Lauren Powdrell

Student, Durham University
Stephanie Ormond

Marketing Assistant, In Work

I was a History undergraduate at Durham University, where I was part of the 2021-22 Laidlaw Scholars cohort (2020-23). Afterwards, I studied MSt in Global and Imperial University at Oxford University (2023-24) with a specialisation in postcolonial Anglophone African history and English-speaking Caribbean under the British empire. Now, I'm currently working in digital marketing. For my research, I investigated the use of the Crusades within far-right organisations and what it reveals about the readings of crusade history. During my second summer, I was a part of the ThinkPacific Youth and Community project in Fiji from June to July 2022.  If you have any questions about my research, LiA, or history stuff in general, feel free to contact me here! Also, I like music, video production, and photography.
Amy Campbell

Student at Durham University , Laidlaw

Hello! I research illiberal democracy: when democratic process no longer protects our rights and freedoms. I use the political threshold concept to qualitatively assess the points at which our social power is lost; I conducted unstructured interviews in Israel and Palestine in summer 2019 to investigate this.  I am driven to impact sustainability through political reform, strategy consulting, and creating new legal demands that will shift environmental demands across countries.  I am a social mobility advocate: always seeking to narrow the disparity between state and private school education.
Cynthia Lawson

Researcher , Laidlaw Scholarship

Reuben Morris-Dyer

Art History and Film Undergraduate, University of St Andrews

Hello! I'm Reuben, an Art History and Film student researching 'The Sonic Body: Technology, Embodiment, Gender' with the University of St Andrews and Trinity College Dublin. I am also a student filmmaker and illustrator, and host 'The Theory of Everything Podcast' for StAR Radio.
Susan Preston

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Project Officer , University of Leeds

Laidlaw Scholar Researching "How people use their time during journeys?". In summer 2018 I conducted ethnographies in London, Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam on trains and in Leeds on buses. Summer 2019 I have created a survey and done 2 focus groups. I visited the Royal Geographical Society Conference at Cardiff University in 2018 and will attend the same event in London this year, presenting my poster. In addition to my Laidlaw Scholarship, I have recently completed the Q-Step quantitative training placement at Leeds City Council. This project focused on "redefining the city's boundary". I am an incoming Equality and Inclusion project assistant at the University of Leeds. I have previously had nearly 3 years experience as a Maths Tutor, during my studies. I have been an open day ambassador for the School of Geography. I have also worked as a kitchen assistant.
Emily Glynn

Student , Durham University

Interested in the interplay between History and Politics and the damaging effect History can have when abused in our political climate.
Edward Hart

Graduate, Durham University

Hello! I am a Biological Sciences graduate from Durham University, having completed my Laidlaw Research and Leadership scholarship in 2022. I am currently studying for an MRes in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Research at Imperial College London, Silwood Park. My original Laidlaw project was slightly adapted, with it focusing on how African mammals and coral-reef fishes act as wildlife-based tourism (WBT) attractants.  In my free time, I enjoy bouldering, hiking, and anything nature-related!  I am more than happy to discuss my research topic or other environment-related topics on here or via email :)
Jin Zhe Ang

Medical Student, Trinity College Dublin

Alisa Brown

Student, Durham University

First-year Durham Politics Student with a research project in Ethnic minority voting behaviour in Parliament. Northumbrian University Royal Naval Unit Officer Cadet. Experience working in Parliament as an assistant. Loves to swim and play the guitar! Lifeguard at RNLI.
Maycon Santos

