My name is Alexandra and I'm part of the 2023 Laidlaw Scholar Cohort. I'm a recent graduate of Georgetown University, and am now beginning my medical education at the University of Minnesota Medical School. I'm really interested in exploring the molecular mechanisms of hematologic malignancies, and am also passionate about global and public health.

Hi! I am a philosophy undergraduate at Cambridge University. Within my course, my main interests are Political Philosophy, Moral Psychology, Applied Ethics, Free Will, and Philosophy of Mind.  My project centred on investigating whether changing the dominant narrative surrounding human nature has the potential to encourage prosocial behaviour. I am interested in progressive forms of education, and so my LIA project took place in an amazing school in Kenya, Freedom International Schools - Africa.  Get in touch with me via the network, LinkedIn, or feel free to email me: aw916@cam.ac.uk 

I am the leadership developer for the University of Leeds. I am passionate about learning and ways in which we can all bring more of our true selves to work. I am keen to open dialogues about how leadership can be both effective and human in the 21st Century. My influences include a quote I learnt whilst studying to be a teacher at university "there is no liberating influence than the knowledge that things have not always been as they are and need not remain so." (Simon. B.) So, you can see that as leaders of the future Laidlaw Scholars can bring about positive and lasting change - and how great that is! My qualifications include: BEd Hons,, MSc, CIPD Dip, ILM L5 Coaching & Mentoring, PG Cert Counselling, FHEA. I am accredited to run Quintax personality profile, PPA, TMSDI Team Profile, EQi 2.0 Emotional Intelligence.

My project involved investigating the effects of methylphenidate on a Parkinson's disease model in Drosophila melanogaster. Broadly speaking, my academic interests include the molecular mechanisms of addiction, and how we can use biochemical and genetic techniques to investigate this.

Hi, I'm Daniel Caves-San José! I'm originally from Spain but I've lived in the UK most of my life, now studying Combined Honours in Social Sciences (International Relations, History, and Theology) at Durham University. My passion is interlinking different disciplines together around explorations of the Middle East and North Africa, such as securitisation, virtual diplomacy, and the anthropology of Islam, which I hope to continue to develop further as I learn Arabic. My research project (and poster) were on water security in southeast Iraq, and the role of diplomatic relations with Iran, as well as the domestic political contexts of the two countries in causing environmental degradation, followed by an exploration of the socio-economic impacts this has on the traditionally isolated Marsh Arab population in the region. I'd really appreciate connecting on LinkedIn and sharing our experiences and ideas with one-another.

Hello! I am Yuka Atsuchi. I am from Japan and studying Natural Sciences (Biosciences, Geography and Earth Sciences) at Durham University. My strong passion is to create a more sustainable environment for both humans and wildlife. I am specialising in environmental issues and climate change through interdisciplinary approaches in Natural Sciences with strong research and field skills from work experience.  My main focus in research and future aspiration is "empirical and effective implementation of rewilding conservation projects to various landscapes". For my first-year summer project, I am going to evaluate and create a plan for Durham University Wildland to initiate reintroduction projects. Then I would like to spread the knowledge and conservation practices to other countries such as Japan. About myself... I was bone in Japan and I lived in Yokohama until High School in Japan. After winning a scholarship from the Japanese Foundation, I started studying in the UK in sixth-form.  I am a big fun of wildlife and adventure to wider nature! I enjoy trail running, bird watching, gardening & Allotment, hiking and horse riding.  I would like to expand my network and share thoughts with you! LinkedIn Yuka Atsuchi

Hello! I am a Biological Sciences graduate from Durham University, having completed my Laidlaw Research and Leadership scholarship in 2022. I am currently studying for an MRes in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Research at Imperial College London, Silwood Park. My original Laidlaw project was slightly adapted, with it focusing on how African mammals and coral-reef fishes act as wildlife-based tourism (WBT) attractants.  In my free time, I enjoy bouldering, hiking, and anything nature-related!  I am more than happy to discuss my research topic or other environment-related topics on here or via email :)

Hey! I am a current leadership & research scholar, focusing on homelessness and democracy. Before beginning my degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Durham University, I volunteered for homelessness organizations, working alongside public and private sector to tackle homelessness and health inequalities. Alongside this, I have worked in construction, and have maintained my interest via gardening at university, and my woodwork business KarhuKraft. I love all things sport (especially table tennis), nature, and history! Feel free to get in touch. 

Hi there! I'm a finalist English & History undergraduate at Durham looking for challenges and experiences that will enable me to network with a diverse range of people and learn more about the world. I had the pleasure of completing my Laidlaw Scholarship in 2023.

