Trinity College Dublin joined the Laidlaw Network in 2018. The Laidlaw Programme offers undergraduate students at Trinity the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills, and experience to become active global citizens and future leaders.
Laidlaw Scholars work with an academic supervisor on a self-directed, independent research project and take part in a suite of integrated leadership development activities which culminate in a challenging applied leadership experience. Laidlaw Scholars join a community of learning, driven by curiosity and collaboration, which enables diverse voices to make a meaningful impact.
The Laidlaw Programme at Trinity is open to undergraduates in the second year of a four year programme or the second/third year of a five year undergraduate/integrated masters programme.
Laidlaw Scholar Alumna graduating from BA Management Science and Informations Systems Studies at Trinity College Dublin. My research topic fell outside of my undergrad, I explored the current structures that are in place for the Irish Language Feature Film Industry and its potential for the future. My second summer saw me move around various regions of Nepal, telling the stories of children and staff at SOS Children's Villages, through photo and video.
I am an undergraduate Joint Honours Political Science and Geography student at Trinity College Dublin. I am looking to do a major in Geography and a minor in Political Science for my third year.
My research project for my first summer is titled: An Assessment of the Environmental Viability of Ecotourism on Boracay Island, Philippines. This project concerns the efficacy of the emerging ecotourism model present on Boracay Island in the Philippines. It holds specific focus to the environmental impacts of tourism, and how we can potentially mitigate them along coastal ecosystems.
I am a 2nd Year Undergraduate student studying Biological and Biomedical Sciences. I am eager to expand my knowledge and experiences. I'm excited to leverage this expertise to tackle complex challenges and drive innovation to make a positive impact on the growing issues we face in our world today.
Hi! I’m a final year student in Trinity College Dublin, studying theoretical physics. I completed my research project on the topic of using machine learning to identify properties that don’t vary in moving physical systems.
Hey! My name is Domhnall and I am a medical student at Trinity College Dublin. My research areas of interest include infectious diseases and clinical trials. My hobbies outside of medicine include Irish music and running.
Eoin O'Connor
Undergraduate Biological and Biomedical Science Student, Trinity College Dublin
Hello, I'm Eoin O'Connor, currently studying Biological and Biomedical Science at Trinity College Dublin.
My research focuses on investigating the role of astrocytes, a type of glial cell in the brain, in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. I am particularly interested in understanding how inflammation outside the brain can exacerbate inflammatory and damaging events within the brain, ultimately leading to accelerated dementia.
Outside of college, I enjoy reading and music. I play piano and guitar and have recently started performing at open mics. Some of my favourite bands include the Stone Roses and Fontaines D.C. Sport also plays a significant role in my life.
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 are not part of this canon, or whose voices have not been heard.
In my free time you can find me writing, painting or wandering in nature.
If you have any similar interests or if you want to know more about my research shoot me a text here on the network, I'd love to connect!
Hi everyone! My name is Laura, I'm a second year Human Health and Disease Student in Trinity College Dublin.
My research project is on assessing "Women's experiences of accessing healthcare services to manage their perimenopause/menopause-related health issues in Ireland ".
I am so excited to be part of the Laidlaw cohort of 2023 and I look forward to connecting with other members in the network!
Hi there! My name is Tea Stapar and I'm a third year Biological and Biomedical Sciences student in Trinity College Dublin, specialising in Biochemistry.
My research project is based on studying metabolomics of a chemotherapy drug called HAMLET/Alpha 1 using NMR spectroscopy. I'll be investigating whether this chemotherapeutic could be used to treat human osteosarcoma.
Looking forwards to the experience and connecting with new people!
Hi! I am a 4th year undergraduate scholar at Trinity College Dublin studying Global Business, and I am currently on my study abroad in ESCP Paris. My research project centres on the importance of female leaders from ethnic minorities in the business C-suite & the necessity for better racial and gender diversity on executive boards worldwide. I’m really looking forward to meeting new people and experiencing new things on this journey!
Advocate for finding alternatives to testing on animals
Physiology student in TCD
Hi! My name is Jimena Alvarez and I am a Peruvian second year student in Trinity College Dublin. I currently concluded my second year studying Political Science and Economics.
