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.

Hello! I am a first year undergraduate student at Durham University studying Modern European Languages and Cultures, including advanced Spanish and ab initio Italian. I believe that the intersection between languages and culture, politics and peacebuilding is hugely important in a multicultural but increasingly divided world. I am therefore passionate about using my skills for good, especially through my research project into ethical and compassionate immigration policy.  I'm really excited to work alongside the 2026 scholars! 

The University of Durham joined the Laidlaw Scholars Undergraduate Research & Leadership Programme in 2017. This visionary programme builds on Lord Laidlaw’s commitment to supporting undergraduate student development and education. It gives undergraduate students the research, leadership and networking skills they will need to achieve their academic and professional goals in the future.

Hi! My name is Daohui and I am a first-year Mathematics and Physics student at Durham University (2026). I look forward to being part of the 2026 cohort with my project about prevention and mitigation strategies of future global outbreaks by simulating and analysing the effects of COVID-19! I am particularly interested in applied mathematics and I believe that as the world becomes more and more interconnected, simulatory data will become increasingly important and impactful on global health. After the recent pandemic, there is undoubtedly still work to do in field of epidemiology, which is what I hope to contribute to.

Hiya! I'm Thea, and I'm a first-year studying Classics at Durham University. Although Classics is a study of antiquity, I believe strongly in the real-world value of the skills and perspective it teaches. Because of this, I'm super excited to be a part of the 2026 Laidlaw cohort with my research on the importance of ancient Greek language and culture in the education system. I'm greatly interested in governance and public policy, so I'd love to see my project have a real influence on the presence of Classical education in a wider range of young people's lives. Outside of academia, my hobbies include reading, film and video games, and I enjoy being active through going to the gym, yoga, and skiing!

I'm a second year MEng Chemical Engineering student at Imperial College London. My Laidlaw project compares electrification and CCUS pathways for industrial decarbonisation, supervised by Dr. Bakkaloglu at Imperial. Last year I coordinated a project across four universities with Rolls-Royce SMR on integrating high temperature gas reactors with desalination and ammonia production.  Before Imperial I took a gap year and backpacked through 50+ countries solo, mostly on overland routes. That is where my emerging markets focus came from.

I am a Mathematics student at Durham University, and I am passionate about maths, music and the environment. My summer 1 research project was titled "Listening to mangroves: Using Autonomous Recording Units and Machine Learning tools to assess avian biodiversity in the mangroves of coastal Suriname", where I developed skills in Data Science, R (statistical programming language), and academic writing, and provided new information on the ecology of these critical ecosystems. I have graduated from the Arete fellowship in Effective Altruism, where I considered how my career can have the most positive impact on society (and concluded by using my maths skills in environmental research). Other current research interests include analysing the maths behind stochastic and serialist music, and ways to increase women's participation in maths higher education. I care strongly about equality and diversity, and am the first year representative on the EDI committee for maths at Durham. I am also a woodwind player (clarinet, saxophones, flute) and play music in a range of styles from orchestral to jazz to musical theatre. In my role as Treasurer of Durham Student Music, I support and advise the treasurers of our 40 groups, and facilitate collaborative projects and charity fundraising. I want to make sure that finances is never a barrier to participation in music, through central fundraising and running a series of grants for individuals and societies.

I am a History student at Durham University, in my second year of the Laidlaw programme. My first year project research explored citizenship education in relation to social cohesion, and sporting provision supporting refugee and asylum seeker integration. Following the publication of my research report, I am now a member of the Academic Advisory Group to the All Party Parliamentary Group for Political and Media Literacy. I also now work within UK refugee sports provision trying to drive positive change in the sector, through starting my own initiative in Durham, and spotlighting and networking with projects nationwide, through an article series I edit for ConnectSport. This summer, I will be doing my LiA in St Lucia, producing a coaching framework working with  United Through Sport, to improve their delivery of sports teaching to local children from underprivileged backgrounds. 

Hello! I am a second year Sociology BA student at Durham University in Northern England. Located in London, I am an aspiring sociological researcher, with particular focus on education and curriculum studies. Outside of the wonderful world of Laidlaw, I am a Comment Editor on our University newspaper, Palatinate, a Course Representative in the SU, and full-time hobby artist. 

Hi! I'm Lexie, an undergraduate psychology student at Durham University. I'm an aspiring clinical psychologist, with a particular interest in eating disorders, body image, and neurodivergence.

Hello! I'm Imogen, a second-year Law LLB student at Durham University. My research for this summer centres around the European Convention of Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights. The project evaluates the Court's current approach to the balancing act required between the right to free and fair elections and the right to freedom of information, to discover if the Court's methodology is appropriate in the digital age.  Outside of Laidlaw, I am part of the Durham University Bar Society, and I am the Internal Competitions Officer for Durham Mooting Society. I am an aspiring Barrister with particular interests in EU law and domestic civil law. 

