Hi there! I'm currently entering my senior sophister year at TCD studying single-pathway environmental science and engineering. My deepest passion is ecology; the intricate and ever-present webs of interaction between everything biotic and abiotic overwhelm me with awe and reverence every day. Communicating how deeply intertwined everything in the natural world is, and how we as humans can responsibly interact with it, is a major interest of mine. Through my Laidlaw research project, I was able to share the importance of urban soil health with both the general public and with academic and political stakeholders. This summer, I aim to further my environmental communication skills alongside the team at SharkLab Malta, auditing and revamping elasmobranch education materials for children and adults.

Hi! I'm Leo and I study Civil Engineering at University College London. My research project focused on integrating location-based datasets - one of the best ways to understand spatial matters and, thus, develop better decisions and policies. This is crucial to creating smarter and more sustainable cities, a topic I'm really interested in. I am passionate about improving infrastructure and addressing inequality, particularly social-environmental sustainability in urbanism and transportation. I aim to continue working in this field and collaborating with NGOs, so feel free to reach out if our interests align!

Hello, everyone! I’m Kathleen, a Biomedical Sciences student at the University of Hong Kong’s Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine. As a goal-driven student, I have a keen interest in conducting literature and experimental scientific research in areas such as bioinformatics, oncology, stem cells, genetics, neuroscience, and pharmacology. I am passionate about deepening my understanding of these fields and contributing to advancements in medicine and biomedical innovation.

Hi! I’m Poline, an engineering undergrad at the University of Cambridge. I am passionate about semiconductors and turning cars into sun-powered wonders. To do this, I’m exploring flexible perovskite solar cells that get attached to the curves of car roofs—think solar panels that bend instead of break! By tweaking their chemistry, we keep them efficient even when bent 🚗🌞

Hello :)  My name is Alixe Kirbihler and I am a 2023 Laidlaw scholar. I am currently a third-year Life Sciences engineering bachelor student at EPFL & an exchange student at KTH in Stockholm. I am really interested in neurosciences, the biomedical field and, more generally, anything related to engineering.  Confirmed enthusiast of any outdoors activities, I am willing to discuss with you about any subjects, should it be STEM or climbing-hiking-skiing-diving related ;)  My research during 2023’s summer focused on characterising a novel D.Melanogaster mutant that perturbs synapse arborisation. It took place in Professor McCabe’s laboratory (for more information: https://www.epfl.ch/labs/mccabelab/research/).  My leadership in action last summer consisted of developing and implementing projects aimed at supporting emerging local cooperatives, women’s entrepreneurial initiatives, educational excellence, and improving the employability and mental health of young people. I am really glad to be part of this community that gathers such inspiring and dedicated scholars and can’t wait to meet you !

Hello! I am Yuka Atsuchi. I am from Japan and studying Natural Sciences (Biosciences, Geography and Earth Sciences) at Durham University. My strong passion is to create a more sustainable environment for both humans and wildlife. I am specialising in environmental issues and climate change through interdisciplinary approaches in Natural Sciences with strong research and field skills from work experience.  My main focus in research and future aspiration is "empirical and effective implementation of rewilding conservation projects to various landscapes". For my first-year summer project, I am going to evaluate and create a plan for Durham University Wildland to initiate reintroduction projects. Then I would like to spread the knowledge and conservation practices to other countries such as Japan. About myself... I was bone in Japan and I lived in Yokohama until High School in Japan. After winning a scholarship from the Japanese Foundation, I started studying in the UK in sixth-form.  I am a big fun of wildlife and adventure to wider nature! I enjoy trail running, bird watching, gardening & Allotment, hiking and horse riding.  I would like to expand my network and share thoughts with you! LinkedIn Yuka Atsuchi

Reese Taylor is a rising junior majoring in Philosophy, History, and Human Rights on a pre-law track. As a Laidlaw Scholar, she spent her first summer researching the role of labor in the economic and social uplift of Black Americans in the wake of Reconstruction. She was selected to present this research at Johns Hopkins University, The University of Pennsylvania, and the Global Laidlaw Scholars Conference. In her second summer, Reese founded The Voices in Action Initiative which is a program developed to empower and mobilize youth voices by providing them skills and practice in speech and debate. She enacted the program in Nassau, Bahamas with sponsorship from both the Laidlaw Foundation and The Kiwanis Club of Nassau.

