Heather (She/Her)

MMarBiol Undergrad Student, St. Andrews
Lu Xiaoru Anita

Student, The University of Hong Kong

Hello!  I am an undergraduate student studying Architecture MSci.  Fascinated with the past, present and future, I love looking for challenges and questioning the world around me. I've really found myself studying architecture, especially as it combines so many different areas, subjects and ways of working and learning.  I adore creating both in the digital and physical world, interested in science, design and technology.
Jiayi Guo

Student, Cornell University

Hello!! My name is Jiayi (she/her), and I major in Design and Environmental Analysis at the College of Human Ecology at Cornell University. I also pursue a minor named Healthy Futures, which examines how to use design to integrate health and hospitality into our daily experiences. I am fascinated by the interdisciplinary nature of design research, and I hope to apply the frameworks and tools of design and system thinking to environmental education in the future. For me, design has the powers of creativity, communication, and action, which can fuel social innovation greatly. Currently, I am researching young children's understandings and feelings about climate change, focusing on children in the US (where I study) and China (where I'm from). I really want to learn more about how to conduct effective environmental education that leads to pro-environmental actions. My passion for environmental actions and social change also brought me to engage in LiA: Mexico City with NGO Make_Sense. I love meeting people and learning new things - I would love to connect with you!
Vaibhav Pramode Nair

Scholar, University of Leeds

Vaibhav Pramode Nair is a 2023 Laidlaw Scholar at the University of Leeds. He is the Lead Youth Representative of the Save Soil Movement, and in this capacity works to amplify youth voices for food systems transformation at major policy fora globally. Currently pursuing a Bachelors in Sustainability and Environmental Management at Leeds' School of Earth and Environment, he was the first undergraduate Youth Delegate from Leeds to the UN Climate Talks, representing at COP29 Baku, COP28 UAE and SB60 Bonn. Vaibhav leads efforts in diplomacy and climate at the Indian Youth Diplomacy Forum. He’s a LEED Green Associate, IEMA member, and an active participant in YOUNGO's Food and Agriculture Working Group, advocating for a shift in focus within the international climate policy discourse to the soil degradation crisis. Save Soil. Visit https://consciousplanet.org/ to learn more. Let's make it happen ! Try https://isha.sadhguru.org/us/en/inner-engineering . Changed my life. In is the only way Out.  If you study/work within the sustainability/climate space, please reach out. If not, definitely reach out. :)
Hannah Lawless

Biological Sciences Student and Clinical Research Scientist, Durham University

Hi, I'm Hannah and i'm a Biological Sciences student at Durham University. My research project was focused on exploring the neuroscience of bumble bees and their visual and olfactory attraction to flowers, and identifying differences between sex and species. My LiA is with Make_Sense Americas and is a collaboration with a start-up recycling plant, processing hard to recycle materials and trying to achieve a more circular economy. During my free time I love reading, improving my level of Spanish and learning how to code.
Lucas Wolman

Student, Trinity Hall, Cambridge

Hello hello, I am a 3rd year undergrad at Trinity Hall, Cambridge studying manufacturing engineering. I am hugely passionate about sustainability and what changes can we make to the built environment to reduce our impact and preserve our world for generations to come. From our mobility to our dwellings, our food, and our clothes I am fascinated by the changes we can make to tackle the climate crisis and leave the world in a better place than we found it. (It would also help if BP didn't dump countless barrels of oil in the sea too, I guess). We urgently need to set about fixing the damage that has been done to our environment, promote social mobility, bring greater circularity into our economic thinking, and strengthen our democratic institutions while restoring public trust in our processes. Simultaneously we could also do with just trying to relax a little bit. I think about otters a lot. Not like an unreasonable amount, but it makes me smile when I do and it gets me through the day. I have a dog called Rufus. He's a very cheeky boy and I love him dearly even though he has gotten very good at stealing food off unsuspecting picnicers who believe he's just coming to say hi and get some strokes. Please do drop me a message if you would like some photos.
Celina O'Connor

Programme Manager, University of St Andrews

Amishika Dhaurali

Student, Laidlaw Foundation

Hello everyone! My name is Amishika Dhaurali (pronounced Ah-mi-she-ka Dur-all-e). I am currently pursuing a major in Child Studies and Human Development, complemented by a minor in Sociology. My research focuses on unraveling the intricate relationship between social media and the formation of body image perspectives and perceptions in young adolescence females. 
Amarni Newman

Biological Sciences undergrad, University of Leeds

Hello and welcome to my Laidlaw scholarship experience!  Last summer I had the privilege to carry out research on invasive freshwater crayfish (it's as glamorous as it sounds) and have since presented my research in three conferences.   This summer I will be heading to the Peruvian Amazon as part of my LiA documenting the realities of conservation and voluntourism on local communities and the environment. 
Nuri Morad

