Ciao! I'm Leonardo, a Laidlaw Scholar passionate about entrepreneurship, leadership, and creating meaningful change in this world. I come from Italy, and at 17, I took an uncomfortable step by moving alone to the UK to pursue my studies, determined to gain access to an English university, networks, and growth opportunities. My research title is: "Using Points of Interest Data to Understand Retail Change in Great Britain, 2015 – 2025", which deeply connects with my entrepreneurial objectives. Through Laidlaw, I'm excited to expand my leadership capabilities, refine essential entrepreneurial skills and find new people within this amazing network! I'm passionate about engaging with Laidlaw's diverse global community, exchanging perspectives, and fostering long-lasting connections. I look forward to contributing my experiences, collaborating with fellow scholars, and continuously growing as both a leader and an individual. Please feel free to connect; I’m genuinely excited to share ideas, collaborate, and explore innovative solutions together! Leonardo Linkedin  leonardogareri05@gmail.com

Hello!  I am Lottie Knee, a Philosophy and Politics undergraduate student at the University of Leeds and a part of the 2025 cohort of Laidlaw Scholars.  Building on my background in normative ethics, international development, and foreign policy, this summer I investigated Academic Freedom and Censorship in Biodiversity Conservation. My research explores how political pressures, freedom of speech, and censorship influence conservation work, engaging with real incidents where knowledge and debate have been constrained. This project challenges me to enter a new area of study while strengthening the critical and ethical frameworks developed in my degree.  Outside of academia, I love to travel. I took a gap year before attending university where I solo travelled Australia, Indonesia and The Philippines. This was a fantastic opportunity for adventure, meeting new people and experiencing new cultures.  I am always open to connect with others within the Laidlaw community! 

Hi! I'm passionate about using the elegant and sometimes insane theories in physics and using them to contribute to healthcare. Currently I'm looking at a career treating cancer by using targeted ionizing radiation to skilfully shrink tumours. I'm fascinated at how physics can be used to harness the beautiful complexity of nature to transform lives. I sincerely hope I have a long career of contributing to this effort in any way I can, from being a clinical scientist to conducting own my research to helping other researchers receive patents for their work. The title of my Laidlaw research project is 'Evaluating Current Methods for Enhancing Clinical Computer Tomography Imaging Using Contrast Agents'. This beautifully ties my expertise with improving patient outcomes and innovation within healthcare. Another aspect of my journey so far has been navigating pursuing higher education in physics as a Muslim woman. Although challenging at times, I've learnt of ways to overcome my fear of failure and imposter syndrome, and I would love to help others to do the same. Whether I create a small group or kickstart a network, I'm not too sure, but if you've ever been in the same position please reach out! Who knows where it could lead us and who else we could help :) As for my hobbies and interests, that list is extensive and everchanging, but my current fixation is gardening. Nothing can quite describe the joy you feel after seeing a tiny dot you nurtured for 3 months turn into prolific blooms. If anyone would like to collaborate or just say hi then please do! 

Hello! I'm a third year Biology student at the University of Leeds and I'm part of the 2024 Scholars cohort. I'm currently on an industrial placement working in digital advertising.  I have been trying to figure people out for a long time and I thought what better way than to explore the wonders of neuroscience in my first year research project!? If you want to chat about books, the economic/political state of the world right now, or just life - drop me a message!

I am currently a undergraduate student at the University of Leeds pursuing a degree in International Business. With the Laidlaw Scholarship I have participated in two leadership development residentials with the Laidlaw team at Leeds along with my cohort. My research project was titled "Exploring the Most Efficient Mapping Techniques and Platform to Map Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)"  which was a insightful exploration of curriculum mapping and the possibilities for artificial intelligence to assist within the mapping process. My Leadership-in-Action was with make_sense americas & Rennueva taking place in Mexico City over 6-weeks, with a focus on climate impact. My team focused on implementing improvements to the companies website such as displaying the amount of carbon saved through the amount of plastic donated.

I'm Phoebe and I’m a 2024 Laidlaw Scholar. I am a first year student of French and Italian at the University of Leeds. This summer I will be working on the research project 'Mapping Colonial Subjects in the French Resistance' supervised by Professor Nina Wardleworth.

Hi, I'm Megan and I study BSc Sport and Exercise Sciences at the University of Leeds within the School of Biomedical Sciences. In my degree programme studies, I have a keen interest in biomechanics, as well as physiology and motor control. My research project title is "Investigating the perspectives of staff, students and industry partners on a novel method of teaching undergraduate students transferable skills".  Outside of my studies, I play rugby for the Leeds University Union Women's Rugby Union Football Club, where I am the kit secretary for the 24/25 season and a player on the 1st XV.

Researching climate finance in Scotland - How to Fix the Hurdles that Prevent Funds from Reaching Net-Zero Housing Projects?  Studying economics with a concentration in finance. 

Hello! I recently graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Psychology Research from the University of Toronto. I’m passionate about youth mental health and how humour can be used to support resilience after adversity. My Summer 1 research project explored the relationship between childhood adversity, aggression, and self-regulation — deepening my understanding of the psychological impacts of early trauma. In Summer 2, I led a Leadership-in-Action project at SOS Children’s Villages in Cape Town, where I designed and facilitated a comedy-based mental health program for teens. That experience led me to found HaHaHelps — an organization that uses improv comedy to support youth mental health through accessible, community-led workshops. I'm currently piloting the full program in South Africa, with plans to expand to more communities globally. Please feel free to connect :) Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/younessrobert-tahiri Email: youness@hahahelps.org