Chiara Maurino (She/Her)

student, Durham
Megan Shaw

Student , University of Leeds

Tia Borley

Student, Durham University

Hello! My name is Tia, and I am a first-year undergraduate student at the University of Durham. I am currently a Laidlaw Scholar working on a project focused on teenage pregnancy in Zambia. As a passionate advocate for women's rights and youth empowerment, I have been drawn to this issue due to the high prevalence of teenage pregnancy in Zambia and the significant impact it has on the lives of young girls. My project aims to explore the root causes of teenage pregnancy in Zambia and the various factors that contribute to its prevalence, as well as potential solutions to address this issue in partnership with "Sport in Action" and the Ministry of Education in Zambia.
Lucia Guercio

Student, University of St. Andrews

I am a passionate and enterprising individual about to start her Honours career in Art History at the University of St. Andrews. My main interests are art, literature and public affairs, which I am trying to pursue both at university and in my research "Artistic translations of Dante's Inferno". I am deeply committed to connect my own Italian educational background with the experiences I am making abroad, as it emerges also from my research topic: I advocate for a better understanding of my culture but also a wider integration in a globalised academic environment. I am always looking for opportunities in the art world, with focus on the art market and investment sector, and I am also open to any kind of entrepreneurial programme for young women, since I see my faculty of choice as just a starting point for my future career, rather than a closed sector.
Tom Burdge

Founder, Researcher and Podcast Host, buddhistphilosophy.co.uk

I am the founder of buddhistphilosophy.co.uk where I currently host podcasts with expert guests in Buddhist philosophical practice and theory. With this project, I am to contribute toward correcting the entrenched Eurocentric bias in philosophy by creating an inclusive space for learning about Buddhist philosophy. As a Laidlaw Scholar, I have researched on researched philosophy of time, Buddhist philosophy, and philosophy of language. My research output includes a paper entitled Meaning in Gibberish (forthcoming in Aporia). I have presented this paper and discussed related issues in talks and workshops at the University of St Andrews and the University of Edinburgh. Language learning holds a high in priority in my studies and research. I have studied some Pali (OCBS levels 1 and 2) and I read French fluently. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me if you have any interest in the following: Buddhism, Buddhist philosophy, Ambedkar studies, women and Buddhist philosophy, cross-cultural philosophy, critical theory, French philosophy, Laruelle’s non-philosophy, non-Buddhism, philosophy of nonsense, philosophy of death.
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.
Fola Olaleye

Researcher, UCL

Hello! I'm Fola, an Urban Planning, Design and Management graduate from The Bartlett, UCL. I'm interested in sustainable development, urban politics, and participatory planning. My Laidlaw research projects have focused on housing design governance and grassroots campaigns for the right to housing.
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.
Maria Valenstain

Student Researcher, University of York

I am an undergraduate Laidlaw Scholar studying Philosophy and Politics at the University of York. I am very interested in climate education. My project investigates collective responsibility regarding climate change in the primary years of school.
Jin Zhe Ang

Medical Student, Trinity College Dublin

Madigan Copley

Student, Durham University

I'm a third year studying History & Hispanic Studies (Spanish & Catalan) at Durham. My Laidlaw project is about the impact of informal British empire in Uruguay, where I spent part of my year abroad working in the National Historic Museum. In my spare time at university, I'm part of Durham's debating team and I'm a student ambassador for the Matariki Global Citizenship Programme.
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.
Lorenzo Molinari (he/him)

Technology Consulting Associate, PwC UK

Hello everyone! My name is Lorenzo and I am currently a Technology Consulting Associate at PwC and I have previously completed a Biomedical Engineering degree at UCL. In my Laidlaw experience I specialised in Autism Research, from a psychological and engineering perspective, investigating perceptual load capacity and early diagnosis technique using novel medical imaging techniques. I am very passionate about innovative economics, education and technology - let's chat! :)
Will Chantry

Second year BA Geography undergraduate , UCL

I am a second-year Geography undergraduate at UCL, with a keen interest in urban sustainability. Ambitious and highly driven by creating positive impact, I am looking for a career in either public policy or consultancy. This would ideally focus on creating a sustainable urban future in the context of the climate crisis.
Yufeng Tao

Student, The University of Hong Kong

With enthusiasm in developing my career in quantitative finance, I had the pleasure to join the Laidlaw scholar program to conduct undergraduate research related to statistical trading. Solid training at HKU and my genuine interests in statistics and programming have equipped me for greater challenges in the analytically demanding finance environment. I look forward to entering exciting conversations with like-minded scholars.
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.
Alexandra Zhirnova

PhD Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic , University of Cambridge (Trinity College)

I work in the field of feminist theology, and my main interest is the history of modesty in Christian thought.