I am currently a CS and Math major at Cornell University. My research interests include AI, ML, and scientific computing!

Jensen Njagi is an undergraduate student studying International Agriculture and Rural Development/ Global Development; Economics and Development Concentration, with a Minor in Global Health. Guided by a global perspective, he hopes to apply his expertise to improve healthcare systems globally and address issues of global health inequality through multidisciplinary approaches. He’s particularly interested in making a difference by addressing global health issues through a combination of compassion, the generous support of friends, colleagues, and mentors, and a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of geopolitics, economics, technology, and health His very non-linear and non-traditional path to global health and healthcare has truly enriched him. And he, therefore, looks forward to joining forces to improve, build and foster inclusive systems designed to achieve health equity, create wellness, and ultimately improve population health as well.

I'm a junior at Cornell University majoring in Government, History, and China & Asia Pacific Studies, and minoring in Law & Society and Information Science. Coming from Hong Kong and Taiwan, I have a very strong research interest in US-China relations and the Taiwan security problem. I will be working on the topic of the impact of the US-China relations on semiconductor supply chain disruption, and its implication to Vietnam's emerging economy. This summer, I will be working as a research intern for the Cornell Emerging Markets Institute, gaining hands-on experience in using databases like Capital IQ, SDC Platinum, and Bloomberg. 

Hello!! My name is Jiayi (she/her), and I major in Design and Environmental Analysis at the College of Human Ecology at Cornell University. I also pursue a minor named Healthy Futures, which examines how to use design to integrate health and hospitality into our daily experiences. I am fascinated by the interdisciplinary nature of design research, and I hope to apply the frameworks and tools of design and system thinking to environmental education in the future. For me, design has the powers of creativity, communication, and action, which can fuel social innovation greatly. Currently, I am researching young children's understandings and feelings about climate change, focusing on children in the US (where I study) and China (where I'm from). I really want to learn more about how to conduct effective environmental education that leads to pro-environmental actions. My passion for environmental actions and social change also brought me to engage in LiA: Mexico City with NGO Make_Sense. I love meeting people and learning new things - I would love to connect with you!

Undergraduate student at Cornell University majoring in Environment and Sustainability with a concentration in policy and governance. Double minoring in Urban and Regional Studies, and Sustainable Business and Economics. 

Hi! My name is Olivia Cheung and I’m a senior at Cornell University. I’m majoring in Biological Sciences and minoring in Community Food Systems in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. I’m from Needham, MA. I’m passionate about science, sustainability, environmental justice, and health and would love to chat with others interested in these topics!

Hello! I’m Trisha, a fourth-year student at Cornell University from Texas, USA. I’m majoring in Environment and Sustainability with a dual focus on food systems and wildlife conservation, and minoring in International Relations. My interests in combining my enduring passions for writing and wildlife conservation have driven me to explore multiple perspectives on highly-controversial issues such as trophy hunting, retaliatory animal killings, and illegal wildlife crime. Thus, during my first summer as a Laidlaw Scholar and as a member of the Morally Contested Conservation team, I wrote a literature review on the interconnectedness of climate change and human-wildlife conflicts in East and southern Africa. In June and July 2024, I furthered this research by traveling to the University of Oxford and to the Burunge Wildlife Management Area in Tanzania. I will be returning to Oxford and Burunge in June and July 2025 to report my results.  As an aspiring environmental policymaker and journalist, I am passionate about making technical scientific information more accessible to the general public. At Cornell, I am an Institute of Politics and Global Affairs Scholar, through which I interact with policymakers monthly to discuss pervasive issues in international politics. I also speak Marathi, Spanish, and Swahili at varying levels of fluency and plan to continue to grow my language skills to communicate environmental issues across continents and cultures.  For fun, I love to turn even the most mundane materials into recycled art, spend hours on end working through jigsaw puzzles, and go for runs while listening to podcasts. And as a diehard foodie who loves to travel, I’m always looking for recommendations of places to visit or new recipes to try!  The Laidlaw Scholars Program has been an invaluable component of my undergraduate experience. The friendships I’ve made, as well as the research and language skills I’ve begun to develop, have encouraged me to continue to ask and seek answers to complicated questions about global affairs and environmental science. If anyone has questions or feedback about the Laidlaw Program, is interested in collaborating, or just wants to say hello, please feel free to email me at trb238@cornell.edu. I hope we can meet in person someday!

I am a junior at Cornell University majoring in Global Development with a concentration in social and economic development. My interest lies in education, employment, and migration. Within this interest, I have delved into the correlation between education, the workforce, and migration & mobility (especially the concept “brain drain” and "brain gain"). I am passionate about improving global access to social and economic opportunities that young people have to leverage their human capital. With experience serving as Diversity Ambassador for the Cornell Undergraduate Office and Research Assistant for Professor Ivory’s “African Futures Project,” I strive to understand youth holistically from primary and secondary insight. I aspire to work in law for a youth development and/or an international organization.

Hello! I am a Human Development major interested in translational research, specifically pertaining to educational settings and mentorship programs. As a Filipino-American, I am  passionate about focusing my research on my cultural identity and targeting gaps of knowledge within psychology in POC communities. My project involves the development of purpose workshops for educators and youth programs within Manila, Philippines. Would love to chat! 

Hi, my name is Eliza Wadell. I graduated from Cornell with a degree in Environment & Sustainability and Economics in May 2025. As part of the Laidlaw Program, I spent my first summer conducting research on the impact of harmful algal blooms on consumer choices in Lake Victoria, Kenya under the mentorship of Dr. Kathryn Fiorella. My second summer, I traveled to Sydney, Australia to work for ESG Impact to improve sustainability in local businesses.