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!

I am a first year scholar and undergraduate student at the University of Leeds studying towards a BA in Politics and Sociology. My research aims to draw on the experiences of UoL students with a focal point on widening participation students in order to gain a deeper understanding of what inclusive learning spaces are and how they can be achieved. Outside of my research I really enjoy reading, cooking and baking, listening to music and spending time with my friends and family.

Hello! I am entering my fourth year of an undergraduate degree in International Relations and Contemporary Asian Studies at the University of Toronto. My research interests include issues of international law, security, and terrorism in Asia. I also work as President of the International Relations Society and Editor-in-Chief of the Synergy Journal of Asian Studies. Outside academics, I am an amateur photographer, Kathak dancer and tea enthusiast!

I am an incoming MPhil candidate in Medieval History at the University of Oxford. Alongside my research specialism of late medieval religious and social history, other interests of mine include social and labour history in the nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, the history of medieval devotional objects, and nineteenth-century art. My research project was supervised by Drs Amy Blakeway and Jacqueline Rose. Titled 'History, religion and community in North East Fife', my project investigated the history of the village of Kingsbarns using archival material and interviews. My essay was a social history of the area, with a section on historical methodology. This was later supplemented with an oral account of the church in its current form by one of its contemporary administrators. In my second summer, I created and hosted a local history workshop in collaboration with the Boomerang Community Centre in Stobswell, Dundee. This combined archival research with an empowering leadership project, which encouraged participants to continue to investigate historical topics they are passionate about. The workshop was greatly successful, and feedback from the participants was wholly positive.

Hello! I am a Business Management undergraduate at the University of York. I make weekly content on YouTube & LinkedIn surrounding the student experience, entrepreneurship, and personal financing.

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.

Hello! I am a multidisciplinary designer and have been with the Laidlaw Foundation for over five years, working to strengthen our global Scholar community and amplify the impact of our programmes. My work lives somewhere between design, education, and anthropology, usually with sticky notes involved. I studied Human Sciences as an undergrad and recently finished a Master’s in Anthropology, both at UCL.  Born and raised in Kazakhstan 🇰🇿 Outside of work? Probably in the ceramics studio or a yoga class. Big fan of nature and very small bugs.

Hello, I am Miriam. I am an undergraduate Laidlaw Scholar studying at the University of York. I am interested in developmental psychology and especially Autism Spectrum Disorders. Most of my work experience is based around children with developmental disorders, but also adults with acquired brain injuries. I hope to be able to progress in my studies to complete a doctorate in Clinical Psychology, and my Laidlaw research project is in this field.

Ameya Marie is a 20-year-old artist from Portland, OR who deconstructs social injustice and biased behavior through art. As a social practice artist, she has worked extensively as an artist and organizer with Black Lives Matter Portland, connecting with families impacted by racialized violence and creating memorial portraits for protests, social media campaigns, and candlelight vigils. Ameya hopes to make art more accessible to all by bringing art to communities that would otherwise not have access and amplifying their stories to inspire more understanding, empathy and progress. Her protest art and work in youth advocacy and education has taken her to the White House for a confrontational visit as a 2018 US Presidential Scholar in Art. Her work has been profiled by Paper Magazine, NPR, the Washington Post, and Adobe Project 1324 and featured in publications like Hyperallergic, Whitewall Magazine and Bloomberg QuickTake. She was recently honored by the National YoungArts Foundation as a 2018 Finalist in Visual Art and announced a Top 6 Rising Art Star by the NY Post. Ameya is a 2019 Adobe Creativity Scholar.

I am a human rights defender focusing on children's rights. I am the vice chair and empowerment and involvement officer of the Amnesty UK Children's Human Rights Network. The network is a dynamic, and change-making group of activists who campaign with children to make their rights real. My research this summer has focused on understanding how certain linguistic structures are used by organisations, movements, and individual activists to take action on human rights issues.

Final year at York, studying French and Spanish. Passionate about international relations and intercultural communication. My research project used post-structural feminist theory to explore female agency in Le Morte Darthur.