Hi! This is Avian, a second-year student of History at the University of Hong Kong. My research centres around identity and sense of belonging in urban colonial societies, specifically the arbitrary distinction between the “Colonials” and the “Governed,” and those that laid somewhere in between. Outside of the archive, I am a diligent in-class Tetris gamer, amateur banjolele player, and most importantly, a lifelong book hoarder. Please feel the most welcome to reach out anytime!
Hi, I'm Itiafa Ayeni, a rising sophomore from Nigeria at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service in Qatar. I major in International Politics with minors in Africana Studies and a certificate in Energy Studies. I am also pursuing the French proficiency academic pathway.
My academic interests are deeply shaped by my experience growing up in Nigeria and center on Africa’s future, the place of identity, and the advancement of women and girls globally.
This summer, I will be researching how “Y2K” Nollywood (the formative period of Nigeria’s film industry spanning the 1990s and early 2000s) influenced the women who contributed to and consumed it, across a representative social circle that includes actresses and women in the diaspora.
Hello! I'm a third-year architecture student at the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design at the University of Toronto, pursuing additional majors in Religious Studies through the Department for Religion and Jewish Studies through the Anne Tanenbaum Centre for Jewish Studies.
My research is focused on the critical role of design in history and its relationship to contemporary applications of design for state control. I am incredibly passionate about the future of design and how new frontiers can be assessed by analyzing the past.
Hello, my name is Katarina and I'm a first-year Physics student at Durham University. I'm looking forward to being a part of the 2026 cohort with my project about mitigating the effects of light pollution. I aim to continue studying Physics to PhD level, and am particularly interested in researching sustainable technology. My passion for public speaking shapes my goal of driving scientific communication globally, as a vessel for sustainable change.
My interests beyond academia include playing guitar, fashion, boxing and reading, as I've been fortunate enough to study an English Literature module this year.
Hi~ My name is Galiya, I'm from Kazakhstan, currently based in Hong Kong. Love learning about different cultures and languages, so if you want to connect and discuss literally anything, hit me up on DMs :D
Briefly about my interests and achievements:
I am interested in AI ethics and learning science and have built a track record at the intersection of education and AI.
My experience spans teaching, admissions consulting, and content creation in international environments across Kazakhstan, South Korea, Italy, and Hong Kong. I am particularly interested in improving access to global education and how AI is reshaping the traditional forms of education.
Currently, I am developing research through the Laidlaw Scholars Programme, focusing on university-level assessment methods in the context of GenAI.
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!