Ciao! I am Gio, a fourth-year student of Economics and Political Science at the University of Toronto. I hail from the country of Georgia, nestled between Europe and Asia, with a millenia-old culture and history. This Summer I am immersing myself in a small coastal town in Northern Japan to work together with local students in uncovering societal impacts of marine climate change. Global warming is a generational challenge and its effects are highly varied from community to community across the globe. I hope to engage in discussions with my fellow students in Japan and facilitate a series of ArcGIS workshops in order to map the implications of climate change on Sanriku coast. I would love to have a chat, especially if you also like food, geography, or world history!

I am a sophomore at Cornell University studying Global Development with minors in Applied Economics and Public Policy. My research interests are in sustainable development strategies and natural resources policy. 

An ambitious student at the University of Toronto passionate about marketing, finance, and the intersection between business and social impact. With a burning desire to leverage entrepreneurship as a means to improve underprivileged communities, I spearheaded the Rescued Glass social enterprise to tackle waste management and support Thailand's Khlong Toey Slum community through upcycling used glass bottles into innovative household items. I find genuine fulfillment in experiencing and learning all that I can imagine. This mentality has empowered me to receive over 30 accredited licenses and certifications and pursue 7 professional working experiences thus far. In the process, I have gained proficiency in the technicalities of digital marketing, B2B/B2C sales, data analytics and e-commerce whilst honing my communication, interpersonal, and cooperative skills. Merging my passions with my ambition to make a meaningful difference in the world is intrinsically fulfilling. I have led several volunteer and service initiatives including organizing concerts to raise funds for endangered animals, participating in a microfinance/development bank, managing community social media pages, deploying artificial reefs in Thailand's islands, and more. I am humbled and grateful beyond words for the opportunities I have had thus far and am even more optimistic and motivated to continue experiencing, learning, and developing!

Law student at Trinity with a passion for human and environmental rights! Love cooking and developing recipes in my free time. 

Hello! I'm Noura, a University of St Andrews student heading into third year. I study International Relations and Modern History, and I particularly am interested in migrant rights and decolonial histories. My project aims to examine the experiences of children in the trans-Atlantic slave trade, pinpointing the uniqueness of those experiences and utilizing both data and autobiographies of enslaved people in order to come to new conclusions regarding our understandings of the slave trade.  Outside of my studies and project I love the outdoors, baking/cooking for my friends, art in all forms, and cultural exploration!  If you want to chat send me a message! I would love to connect with you about your project or interests, or if you have any knowledge that could contribute to my work!

Hi! I am a 4th year undergraduate scholar at Trinity College Dublin studying Global Business, and I am currently on my study abroad in ESCP Paris. My research project centres on the importance of female leaders from ethnic minorities in the business C-suite & the necessity for better racial and gender diversity on executive boards worldwide.  I’m really looking forward to meeting new people and experiencing new things on this journey!

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 !

Hi, I am part of the 2023 Laidlaw cohort at the University of Leeds.  I am currently studying Adult Nursing. I am passionate about everything to do with nursing. There are many pathways that I will be able to explore throughout my career. However currently, I am mostly interested in genomics and would like to explore this further throughout my studies. I also have a huge passion for women’s health, especially for different ethnic groups to be able to provide education and break through the taboo barriers. Working as an adult nurse is challenging but satisfying. It is a vital role where you will make a real difference in people’s lives.  In Summer 2023 I worked on a pre-defined research project: ‘Evaluating Interdisciplinary 'Welcome, Induction, and Transitions' Support in the Undergraduate Curriculum.’ I worked alongside academics and other students to understand the outcomes associated with successful transitions, using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The conlusion of my findings can be found on my page, so please have a read! The project and journey were exciting, and I developed a lot more knowledge about education policies and the huge impact it has on students, especially underrepresented groups. From the project, I have built on my leadership style and other skills due to being student-led. Currently, I am working on my LiA Project, which will take place in Summer 2024! The project is teaching children Health Education in Bali! I will be able to create a program for them to follow and leave behind so they can continue to build on this. I am very excited about this as I am able to use the skills learned from my first project and apply them to this project in a more literal way. I can also combine education and healthcare. Further details will follow, so stay tuned! Outside of my studies, I love to paint and am passionate about attending galleries and exhibitions. I enjoy spending time in nature and doing yoga. Also, I love to bake and find good places to eat with my family and friends.   If anyone has any interest in anything relating to myself, my course or the research project then please reach out 😊 

Hi everyone! I am a first-year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto. My primary academic interests include the science of well-being, philosophy of mind, and subjective impacts of contemplative traditions. My research project surrounds how Buddhist-inspired meditation practices impact the phenomenology of experienced meditations, specifically their sense of self, objecthood, and command over their emotion.  I am originally from India, but I graciously got to spend my childhood across six other countries: Zimbabwe, Nepal, Kenya, Switzerland, Bangladesh, and Qatar. Witnessing so many diverse contexts has opened me up to unique traditions, patterns of behaviour, and problems that characterize our world.  I look forward to meeting and learning from the extremely talented and passionate members of the Laidlaw community :)

Hi! My name is Jimena Alvarez and I am a Peruvian second year student in Trinity College Dublin. I currently concluded my second year studying Political Science and Economics. My research project is titled "Exploratory research into the support worker’s perceptions of the integration experiences of Ukrainian refugees in Ireland".  The purpose of the research is to gather relevant and comprehensive data about support worker’s perceptions of the integration experiences of Ukrainian refugees in Ireland. I will be conducting a focus group and individual interviews with 12 support workers in the field of refugee aid.  I am very excited to connect with other Laidlaw scholars regardless of how different our research projects may be. I am always interested in learning from people with different backgrounds and interests. Feel free to contact me. See you all soon in the Laidlaw annual conference here in Trinity College Dublin!  

