Lisa Kennedy is a student at Georgetown University (Class of 2025) originally from Rhinelander, Wisconsin. Her academic intersects lie at the intersection of Indigenous and rural studies, with a particular focus on the development of federal Indian law. 

Undergraduate at Georgetown School of Foreign Service majoring in International Culture and Politics. 

Incoming second-year student at Georgetown University, pursuing degrees in Economics & Government! I am conducting research on reinterpreting the Child Tax Credit (CTC) as an automatic stabilizer. Passionate about social policy, international affairs, and the intersection between the private and public sectors.  I'm living in the U.S. right now but I used to live in Singapore, Thailand, and Morocco so I consider each of those places my home. 

Second year Economics/Philosophy undergraduate at University of York. My Laidlaw project is exploring the ethical and socioeconomic implications of the metaverse. I am working part-time as a Student Ambassador conducting access and outreach programmes for disadvantaged students. I'm seeking summer internships and work experience in HR and applied philosophy sectors.

Hello! My name is Melissa Wang and I'm an Information Science and English double major at Barnard College. I have experience in research, product development, publishing, and poetry. I care about the representation of different narratives in published literature as well as equal access to higher education.

Sustainable Development student at the University of St Andrews (Class of 2024) and UWC Alumna. My research focuses on exploring pathways to sustainability in the fashion industry, assessing the potential of circular economy models and thinking to address the unsustainability of current production and consumption patterns. 

A hardworking and dependable young professional, experienced across leading media companies in the UK & US including The Walt Disney Company. Seeking opportunities as a production coordinator and aspiring to become a producer.

Hello, I'm Ben, and I study Politics with International Relations. I am a 2022 undergraduate scholar focused on European security issues and Western political development. I have expertise in Marxist political philosophy, and my research is written about how the struggle for recognition leads to class conflicts within liberal democracies. I am an avid public speaker, being a finalist at the European Youth Parliament in 2020, and have competed in various other speaking competitions. I'm open to working in both the research and marketing sectors; feel free to message me with any questions!

I was fortunate enough to conduct academic research under the supervision of Stephen Gethins,  Professor of Practice in International Relations at the University of St Andrews and now a sitting MP. Stephen introduced me to a truly fascinating yet often overlooked area of International Relations: sub-state and regional actors and their place in global politics, with a focus on Scotland in particular. Through this, I have developed an interest in Scotland's place in the world as a nation without an independent foreign office, but as a nation with extensive international influence and a powerful global diaspora. This topic formed the basis of my Laidlaw project, my undergraduate and postgraduate dissertation, and my PhD. I take a keen interested in other academic fields such as politics, history, and philosophy. Although an International Relations and Sociology student first and foremost, I had the opportunity of studying Ancient History and Classics alongside my degree for two years. If I were to ever win the lottery, you would find me endlessly cycling University, spending my remaining days studying Ancient History and Philosophy, Politics, Anthropology, Theology, Theoretical Physics and Maths, or whatever subject I develop an interest in down the line. Since leaving the University of St Andrews and the Laidlaw Programme, I completed an MRes degree at the University of Glasgow in Sociology and Research Methods. I received a scholarship for a PhD in Sociology at the University of Glasgow which I am completing part-time in addition to my role as Research Officer at Carers Trust Scotland - a charity supporting unpaid carers which I had previously volunteered for. My PhD is a continuation of my Scottish diaspora studies, seeking to reconcile the notion of 'civic Scottishness' with the Scottish identity of the lived diaspora.  

As a junior double-majoring in Women's Menstrual Health and Computer Science, I've embarked on a path of self-discovery, delving into the complexities of women's health and its intricate connections to diverse cultures and dietary practices. My research delves into the cross-cultural implications of diet on women's menstrual health, aiming to shed light on the often-overlooked nuances of global health disparities. Growing up amidst the vibrant tapestry of Iranian and American cultures, I developed a keen awareness of how lifestyle choices profoundly impact our overall health and well-being. Inspired by this realization, I aspires to make a positive impact on the women's health industry, bridging research gaps and mitigating the discrepancies that hinder advancements in this field. My passion for menstrual health and nutrition led me to establish Aunt Flo's Kitchen, a startup dedicated to revolutionizing menstrual health through the creation of innovative snacks that naturally counteract the nutritional deficiencies causing period cramps. This entrepreneurial endeavor was born out of my research at the Laidlaw Scholars program, where I conducted an IRB-approved clinical trial under the supervision of Dr. Marla Lujan during my first summer. My second summer at Samphire Neuroscience, a FemTech startup founded by visionary researchers from Harvard and Oxford, further reinforced my commitment to addressing the critical issue of women's health. At Samphire, I gained invaluable insights into the intersection of technology and women's health, solidifying my belief in the transformative power of innovation to improve the lives of women worldwide. The Laidlaw Scholars program has played a pivotal role in shaping my life and career trajectory. It has instilled in me a deep sense of purpose, nurtured my entrepreneurial spirit, and equipped me with the tools necessary to make a meaningful impact on the lives of women. I am forever grateful for the transformative experience the Laidlaw program has provided, and I am committed to carrying forward its values of innovation, social impact, and community engagement as I pursue my passion for women's menstrual health and entrepreneurship. The Laidlaw Program has truly changed my life, and I hope it does the same to other scholars reading this. I am always eager to lend a helping hand and am committed to providing support wherever it is needed, so please do not hesitate to reach me at aaj34@cornell.edu.

Hello! I'm Maxine and I am a 2022 Laidlaw scholar at the University of Leeds. I am currently studying Biology, but I am eager to gain expertise beyond my area of study. After my first year in the course, I have had a growing fascination in the applications of biotechnology as solutions to contemporary issues.  For my research project, I am looking at the role of higher education institutions in the management of electronic waste. Electronic waste ("e-waste") includes items such as phones, screen projectors, keyboards, circuits, wires, and many other types of lab equipment. In this research I hope to investigate the policies and practices implemented at the University of Leeds, and potentially explore what actions can and should be taken to improve e-waste management and sustainability education in our community. This research project is of particular interest to me because I have previously pursued other e-waste related activities and I know I have a passion for it. The management of e-waste is a truly relevant issue in our modern, electrified world, yet I find that it is still quite the niche interest where opportunities to be involved are still lacking in our communities. What first truly alerted me to the pressing reality of our e-waste issue was my participation in a service initiative called 'Repair Kopitiam' in Singapore. I hosted training sessions and raised awareness in my school and local community about the e-waste issue. My efforts were rewarded by an oversubscription to the service the following year. I had the honour of enlisting new female members despite having no other girls in the service before I enlisted. Considering electrical engineering is a male dominated field, this was an especially significant achievement for me because it showed that we have expanded our reach to the point that other girls were emboldened to participate in a service that taught a valuable life skill and confronted a topical issue.

Hi everyone! I'm Anna Lysenko. I'm a fourth-year undergraduate student in the International Relations Specialist program at the University of Toronto. I'm passionate about cyberpolitics and cybersecurity: my Laidlaw research project is about the effect of cyber-attacks on democracy.  My hobbies include reading, writing, travelling, drawing, horse riding, meeting up with friends, and watching movies. I'm excited to connect with new people who share my passions and interests :)