Emma Willaume (She/Her)

Hi everyone! I’m a first-year Chemical Engineering student at the University of Leeds with a strong interest in biomedical engineering, particularly at the intersection of sustainability and healthcare. I’m also passionate about environmental and energy-related challenges, and I’m eager to explore how engineering and innovation can contribute to more sustainable systems. I’m looking forward to connecting with fellow scholars through the Laidlaw Scholars Network, exchanging ideas, and learning from people with diverse backgrounds and ambitions. 😊

Čau! I come from Latvia,  a small but mighty country on the shores of the Baltic Sea. Before pursuing engineering, I was actively engaged in Green politics and environmental activism. This experience made me realise how disconnected the pillars of science, policy, and society are; hence, I took it upon myself to try and change that. I’ve been studying Environmental engineering and sciences at EPFL, Switzerland, for 2 years and hope to be in this field for many more to come. For my research internship, I am working on detecting and reducing bias in atmospheric pH modelling, and during my LiA project, I wish to work with communities directly affected by climate change. In my free time, I love to do pole dancing, calisthenics, and photography! I also reeeeaaaaly enjoy sleeping bahhaha and intentionally slowing down :)

Hi everyone, I'm an undergraduate Materials Science student at EPFL. Alongside engineering, I've picked up some economics and law, mostly because I wanted to understand not just how something works technically, but what it takes for it to actually get used. As a Laidlaw Scholar, I'm building a simulation model of the global carbon-fibre value chain, looking at realistic, costed paths to net zero by 2050. It touches materials, energy and finance at once, which is the kind of problem I like working on. I try to take leadership seriously, mostly as following through on what you're responsible for. I co-led a water management project in Nyon that got funding from the Rotary Club and was implemented with local authorities, worked on a documentary about migration policy, debated in Model United Nations, and tutor students. I also spent nine months travelling, which made me more comfortable in unfamiliar situations. Outside the lab, I'm usually in the mountains or with a camera. Always glad to talk about anything. Cheers!

Hey! I’m Amna, a third-year molecular biology student at the University of Toronto. I’ve worked in labs studying genetics and nanoimmunoengineering, but I also care a lot about science communication, from writing about microbes to speaking at places like the UN. For my summer research project, I am exploring anticipatory science diplomacy in Geneva. When I’m not deep in research mode, I’m probably planning my next escapade. Always down to connect, especially if you care about science, systems, or asking big questions.  

Hey there! I’m a CS student from EPFL! I’m interested in understanding human brains in a numerical way - so I decided to explore around starting from neuroscience! I’m also very into different kinds of outdoor sports, which always allow me to jump from one thought to another. Feel free to ping me if you want to talk about something interesting!

Hi everyone! I run the CraftHER Leadership-in-action program by @Swara - Voice of Women. Here's our IG: www.instagram.com/craftherbyswara/ I’m Asha Scaria Vettoor, an entrepreneur and Laidlaw Scholar from the University of Oxford. I run Swara, a social enterprise based in India that creates income opportunities for women through ethical fashion and storytelling. We also host CraftHER, a 6-week Leadership-in-Action program that brings Laidlaw scholars from around the world to Kerala to learn from women-led enterprises, grassroots organisations, and artisan communities. I’m passionate about building bridges between global learners and local changemakers in my community and always up for a conversation on social entrepreneurship, ethical supply chains, or running programs in remote parts of India.

I'm a Computer Science student at EPFL with a strong foundation in mathematics, physics, and interdisciplinary thinking. My academic path includes distinctions such as the Laidlaw Leadership and Research Scholarship and hands-on research experience in computational neuroscience, where I explore biologically plausible reinforcement learning. Beyond academics, I have practical experience ranging from electronics diagnostics to web development for social initiatives. I'm passionate about educational outreach—leading workshops for children, tutoring young students, and promoting inclusive learning. I’m also active in sports and the arts as a football player, pianist, and chess enthusiast. With fluency in Italian, French, and English, and a growing command of German, I enjoy connecting across cultures and disciplines to solve meaningful problems.

Hello! I’m Trisha, a graduate of Cornell University from Texas, USA. I majored in Environment and Sustainability with a dual focus on food systems and wildlife conservation, and minored 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, and returned to Oxford and Burunge in June and July 2025 to report my results.  As an aspiring conservationist, I am passionate about making technical scientific information more accessible to the general public. I speak Marathi, Spanish, and Swahili at varying levels of fluency and plan to continue to grow my language skills to communicate conservation challenges across continents and cultures.  The Laidlaw Scholars Program was an invaluable component of my undergraduate experience. The friendships I made, as well as the research and language skills I began to develop, encouraged me to continue to ask and seek answers to complicated questions about global affairs and environmental science. If anyone has questions about the Laidlaw Program, is interested in collaborating, or just wants to say hello, please feel free to email me at trisha.bhujle@gmail.com!

Hello! I’m a psychology researcher and the founder of HaHaHelps, a comedy-based psychosocial programme designed to support young people in residential care. I am currently completing an MSocSci in Psychology at the University of Cape Town, where my dissertation examines the feasibility of HaHaHelps with adolescents in South African child and youth care centres. My broader interests include youth mental health, psychosocial intervention development, implementation, participatory approaches, and the use of humour and play to support connection, emotional expression, self-efficacy, and coping with uncertainty. HaHaHelps grew out of my Laidlaw Leadership-in-Action project at SOS Children’s Villages in Cape Town, where I designed and facilitated an improv-comedy programme for adolescents. Since then, I have continued developing and delivering the programme with young people in residential care and am now studying how it can be refined, evaluated, and ultimately adapted for use in other communities and settings. Before this, my Laidlaw research at the University of Toronto examined relationships between childhood adversity, aggression, and self-regulation. I’d love to connect with other Laidlaw Scholars and alumni interested in youth mental health, social impact, intervention development, social entrepreneurship, or simply finding creative ways to turn research into something useful in the world.

Hi, my name is Amber and I'm a first-year microengineering student at EPFL. I'm very interested in technology, especially robotics and biotechnology. I really enjoy create and participate in all kinds of projects particularly if I can help people in some way. I love building stuffs, playing music, doing sport and meeting new people ! Don't hesitate to contact me !

Hey ! I'm Arthur, a second year student at EPFL, currently studying physics. I love learning how things around me work, especially in physics and mathematics. I can't wait to meet lots of new people through the Laidlaw program ! I'm currently doing my internship at LASTRO, an astrophysics lab, and work on developping technologies (such as quantum computers and physics informed neural networks) to study the properties of dark matter. I love playing sports (running, hiking, tennis) and as a long time drummer, I also enjoy playing/listening to music. I am also open to any new experience, so feel free to reach out to me :)