Hi everyone! My name is Zoe (she/her). I am from Co.Louth, Ireland. I'm in my fourth year studying Medicine at Trinity College Dublin. My Laidlaw research project is about exploiting the relationship between LPS and capsule for therapeutic benefit against E.coli UTI in sepsis. Sepsis has a mortality rate of 1 in 5 and the majority of sepsis infections originate in the urinary tract (from UTIs). I hope with this research to expand the available therapies for sepsis infections derived from UTIs. In my free time, I like to run, play gaelic football, and I also volunteer with Streetdoctors and Dublin Homeless Awareness. This year I am also the Chairperson of Trinity Med Day, a charity that aims to raise money for projects across our teaching hospitals. One thing about me that surprises people is that I'm slightly married to my Google calendar.  I'd love to connect with someone who is doing research in similar areas and is open to a collaboration! But also I'd love to connect with anyone and am so excited to meet new people! :)

Hello! I'm Lizzie, a third year Biological Science student at Durham University currently focussing on biomedicine, genetics, and biochemistry. I have been extremely involved in sports during school and my degree, which inspired my first year research project. I conducted interviews with current student athletes studying and competing at top UK universities to explore hustle culture within university sports and its impact on student athletes' health and wellbeing.  I have spent my LiA at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus creating an Impact Report with Cambridge Global Health Partnerships, a linked charity to Addenbrooke's Hospital. CGHP provides ethical, effective, and sustainable partnerships between the East of England and low- and middle-income countries. My task has been to showcase the incredible impact of these partnerships in strengthening health systems globally. My Laidlaw scholarship has been a great experience so far and has provided me many opportunities. As the Advisory Board is designed to improve scholars experiences during your time with the Laidlaw scholarship, feel free to reach out to me with any questions or feedback or fill out this form: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=m1iBtASKYUmzmpVa7SUZOYAOFAGNJNdOhV2pziMDdMZURFE0SEkxVTFDSEQ2TjhXR0cwNlNSMUFKUy4u&route=shorturl

Hello! I am Mairéad, a PPE student at Durham University. I am really interested in social justice and how human rights are upheld/fail to be upheld. I have aspirations to work in the international human rights sector. I am excited to hear about other people's research and looking forward to being part of the 2024 cohort of research and leadership scholars!  Outside of academics, I'm quite involved in some charity and activist work, particularly around the protection of refugee rights. I'm also big into netball and run my college's team!

My project involved investigating the effects of methylphenidate on a Parkinson's disease model in Drosophila melanogaster. Broadly speaking, my academic interests include the molecular mechanisms of addiction, and how we can use biochemical and genetic techniques to investigate this.

My name is Ruby Palin. I am a second-year undergraduate student at Durham University studying BSc Biological Sciences. This is my favourite quote from a biologist... “The known is finite, the unknown is infinite; intellectually we stand on an islet in the midst of an illimitable ocean of inexplicability…our business in every generation is to reclaim a little more land” –Thomas Henry Huxley, Evolutionary biologist.

I am passionate about creating an inclusive sense of belonging for students, leadership development, harm reduction, and helping students identify their version of success.  I have worked in higher education for the last eight years in different functional areas, including identity-based advocacy, orientation, transition and retention, fraternity and sorority life, and leadership development. I have a B.A. from Willamette University in American Ethnic Studies and History and a M.S. in Educational Administration with an emphasis in Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education from Texas A&M University (Gig 'em!).  I spend my free time fly-fishing, hiking, watching anything in the Star Wars universe, reading, browsing record stores, going to concerts, and searching for the best flat white in NE England!

Hi there! I’m Maisy and I’m a second year Sociology student at Durham University. I’m passionate about working to make the education system a more accessible and equal environment. 

Hello! I'm Edie, a Physical Geography student at Durham University, with aspirations to enter the sustainable agriculture and environment world once I graduate. I'm really interested in how we can marry together the developing needs of humanity in a time of climate change and planetary uncertainty.