Research Project Update - Summer 2025
At the start of summer, my original research project was cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. Fortunately, the Laidlaw team quickly helped me find new options and ultimately a new project. I was able to join a fellow scholar's project on academic freedom and censorship in biodiversity conservation, and since then I have been working with Xanthe Hudson under the supervision of Professor George Holmes. art of summer, my original research project was cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. Fortunately, the Laidlaw team quickly helped me find new options and ultimately a new project. I was able to join a fellow scholar's project on academic freedom and censorship in biodiversity conservation, and since then I have been working with Xanthe Hudson under the supervision of Professor George Holmes.
Our research is exploring how academic freedom is curtailed and research is censored. This is to identify the vulnerabilities and pressures faced by researchers in the field of biodiversity conservation.
Xanthe begun the project prior to my arrival where she created the survey to send out to researchers and academics. Then, when I joined the project I worked on distributing the survey and extensively researching what literature already exists on our topic.
Now we are on our fourth week of the project and working together to continue the spread of the survey and analyse our findings.
It has been very rewarding to see our work come together and understand more about the personal experiences of researchers in this feed. This has really emphasised how important it is to expose this censorship as many of the people impacted by it are not free or safe to disclose it. Specifically for me, I have found it incredibly interesting to see how censorship comes in different forms as self-censorship is prevalent, not just external influence.
If any other scholars have had any experiences which they would like to share please feel free to contact me and I will direct you to our survey. It is completely anonymous so responders can share however little or much they like.
Hello!
I am Lottie Knee, a Philosophy and Politics undergraduate student at the University of Leeds and a part of the 2025 cohort of Laidlaw Scholars.
Building on my background in normative ethics, international development, and foreign policy, this summer I investigated Academic Freedom and Censorship in Biodiversity Conservation. My research explores how political pressures, freedom of speech, and censorship influence conservation work, engaging with real incidents where knowledge and debate have been constrained. This project challenges me to enter a new area of study while strengthening the critical and ethical frameworks developed in my degree.
Outside of academia, I love to travel. I took a gap year before attending university where I solo travelled Australia, Indonesia and The Philippines. This was a fantastic opportunity for adventure, meeting new people and experiencing new cultures.
I am always open to connect with others within the Laidlaw community!
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