Hi! I'm Lizzie, a second-year Biological Sciences student at Durham University. Deeply passionate about advocating for and taking action to maintain environmental health and sustainability, I aim to contribute meaningfully to these efforts by expanding my understanding of such challenges and collaborating with like-minded individuals who share a dedication to environmental conservation.   I have a particular interest in conservation strategies that focus on umbrella species, such as the macaw, where protecting one species can generate wider ecological benefits for entire ecosystems. This interest has been deepened through my current summer placement with the Macaw Recovery Network in Costa Rica, where I am contributing to species recovery and environmental education. My work includes practical conservation tasks at the breeding centre and reserve, supporting welfare and maintenance, developing resources for volunteers, and collaborating with staff and community members to strengthen outreach programs. Alongside this, I am documenting activities and recommendations to create a volunteer guide, ensuring future interns and volunteers can contribute effectively. These experiences are helping me explore how conservation initiatives can balance ecological impact with community engagement, while also testing and developing my leadership capacities and character. In my free time, I actively participate in environmental volunteer work and love to do anything creative, from painting to crocheting and reading. I also enjoy spending time outdoors, particularly dog walking, and practising karate with my university club.

Hello! I am Major Richmond, and I enjoy spending time with friends, playing tennis, and visiting the best theme parks in the country. I am a PROUD Blue Devil and a member of Duke University's Class of 2028! I intend to pursue a degree in Public Policy Analysis and explore Environmental Science and Spanish💙😈 In general, The United States is in an unprecedented state of division, specifically in the political realm. The US democratic system has turned into a battle arena full of uncertainty, hatred, and various bad decisions. For my life goal, I have sworn to put a halt to this crippling division and start to put compromise over stubbornness. The best current policy solutions arise when democrats, republicans, conservatives, liberals, and independents unite to create change TOGETHER, rather than separate. As an aspiring politician, I plan to end division for the country's benefit.

Hello! I'm Melissa (she/her), an incoming third-year undergraduate student at Durham University studying BSc Natural Sciences. I am passionate about multi-disciplinary learning, and my range of degree modules across the departments of Biology, Geography and Anthropology allow me to explore my interests across both the sciences and social sciences. I love all things human, and am especially interested in the fields of human biology, equitable healthcare, and public health.  Last summer, I thoroughly enjoyed commencing my journey as a Laidlaw Scholar with my research project focussing on the development of vision in human fetuses, including focussing on how maternal mental health impacts upon this. This summer, I am so excited to travel to Melbourne, Australia, to complete my LiA with the children's charity Big Group Hug! In my free time, I love to spend time with friends and family, bake, go for walks, and play with my cocker spaniel! I am also passionate about volunteering, various sports, reading, and music! Feel free to get in touch! 

Hello! I’m a Philosophy student at Durham University, with academic interests in applied ethics, decision-making and sustainability. My broader aim is to use interdisciplinary research to drive measurable, socially meaningful change. My summer research explored barriers to public transport adoption, with a view toward long-term policy implementation. This project combined behavioural science, psychology, urban planning, and design to contribute to more sustainable and inclusive transport policies. For my LiA, I will be travelling to Kerala for the central CraftHER project, where I will undertake four consulting projects with local female-led businesses and a research project. 

I am in the final year of a bachelor's degree in Physics & Chemistry at @Durham University, with interest in researching interdisciplinary solutions to anthropogenic climate change and pollution. In my first summer as a Laidlaw Scholar, I developed biosourced polymers for use in laundry detergents, producing a compound with promising performance compared to industry standards. This summer I am working with @Under the Wave Organisation to assist data monitoring at a sea cucumber farm to promote sustainable agriculture in Zanzibar.

Hi! I am an undergraduate Psychology student at Durham University and a 2025/26 Laidlaw scholar. So far in my Laidlaw journey, I have undertaken research into Formula 1 fan marketing and gendered motivation, which involved designing, carrying out, analysing, and presenting my research, including collecting data at the British Grand Prix and interviewing Ferrari personnel. I recently completed the Oxford Character Project hosted by Oxford University to further my leadership skills and am currently in the final stages of the programme to implement what I have learned in Mexico City, designing educational tools to teach children about consent and leading a group of volunteers to make it happen. Follow along!

Hello! I'm Hannah, a second-year Geography student at Durham University. I am delighted to have been accepted on to the Laidlaw Leadership and Research Programme as part of the 2025 cohort. My research last summer focussed on weight discrimination and weight discrimination training among fitness professionals. The project evaluated the nature and extent of weight discrimination within the UK fitness industry, with a specific focus on fitness professionals' roles in perpetuating or challenging such biases. Through both playing and coaching sports in deprived inner-city areas, I have directly experienced the physical, mental and social benefits of sports and fitness on individuals and communities so am passionate about reducing the barriers that prevent individuals from engaging in fitness environments. Furthermore, I have witnessed the negative impact of weight discrimination on young athletes, which motivates my interest in potentially creating a successful weight discrimination training programme for fitness professionals. This summer I am really excited to go to Mexico City with Makesense for my Leadership in Action project.  Outside of Laidlaw, I am part of Durham University Hockey and Netball Clubs and Collingwood College Boat Club. I also love to play the Piano and Cello, as well as being involved in Durham University Concert Band on the Oboe.