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.
A current researcher with a diverse research background, industry experience and youth engagement portfolio. Interested in developing a career which combines teaching and research, whilst maintaining public engagement with STEM. Recently employed as a placement year student as an Inclusive Education Project Coordinator at the University of York with emphasis on Decolonising the Curriculum and Staff & Student Partnerships.
Considered to be an interdisciplinary researcher with wide-ranging research interests, including: agricultural threats due to climate change, especially in international relations and geopolitics economics. AI implementation in driverless electric vehicles in stage 4 and stage 5 systems. Youth empowerment in sustainability and national/international challenges. Mental health in farmers and healthcare; Irish and Balkan history and ecology (particularly in relation to arable and pastoral farming); and sustainable rural practices.
I am a History student at Durham University, and part of the 2025 Laidlaw Scholar Cohort. My first year research project 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 became a member of the Academic Advisory Group to the All Party Parliamentary Group for Political and Media Literacy. I also 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. In my second year summer, I worked with United Through Sport in St Lucia to produce a coaching handbook for incoming volunteers, to improve their delivery of sports teaching to local children from underprivileged backgrounds.
Hello! I am a third 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.
I became a Laidlaw Scholar in 2025 during the first year of my BSc in Physics & Chemistry at @Durham University, with interest in researching interdisciplinary solutions to anthropogenic climate change and pollution.
In my first summer, I developed biosourced polymers for use in laundry detergents, producing a compound with promising performance compared to industry standards. For my Leadership in Action project, I partnered with @Under the Wave Organisation to assist data monitoring at a sea cucumber farm and support sustainable livelihoods in Zanzibar.
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.
Hello, my name is Erin and I am a third year Classics student at Durham University. I am thrilled to have been accepted onto the Laidlaw Leadership and Research Programme as part of the 2025 cohort.
I have always been what I consider to be academically curious but what is more colloquially termed as nerdy - especially in regards to Classics (I just love learning new things!). I also have aspirations to undertake a career in humanitarian work, driven by my desire to fight for social justice and empower others to do so.
In this way, the remit of the Leadership and Research programme, to cultivate leaders whose actions are both ethical and data-driven, appeared to me to be perfectly aligned with my own interests.
I have had previous experience in the various domains of the programme: in terms of leadership, I was Head Student at my Secondary School in my final year; in terms of research, I completed a 5000 word EPQ research paper in Year 12; and, in terms of social impact, I have had some volunteering experience at a local food-bank.
However, I am both aware of and looking forward to the fact that this programme is going to really challenge me mentally, emotionally and physically when it comes to the research project, the Oxford Character Project and the LiA, respectively. I am hopeful that the programme will lead to lots of personal growth and assist, alongside my degree and other uni experiences, in equipping me with the tools I need to be the driving force behind the change I want to see in the world after graduation!
Hi there! I'm an incoming 3rd year BSc Psychology student at Durham University.
The question "why does sad music help us feel better sometimes?" sums up my first year research project. I investigated how international students interact with music to make themselves feel better in different contexts. It is important to investigate cross-culturally as our world becomes more globalised. Moreover, I believe music can transcend geographical and cultural boundaries, as it seems to have such a profound effect on everyone, regardless of where they’re from. Not only may music connect us all, but it can also connect us with ourselves.
For my Leadership-in Action I worked on Body & Soul Charity's You Are Not Alone (YANA) research project: Evaluating the longitudinal effectiveness of Group Dialectic Behavioural Therapy and ongoing trauma-informed community support for young people aged 16-35 at high risk of suicide. I formed a data management framework to automate data entry with R and made the corresponding tutorials for research volunteers.
Ultimately, my involvement in mental health research builds onto my future career aspirations; I aim to be a Clinical Psychologist while encouraging the integration of arts and culture into mental health interventions.
I'm deeply interested in the interdisciplinary nature of music and psychology; however, I’m also excited to hear how other academic disciplines may interact and merge. Likewise, I enjoy multiple hobbies like playing the piano and ukulele, singing, cooking, crocheting, and reading. I think being a nerd about your interests is really cool, so if you’re like-minded, I’d love to chat with you!
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.
Third year MEng undergraduate, particularly interested in biomedical engineering.
Hi, I am a student at the University of Durham studying Theology and Religion. I was born in London, but am also from Poland.
I am passionate about my course, but for me, the most captivating aspects of my degree have included the areas such as biblical studies, and the anthropology/sociology of religion.
Beyond my course, I am also a passionate language learner currently learning French and biblical Greek.
My career aspirations are open to continuing further education, becoming a teacher or lawyer, or joining the civil service.
I am enthusiastic about the opportunities the Laidlaw Foundation provides and am excited to embark on this journey.
Hello! I'm Edie, a Physical Geography student at Durham University, with aspirations to enter the sustainable agriculture and environment world once I graduate. I'm really interested in how we can marry together the developing needs of humanity in a time of climate change and planetary uncertainty.
Hello! I am Emily, a Biosciences student at Durham University with aspirations to become an academic researcher. I am particularly interested in molecular biology and genetics.
I love meeting people and learning new things - I would love to connect with you!
I am a second year undergraduate at Durham University studying sociology. Through my Laidlaw Scholarship, I worked with Dr Michelle Addison and three other students in order to complete the research project 'Imposter Syndrome in the Classroom: What are the impacts on students' learning experiences and how can academic practice be improved?'. For my second summer as a Laidlaw Scholar, I was selected by MakeSense to complete a Leadership in Action project in Marseille, France.