Research Assistant, Spatial Cognition Lab at Tufts University

Giammarco Di Gregorio

PhD Student (Neuroscience), Durham University

I’m a proud care-experienced Neuroscientist. My research focuses on how serotonin and psychedelics shape neuroplasticity in brain regions greatly affected by early-life adversity. In my experiments, I measure how well brain cells can talk to each other during natural serotonin release and following the administration of classic psychedelics (e.g., magic mushrooms). Care-experienced young people represent one of the largest untapped STEM talent pools in the UK. They have all the potential required to succeed and yet, they are still eight times less likely to enrol in university and choose a STEM subject. Care-experienced young people don’t lack talent, they lack the opportunities to unlock it. In my early 20s, I migrated to the UK in search of a brighter future, when I still couldn't speak the language. During my time in care, I struggled at school and didn’t do well academically. But the Foundation Programme at Durham University gave me the chance to catch up and build the confidence I needed. Four years later, I graduated at Durham as the top student in my cohort - with an average mark of over 80%. Only when potential meets opportunity talent can thrive. Driven by this belief, I founded WISHFULICIOUS to give children in care and care-experienced young people the opportunity to see that STEM isn’t just for “someone else” - it’s for them too. To start-up this initiative, I’ve baked and sold cookies, run a small online fundraising campaign, and am now part of the The CareLeaders Fellowship where I’m working to lay the foundation for delivering our first STEM programme. If you share this mission or simply want to help open doors for care-experienced people, I’d love to connect and hear from you!
NTAMBARA Etienne

Masters student in Artificial Intelligence, Nanyang Technological University

My name is Etienne NTAMBARA I am from Rwanda. I studied Computer Science at the University of Rwanda and I was a Laidlaw Scholar of 2019 apart from that I am a computer Science Teacher at MINEDU since 2022 after graduation. Now, I was admitted to pursue a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence at Nanyang Technological University (NTU-Singapore) in the academic year 2023-2024. My research/leadership project was about Open Inventory Management System (O.I.M.S) I chose this project because I wanted to secure all assets owned by my university and other institutions. When I'm not studying/working, I like to watch movies, listen to the news and play football. One thing about me that surprises people is how I trust things with their proof. I'd love to connect with someone who tells me my weakness and advice me to upgrade from it.
Farida Augustine

Undergraduate Researcher , University of Leeds

Hello! I am a penultimate year French and Politics student at the University of Leeds with the drive and tenacity to effect positive change on a global scale. My research focuses on identifying West African resistance fighters in the Second World War. I have also developed a keen interest in the Francophone world, French philosophy and Post-colonial Feminist security studies.
Ellen Yang

Research Scholar, Durham University

An Education Studies students at Durham University. My research is based on the how digital literacies can affect the social wellbeing of the older generations. I am particularly interested in the education for the elderlies as I believe education can benefit all individuals, not just the younger generations.
Hannah Huysmans

Student, Durham University

I am an Anthropology student at Durham with a particular interest in global health. My research will focus on neonatal health and behaviour patterns of newborns, with a particular interest relating to the North-East. Outside of Anthropology I enjoy modern history, cooking and learning German.
Agoston Horanyi

Researcher & Sustainability Advisor, Studio Olafur Eliasson

Hullo! I'm postgrad student in St Andrews reading Sustainable Development with a focus on urban planning. My bachelor's degree at Durham centred around Chinese & French language, culture, and literature, which I'm still involved with on the side, along with photography and Continental & Eastern philosophy.
Tilen Kolar

Young Researcher

A young radical human geographer interested in queer spaces, flows, transitions and urban planning. Lately, I became interested in the "space-place" interplay of our urban imaginations. Part of the Queer Memorials research team. Member of the executive board of the CET Platform Society Slovenia.
Matthew Fackrell

Laidlaw Undergraduate Research Scholar, Durham University

Anthropology and Sociology Undergraduate; from Bristol, UK. I am completing a research project on narrative transmission and reproduction, looking at how oral accounts of geological events are passed down accurately over generations. By understanding how narratives are constructed I am keen to explore interdisciplinary approaches, particularly between Anthropology, Linguistics, Computer-Human Interaction, and Cognition. Other interests include literature, art and photography, architecture, astronomy, and outdoor pursuits.
Ania Bajerska

Laidlaw Undergraduate Research Scholar, St Andrews

I am a second-year student at the University of St Andrews, pursuing a Joint Honours Degree in Economics and Sustainable Development. My vision is to enable more sustainability-oriented initiatives through financial tools and market-based solutions. One of my other interests is literature, that is why my summer research project is an attempt to understand the representation of nature in current children’s environmental literature and define the relationships between “nature literacy”, education, sustainability and social transition. Outside of my studies I enjoy staying active (water sports are my favourite) and baking.
IRABARUSHA Idesbald

Scholar, UNIVERSITY OF RWANDA