Master's in Theoretical Physics, University of Bologna

Sarah Routley

Student, University of St Andrews

Hello everyone! I'm Sarah (she/her) and I am a fourth-year undergraduate student in Philosophy at the University of St Andrews. I am particularly interested in the applications of philosophy to social and political issues, and how we can use philosophical arguments to inform policy decisions. As such, my research project concerned the appropriateness of belief and doubt in cases of sexual assault and the implications for university and legal policy. For my Leadership-in-Action, I conducted an evaluation of a sexual violence prevention education programme run by an NGO in Auckland, New Zealand
Oliver Righton

Laidlaw Alum, University of St Andrews

I'm a chemist in my final year of the MChem with Industrial Placement programme at the University of St Andrews. My research focused on improvements to a Dye-Sensitised Solar Cell (DSSC) process used in the St Andrews undergraduate laboratory. For a brief overview, see my poster, or for a deeper dive you can read my research essay. My six week project was with _makesense Colombia and Picacho con futuro in Medellín to create socially innovative solutions to the challenges of sustainability and circular economy, designing and delivering workshops to understand what these concepts meant to the people and then to explore ways in which their lives intersect with the natural world. Academic Interests I'm currently researching solid-state materials including hexagonal tungsten bronzes and their structure-property relationships under selective doping. Outside of my research project, I'm also taking courses in catalysis, asymmetric synthesis and macromolecular bonding interactions. In my degree, I've also studied some astronomy and astrophysics - there's nothing like a good night looking at the stars! Personal Interests Outside of academic life, you'll find me always up for a board game (I was Secretary of a board game society once). I'm learning guitar, doing my best to pick French back up after a few years and have always been a great fan of cooking delicious food!
Cassice Last

Student Developer (Leadership), University of St Andrews

Zachary Vincent

Laidlaw Scholar, University of St Andrews

A student at the University of St Andrews studying Modern History and Art History, my research project was interested in the history of cultural heritage policy and its relationship with conflicts in Latin America. My LiA project is taking place in Lima, Peru with Make_Sense, working to empower indigenous communities through reclaiming the power of culture by promoting the Quechua language. My broader academic interests include modern art beyond the west, comparative approaches to histories of empire, and the creation of national identities. I enjoy outdoor pursuits like hiking and skiing, and love to drink tea and have a chat about just about anything! Please feel free to reach out to discuss anything, research-related or otherwise!
Callum Murison

Actuarial Trainee, Hymans Robertson

Hello! I'm from Edinburgh, and am currently an Actuarial Trainee at Hymans Robertson. Prior to that, I studied Astrophysics at the University of St Andrews, where I was particularly interested in computational aspects of the field (handling and analysing observational data, and simulations). Away from academics, I enjoy playing a variety of sports, exploring the Scottish hills, and am a keen musician. My research project in summer 2023 focused on mapping a region of the sky known to be star-forming, around the Monoceros constellation, with the hope of using analytical techniques to attempt to find new star clusters. My LiA in summer 2024 was with the Timothy Smith Network in Boston, Massachusetts, teaching coding and microelectronics as part of the Elevating Agriculture Technology (EAT) course.
Lucy Robinson

Neuroscience BSc (Hons) Student, University of St Andrews

I am currently at the University of St Andrews studying towards a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Neuroscience. I am committed to increasing my knowledge of the brain and its function, with a particular interest in neurodegenerative disease research. As such, my Laidlaw research project will explore the potential of neurochondrin as a therapeutic target for Spinal Muscular Atrophy and other Motor Neurone Diseases.
Noura McNelis Mahmoud

Student, Laidlaw St Andrews

Hello! I'm Noura, a University of St Andrews student heading into third year. I study International Relations and Modern History, and I particularly am interested in migrant rights and decolonial histories. My project aims to examine the experiences of children in the trans-Atlantic slave trade, pinpointing the uniqueness of those experiences and utilizing both data and autobiographies of enslaved people in order to come to new conclusions regarding our understandings of the slave trade.  Outside of my studies and project I love the outdoors, baking/cooking for my friends, art in all forms, and cultural exploration!  If you want to chat send me a message! I would love to connect with you about your project or interests, or if you have any knowledge that could contribute to my work!
Carlota Bloch Varela

Student, University of St Andrews

Amar Singh Bhandal

Laidlaw Scholar, University of St Andrews

Yoshino Homma

Student , St Andrews

Hello! I'm Yoshino, a third-year student majoring in International Relations and Spanish. I love learning languages, travelling and meeting new people :)