Kassiopeia (she/they)

Scholar, St Andrews
Méabh Scahill

Undergraduate Researcher, Trinity College Dublin

I am a student of History and the History of Art and Architecture with a passion for social and cultural history. As part of the National Gallery of Ireland's Apollo Project I co-curated the 'Boring Art?' exhibition, which aimed to make the Gallery and its historic collection more accesible to young people. 
Lu Xiaoru

Student, The University of Hong Kong

Otilia Rose-Marie Meden

Student, University of St Andrews

Keir Chauhan

Student, University College London

I am a History Undergraduate at University College London and a Laidlaw Scholar. My research project was on a conservation NGO in the UK and my follow-up worked with the American Bird Conservancy to produce a chapter for an upcoming eBook on People and Birds. I am interested in how to make our connections to nature stronger through Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion work. I am fascinated by the power of being grounded in a place. That is the stories that we tell ourselves and the power of those narratives on how we act.
Oliver Righton

Laidlaw Undergraduate and Research Scholar, University of St Andrews

I'm a chemist on 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. If you want to chat about it, let me know! Academic Interests I'm currently working with Imerys Minerals Ltd for a year in chemical industry, exploring how our lives are shaped by a myriad of applications of minerals to challenges we face every day. Outside of that, I've enjoyed modules on main group organometallics, homogeneous catalysis and solid-state chemistry. 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!
Nuri Morad

Student, University of St Andrews

Hey! I'm a fourth year student at St Andrews studying physics. I'm very interested in all things science, and I also love languages, all sports (but particularly tennis, football and skiing) and am happiest in the mountains. 
Lily Grace Else

Student , University of Leeds

Hi! I’m Lily and currently study advanced psychology at the university of Leeds. Theorising why something has happened is something I consider myself good at (also known as overthinking). One of the perks of psychology is that you are forced to socialise with people, which a few years ago would have been my my introverted selfs nightmare. However, interacting with individuals from such diverse backgrounds has developed such a passion to help people and has lead to massive growths in my confidence.  Now specifically having interests in forming interventions and strategies to improve the quality of life and mental stability of vulnerable individuals from groups such as survivors of domestic abuse, service users and addicts. My research project is called “thinking inside the box” centred around reverting back to our primary archival sources to provide a different perspective on the political resistance in Latin American rather than relying on information that has been extensively modified. Specifically introducing archive-based teaching methods and evidencing that they can act as critical and liberators pedagogies. Ultimately wanting to challenge the curriculum by using authentic methods of assessment and promote autonomous skill acquisition that provides practical application to their futures. In my spare time I am a gym rat (unfortunately) and I like trying out new sports such as snowboarding which I am currently horrific at but it’s still very fun!  i would love to discuss psychological research or potential career paths with new people, so do drop a message :)
Hannah Viljoen

Student, Trinity College Dublin

Law student at Trinity with a passion for human and environmental rights! Love cooking and developing recipes in my free time. 
Finn Smyth

Modern History Student , University of St. Andrews

My research is about how Left political organisations across Scotland have performed, organizationally and ideologically, since devolution.  
Mridula Sathyanarayanan

Student, University of Toronto

Hi everyone! I am a first-year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto. My primary academic interests include the science of well-being, philosophy of mind, and subjective impacts of contemplative traditions. My research project surrounds how Buddhist-inspired meditation practices impact the phenomenology of experienced meditations, specifically their sense of self, objecthood, and command over their emotion.  I am originally from India, but I graciously got to spend my childhood across six other countries: Zimbabwe, Nepal, Kenya, Switzerland, Bangladesh, and Qatar. Witnessing so many diverse contexts has opened me up to unique traditions, patterns of behaviour, and problems that characterize our world.  I look forward to meeting and learning from the extremely talented and passionate members of the Laidlaw community :)
Oana Tasca

English and Economics student, Laidlaw Foundation

Hi! I am a third-year English student at TCD. If I had to define my field of interest it would be words... How they are used to influence others and the way they shape us and the world we live in. My Research project focuses precisely on that: how the words that have been written over and over again in literature, and that we now recognise as the "literary canon", have influenced the view of those who were not part of these descriptions, or whose voices have not been heard. I have participated in volunteering projects in the past that focused on art therapy for children and I want to implement the knowledge I have gained there into my future projects. I am looking forward to exciting research that can make a difference! 
Nikol Chen

Design and Development Manager, Laidlaw Foundation

Hello! I've been part of the Laidlaw Foundation for over 4 years, working on strengthening our global community and broadening our initiatives aimed at breaking the cycle of poverty, reducing inequality, and cultivating a new generation of leaders. I'm currently completing a Masters in Anthropology & Professional Practice at UCL, delving into my passion for using ethnographic methods and design to effect systemic change, particularly in the education sector. My journey in design has been diverse, beginning with graphic design, transitioning into UX/UI and service design, and now evolving into systemic design and innovation.  Originally from Kazakhstan 🇰🇿, I pursued my undergraduate degree in Human Sciences at UCL. I'm an amateur naturalist, avid swimmer, and an obsessive podcast listener. Let's connect and chat—drop me a line and find me on LinkedIn! 💬👀
Yoshino Homma

Student , St Andrews

Hello! I'm Yoshino, a second-year student triple majoring in International Relations, Spanish and Italian. My Laidlaw research is 'Retelling Christian-Muslim Relations: Christian "Fascination" with Moors in the Middle Ages'. I love languages, and I am thinking about words and names all the time. I also love travelling. I love exploring new places and meeting people so much.  I am aspiring for a career in law, consulting or academia. Although I am particularly interested in those three fields, I am open to various experiences.  If you would like to chat about research, career or hobbies, please feel free to message me! I would be more than happy :) 
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.
Sophia Brousset

Student, University of St Andrews

I am an incoming MPhil candidate in Visual, Material and Museum Anthropology at the University of Oxford. My Laidlaw research explores the Incan Empire's positive view of female homosexuality, exploring how their diverse understandings of gender influenced these views on sexuality. It also considered how La Conquista's use of a European lens and translation when documenting Incan civilisation resulted in the erasure of much of the sexual and gender diversity which existed throughout Incan Peru.  Show more
Cassice Last

Student Developer (Leadership), University of St Andrews

Carlota Bloch Varela

Student, University of St Andrews

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!