Hi, I'm Grace, a second-year Geography BSc student at Durham University, To me, sustainability is not just about maintaining an ecological balance, but also achieving a social one. I want to be a part of the movement to achieve this.  Before starting university, I knew I wanted to have a career in sustainable agriculture, as it combines two industries that fascinated me. As a rapidly growing field, it has the potential to help secure the future and make sure that sufficient nutrition is available in all corners of the world. It is important to me that my future career has an active role in innovating resilient agricultural practices and creating a sustainable food production system, whilst advocating the importance of sustainability and mitigating the impacts of global warming. With that being said, I knew that being part of the Laidlaw Research and Leadership Programme would give me an incredible opportunity to develop my leadership skills. Feeding off the passion and enthusiasm that fellow scholars also embrace I'll be able to further my knowledge in a structured and beneficial practice, with firsthand experience as part of my LiA. I have now completed my Laidlaw Scholar journey, however I know my journey to becoming a great leader will never truly be over... Please feel free to reach out, I would love to chat!

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.

I am an undergraduate Physics student at Durham University and I am very passionate about developing and progressing sustainable energy solutions. I believe we can tackle the global energy crisis through focused research, adequate funding and widespread education on the need for a systemic change. I also firmly believe that it is only by creating the sparks of passion and understanding through the education of our wider community that we set alight the fires of progress for our sustainable and progressive future.

Hi! I'm Sophia, an aspiring scientist and philomath. I love learning about everything and anything and delight in spending time with people who are passionate about the things they love! I am really interested and curious about how we can use chemistry to improve processes and products to help society. For example, my research project is looking into the possibility of turning struvite, a mineral which is a by-product of waste-water treatment processes into slow-release nitrogen and phosphorous fertilisers, which would be a green source nitrogen and phosphorous fertilisers and help achieve goals of zero-waste.  If you are researching something similar or are interested in learning more about the project, please reach out! I am super happy to talk about the project and meet other who are doing something similar and possibly collaborate! 

Hello! My name is Tia, and I am a first-year undergraduate student at the University of Durham. I am currently a Laidlaw Scholar working on a project focused on teenage pregnancy in Zambia. As a passionate advocate for women's rights and youth empowerment, I have been drawn to this issue due to the high prevalence of teenage pregnancy in Zambia and the significant impact it has on the lives of young girls. My project aims to explore the root causes of teenage pregnancy in Zambia and the various factors that contribute to its prevalence, as well as potential solutions to address this issue in partnership with "Sport in Action" and the Ministry of Education in Zambia.

I am passionate about creating an inclusive sense of belonging for students, leadership development, harm reduction, and helping students identify their version of success.  I have worked in higher education for the last eight years in different functional areas, including identity-based advocacy, orientation, transition and retention, fraternity and sorority life, and leadership development. I have a B.A. from Willamette University in American Ethnic Studies and History and a M.S. in Educational Administration with an emphasis in Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education from Texas A&M University (Gig 'em!).  I spend my free time fly-fishing, hiking, watching anything in the Star Wars universe, reading, browsing record stores, going to concerts, and searching for the best flat white in NE England!

Laidlaw Scholar Alumni (Durham University Cohort 6, 2022-24) Current Endeavours: I am studying MSc Environmental Economics and Climate Change at the LSE for 2024-25. From September 2025, I will be starting a PhD in Environmental Economics at the University of Basel, Switzerland. --- My time as a Laidlaw Scholar: I graduated with First Class Honours in BA Economics from Durham University. My foremost interests are Development Economics and Environmental Economics. This is reflected in my research project which explored Demographic Economics, titled "The Shifting Distribution of the Global Population in the Twenty-First Century: an Econometric Analysis of the Projected Fortunes of Nigeria and Japan, with Policy Recommendations for Sustainable Development". I have experience working in economic consulting, specialising in competition economics, and am also a Zumba instructor. During my time on the Laidlaw Programme I have also served as a Laidlaw Schools Trust Mentor for Excelsior Academy in Newcastle. In 2023, I completed a six-week international ‘Leadership in Action’ project in partnership with Think Pacific for my Laidlaw Scholarship. For this, I participated in a multi-faceted programme, comprising the building of a health centre, collaborations with Diabetes Fiji and Youth Champs 4 Mental Health, and a Fijian Culture Course. The project ended with a Think Tank where we planned how we would sustain progress. In my sub-group’s case, we are working on a new project to build a multi-purpose building to act as a kindergarten and evacuation centre, for which we are currently fundraising. We have had multiple meetings with the Laidlaw Foundation CEO and the Laidlaw Schools Trust, and we are presenting at the Conversations Conference in Dublin in October 2023. Our project took place in Vunimaqo and Waisava, Dreketi Settlement, Nalawa district, Ra province, Vita Levu island, Fiji. I attended the Impact 2022 conference at the LSE and (virtually, after flight cancellations) the Conversations 2023 conference at Trinity College Dublin.

Hello! I'm Kunj and I am a fourth year student studying Integrated Masters in Chemistry at Durham University. My research project was evaluating how slight changes in the structure of the solid state electrolyte and cathode can impact the ionic conductivity of lithium and sodium-ion batteries and using my research findings to develop NASICONs of high energy density, with maximum compatibility.