Dear Laidlaw community, My name is Esteban Germann, and I am thrilled to be part of the Laidlaw Scholars Network as a 2023 Laidlaw Scholar EPFL. I'm currently on an exciting journey as an architecture student at EPFL/ETHZ. My focus is on how the built environment affects humans and the way we live. Exploring this constantly evolving field, with its endless interdisciplinary connections, motivates me to create better living spaces for everyone! During my research summer, I had the opportunity to carry out a research project in Professor Andersen's LIPID laboratory (EPFL). I worked on the development and use of high dynamic range images, exploring the complex world of light and its implications for human perception and visual comfort. For my Leadership-in-Action project, I partnered with Stanford University and the Chinatown Community Development Center to investigate the impact of sustainable renovations on the well-being of low-income tenants in San Francisco’s Chinatown. My focus the effects of thermal renovations on residents' health and financial security. This experience provided invaluable insights into how architectural interventions affect human well-being. My Laidlaw journey is an experience I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life! I met wonderful people along the way. It was through sharing with others that I truly learned. Feel free to reach out, I'd love to connect! All the best ;) Esteban Germann EPFL | Laidlaw Scholar | Class of 2023

Hi! I'm Sophia, an aspiring scientist and philomath. I love learning about everything and anything and delight in spending time with people who are passionate about the things they love! I am really interested and curious about how we can use chemistry to improve processes and products to help society. For example, my research project is looking into the possibility of turning struvite, a mineral which is a by-product of waste-water treatment processes into slow-release nitrogen and phosphorous fertilisers, which would be a green source nitrogen and phosphorous fertilisers and help achieve goals of zero-waste.  If you are researching something similar or are interested in learning more about the project, please reach out! I am super happy to talk about the project and meet other who are doing something similar and possibly collaborate! 

Hello! I'm Cynthia, a second-year at Georgetown University studying Regional and Comparative Studies with a concentration in Asia. I'm originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. My research project centers around the role of contemporary minority ethnic music in the People’s Republic of China in constructing ethnic identity. I chose this project because studying contemporary music provides unique and living insight into the critically important cultural and political landscapes within the People’s Republic of China. When I'm not studying or working, I love knitting, reading, thrifting, and a long walk to explore D.C. — all while fueled by an americano, cold brew, or matcha if I'm feeling adventurous :)  Please feel free to send me a message if you want to chat! I would love to hear about you, your research project, and any knowledge you may have that could contribute to my work.

Hi! I am a 3rd year student in Trinity College Dublin, studying Management Science and Information Systems. My research project will focus on the area of disinformation, specifically the features of disinformation that lead it to being spread online. 

  Hi! My name is Lizzie and I am in the 2023 Laidlaw Scholar cohort.   I am an International History and Politics student at the University of Leeds. Throughout my first year of studies, I have found myself gravitating towards the field of East Asian History and Politics. In particular the politics of South Korea, especially the leadership of the 21st Century and the corruption that is rife in the government.    I have chosen to complete a self-defined project which will focus on how the actions of the South Korean government has affected the youth. I will be largely discussing the Sewol Ferry Tragedy and the Itaewon Crowd Crush disaster. I will be investigating the influence of chaebols and top-down culture and the roles they played in the aforementioned events. I shall also be analysing the roles of both Park Geun-hye and Yoon Suk-yeol in both disaster, respectively.  As my project is self-defined, I have a lot of leeway in what I choose to include, therefore I may touch on other topics such as the rise of anti-Feminism, particularly in young South Korean men.   In addition to my core studies, I have a passion for language learning (especially wrongly labelled 'dead' languages) and for Islamic history, particularly the role of women in Islam.  Linked are articles and videos that are related to my research which give a general overview of both tragedies.  https://youtu.be/5_A8dq2fA5o Documentary about the sinking of the Sewol Ferry  https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2022/11/16/seoul-crowd-crush-itaewon-victims/ Washington Post article regarding circumstances of Itaewon Crowd Crush  https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/10/31/seoul-halloween-crowd-crush-young-victims/ Washington Post article which shares the names and stories of some of the victims of the Crowd Crush  https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/08/world/asia/south-korea-sewol-ferry-grief.html NYT article about the ongoing pain of the families following the Sewol sinking

I am a student at the University of Leeds studying Civil and Environmental Engineering 

Hi! I'm Corey, a final-year Digital Media student at the University of Leeds. I am graduating with a First-Class degree in BA (Hons) Digital Media (International). I recently returned from my Year Abroad at the University of Rochester, where I spent the year discovering a passion for Graphic Design, furthering my interest within Media and understanding how design can be used to change the world for good. As part of my Laidlaw Research and Leadership Scholarship, I co-authored a paper discussing the benefits of Transnational Education and Higher Education Institutions globally, in a paper titled "A Global Capstone Experience: Developing and Promoting Cultural Awareness and Educational Opportunities", I also participated in Leadership Development Training and spent Summer 2022 in Viti Levu, Fiji, as part of my Leadership-in-Action project, where I collectively constructed a Community Health Clinic and Facilitated the delivery of Youth Empowerment Workshops.