presentations with students travelling from all over the UK and abroad. BCUR attracts many Laidlaw scholars due to their shared focus on research and the Laidlaw Foundation's goal of cultivating a global network of aspiring leaders and researchers.

First off, a massive shoutout to the incredible BCUR team at LSE - Dr. Claire Gordon, David Faggiani, and Hongli Liu - they did an amazing job putting the event together and without their hard work it would not have been possible.

I also want to send a huge thank you to the Laidlaw Foundation and the University of Leeds for making my attendance at BCUR possible. Rebecca Shaw, Matt Penhaligon and Paul Taylor put so much work into helping 60 University of Leeds students to attend!
 

Now, let's dive into the heart of the experience. Strolling into the Cheng Kin Ku building at LSE on day 1, there was an electrifying atmosphere of excitement and anticipation. 

I had the joy of being able to have a relaxed first day, as both my presentation and poster display were not until day 2. I took in a range of research from other institutions, took part in the informative workshops on offer, listened to the keynotes and attended the BCUR dinner. It was all around an amazing time and I was so happy to be able to support my friends, watching their intelligence be showcased and recognised. 

And then there were the keynote speakers—Dr. Jillian Terry, Professor Tim Leunig, and Dr. Grace Lordan—are absolute experts in their fields. Their talks were not only informative but also incredibly inspiring. 

On the second day, I presented my research on "How can we use social media to support the older population" - which I conducted with the Laidlaw Foundation last summer. Standing in front of my peers and sharing my findings was equal parts nerve-wracking and exhilarating. But the best part? The feedback and discussions that followed opened my eyes to new perspectives and possibilities I hadn't even considered. I got to have some amazing conversations about my research, and seeing people be interested in my perspectives was extremely eye-opening. 

BCUR had a very supportive environment even with undergraduate researchers coming from across the globe to talk about the hard work they are passionate about. I owe a huge thanks to my fellow Laidlaw Scholars who attended BCUR and their patience in helping me practise my presentation all the way to the real thing. 

But it wasn't just about presentations and keynotes. BCUR was a melting pot of ideas, perspectives, and passions. I had the opportunity to engage with research from every corner of the academic spectrum, from quantum physics to linguistic analysis. Each conversation sparked new insights and challenged my thinking in the best possible way. We talk a lot about the importance of the interdisciplinary but it is entirely different to see it in practice. As someone whose research was built on the foundation of being interdisciplinary - spanning across both the Humanities and Social Sciences faculties - I see so much value in the collaboration between multi-strand perspectives. 

This past year has been a whirlwind of change and growth for me, and BCUR was one of the larger opportunities I've had the chance to take part in. Even a year ago, I would never think I would be presenting at a national-level conference. The past two days have made me think a lot about my perspective on my own journey and how we, especially at the undergraduate level, measure ourselves. Dr Grace Lordan, the first keynote speaker, talked about her research in behavioural science and looking at actionable goals for growth. One thing that stuck with me was how Dr Lordan described fears of failures or the things that often hold us back. One of these things was the 'ostrich effect', or more plainly, the tendency to avoid the negatives around us. For me it made me reflect on the direction I have been trying to pursue this past year and how that direction was perhaps more about avoidance than gaining something new. I imagine many people, especially undergraduates, can relate to a fear of the future given the current climate globally, the constantly changing job market, and the increase in sensationalised news. It reminded me about the importance of critical thinking - not only in research but being critical of ourselves and how we are continuing to move forward.

BCUR reminded me of the importance of creating spaces for undergraduates to shine. It's about more than just presenting findings—it's about celebrating the journey we are all on and I hope many of us like myself walked away with a renewed passion for not only our own research but also a renewed passion for ourselves.