My name is Ishaan Jordan, and I am a student at Georgetown University pursuing a major in Government alongside a minor in Tech, Ethics, and Society. Driven by a passion for public service, leadership, and systemic change, my academic and extracurricular focus centers on how policy and emerging technologies intersect to shape a more equitable world. Through the Laidlaw Scholars Program, my primary objective is to conduct research that examines the ethical implications of technology in governance, specifically how algorithmic decision-making impacts civic trust. Furthermore, I am eager to immerse myself in Laidlaw’s leadership development track, refining the skills necessary to lead with integrity, empathy, and clarity. Outside of my academic commitments, I love to stay active and explore the city. I'm a huge fan of the NBA, and I love watching and playing just about any sport. Fitness is a core part of my daily routine, and you can usually find me training at the gym or unwinding by going on long walks to take in nature and clear my head. In my free time, I enjoy trying new coffee shops and restaurants. 

Hello ! My name is Malaika and I am an undergraduate at the University of Toronto. This summer, I will be investigating the intersection of cultural and political sovereignty in the DRC through a biopolitical lense. Through discussions of repatriation, I aim to examine the role of art in the Congolese's fight for self-determination. Outside of Laidlaw, I am studying Urban Studies and Sexual Diversity Studies. I am interested in researching and learning more about biopolitics and abjection throughout my academic journey.  When I am free, I love to bead, jog, read and touch up my Pinterest ! I am passionate about social justice and I hope my work can translate those values into concrete, progressive change. Have a lovely day ! 🫶🏾🦢🪷

Drawing from an interdisciplinary framework, I broadly interrogate nationhood, citizenship, statelessness, and the distribution of rights. As a scholar, I hope to make my life a material of storytelling—seeking life with questions, wandering while film-making, and photography to capture spatial temporality.

Hello! I'm an incoming PhD student at the University of Toronto. Prior to this, I earned my HBSc at the University of Toronto, studying biology, anthropology, and business. For my first summer research, I examined what environmental variables influenced sleep patterns in children located in the Republic of Congo. I will be extending this research, with a focus on how sleep is affected with the extent of market integration. I've done research ranging from biomedical physics to pedagogy studies. I'm very passionate about interdisciplinary research, and currently have many research projects intersecting numerous aspects. For my Leadership-in-Action project, I was in a tiny island in Japan called Yoron, There, I helped out as an Assistant Language Teacher, piloted a Pen Pal project, and helping the science camp students affiliated with the University of Tokyo by teaching academic writing and by extension, academic presentation skills. The last goal was an extension of research I conducted with another professor outside of Laidlaw, on pedagogical implications of expert writers' citation practices. I would also like to take this time firsthand to understand cultural differences in academic writing. I'd love to chat more! Please don't hesitate to send me a message. Let's connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aisha-mir-903354403/

Hello! I'm Sahana (she/her), a electrical and computer engineering student at the University of Toronto. Deeply passionate about sustainability, my goal is to leverage my engineering problem-solving skills to develop solutions that prioritize inclusivity and well being of vulnerable communities and environments. This summer I will be conducting research on the effectiveness of blockchain-backed NFC cards for disaster relief in Vanuatu. 

Hello! I'm Tyler Carriaga, a recipient of a full-ride merit scholarship at the University of Toronto, where I'm pursuing a Masters in Geography. Drawing from my multidisciplinary and multicultural background as an American-born, Vietnam-raised Filipino, I approach questions of place, identity, and community with a global perspective. My Laidlaw projects include research on ethnic enclave development in Seattle and program development in an urban poor community in Metro Manila. As a writer, designer, and urban wanderer, I strive to continually evolve my personal and technical skills in the pursuit of co-creating healthier, more sustainable, and just communities.

Hello! My name is Elliot and I am a student at the University of Toronto hoping to study law, history and political science. When I am not frantically writing essays I like to spend my time outdoors skiing, hiking, climbing, biking, running... you name it! I also love reading and writing and I hope to be able to publish some of my work one day! I am really passionate about social justice and advocacy and I hope to be able to use my skills to help those in need, whoever they are and wherever they may be! 

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!

Hi everyone! My name is Lia and I just finished my second year at the University of Toronto studying English, political science and gender studies. As a member of the 2024 Laidlaw Scholars cohort, I am interested in exploring the intersection of literature and politics, particularly in mitigating harmful tropes in representation. I grew up in the United Kingdom and Canada, and I had the opportunity to study at Pearson College UWC in Victoria, British Columbia.

My name is Sophie (she/her) and I am from South Wales but am currently studying International Relations and Social Anthropology at the University of St Andrews. I was a part of the 2024 Laidlaw cohort.  My Laidlaw research project explored how nostalgia for life in the former East Germany continues to affect politics in today's reunified Germany, in particular Germany's foreign policy towards Russia. For my LiA project, I went to the European Centre for Minority Issues and created 'digital stories' about national minorities in the Germany-Denmark border region.   In my free time, I like to read anything i can get my hands on, as well as cook a lot and try different recipes from around the world. I also really love travelling and exploring new places.  I'd love to connect with someone who is interested in politics and diplomacy or otherwise shares my interests. And if you have any questions about my research, I'd love to chat about it!

Hi there 👋 I'm Neha Gupta, a fourth year student at the University of Toronto.  I'm interested in the law, peace-making, diplomacy and human rights.  My Summer I project looked at how paediatric oncology patients in nations with universal healthcare plans access psychosocial support. In Summer II, I hope to work with an organization to give marginalized communities (particularly women) the institutional support they need to stand up to injustices they face.  My Summer II LiA had me working with United Women Singapore to promote their women in STEM and women's empowerment initiatives. I focused on story-telling, digital communication and community building.