My research project is titled "Exploratory research into the support worker’s perceptions of the integration experiences of Ukrainian refugees in Ireland".
The purpose of the research is to gather relevant and comprehensive data about support worker’s perceptions of the integration experiences of Ukrainian refugees in Ireland. I will be conducting a focus group and individual interviews with 12 support workers in the field of refugee aid.
I am very excited to connect with other Laidlaw scholars regardless of how different our research projects may be. I am always interested in learning from people with different backgrounds and interests. Feel free to contact me. See you all soon in the Laidlaw annual conference here in Trinity College Dublin!
I am currently an undergraduate PPES student at Trinity College Dublin. I have chosen the Joint Honours Pathway, specialising in Political Science and Sociology.
My research project for summer one, titled "Sporting Bonds: Can sporting programmes properly facilitate the meaningful integration of migrant and host communities in Ireland?", concerns the efficacy of community-led integrative programmes that use sport as a means of blurring inter-cultural barriers and bringing together diverse communities. I will be working with Sport Against Racism Ireland, an established Irish NGO that delivers various sporting programmes aimed at facilitating and implementing anti-discrimination practices in Irish communities.
In my spare time I enjoy playing football and basketball, reading, and wandering around taking photos of things I see.
Hello! I’m Trisha, a fourth-year student at Cornell University from Texas, USA. I’m majoring in Environment and Sustainability with a dual focus on food systems and wildlife conservation, and minoring in International Relations. My interests in combining my enduring passions for writing and wildlife conservation have driven me to explore multiple perspectives on highly-controversial issues such as trophy hunting, retaliatory animal killings, and illegal wildlife crime. Thus, during my first summer as a Laidlaw Scholar and as a member of the Morally Contested Conservation team, I wrote a literature review on the interconnectedness of climate change and human-wildlife conflicts in East and southern Africa. In June and July 2024, I furthered this research by traveling to the University of Oxford and to the Burunge Wildlife Management Area in Tanzania. I will be returning to Oxford and Burunge in June and July 2025 to report my results.
As an aspiring environmental policymaker and journalist, I am passionate about making technical scientific information more accessible to the general public. At Cornell, I am an Institute of Politics and Global Affairs Scholar, through which I interact with policymakers monthly to discuss pervasive issues in international politics. I also speak Marathi, Spanish, and Swahili at varying levels of fluency and plan to continue to grow my language skills to communicate environmental issues across continents and cultures.
For fun, I love to turn even the most mundane materials into recycled art, spend hours on end working through jigsaw puzzles, and go for runs while listening to podcasts. And as a diehard foodie who loves to travel, I’m always looking for recommendations of places to visit or new recipes to try!
The Laidlaw Scholars Program has been an invaluable component of my undergraduate experience. The friendships I’ve made, as well as the research and language skills I’ve begun to develop, have encouraged me to continue to ask and seek answers to complicated questions about global affairs and environmental science. If anyone has questions or feedback about the Laidlaw Program, is interested in collaborating, or just wants to say hello, please feel free to email me at trb238@cornell.edu. I hope we can meet in person someday!
Alex was the Programme Director of the Laidlaw Scholars Leadership and Research Programme from September 2021 - May 2024.
Prior to joining the Laidlaw Foundation Alex spent over a decade at the University of St Andrews, Scotland, where he most recently managed the university’s Laidlaw Scholars Programme. In addition, Alex taught leadership courses and guest-lectured internationally on the subjects of strategy and leadership.
A bilingual speaker, dual national and keen traveller, Alex has lived, visited and worked in several countries around the world. During this time, he has had a unique opportunity to encounter and explore different cultures and working environments, experiencing first-hand what good leadership can achieve. His passion for this topic is driven by these experiences and a desire to challenge people to unlock their full leadership potential.
Alex holds an MBA from the Open University and a Master of Research in Management from the University of St Andrews. He has also obtained Associate Fellow status with the Higher Education Academy. In his spare time, Alex is an avid skier and volunteers with a local guide dog organisation.
I am a fourth year student in Middle Eastern, Jewish and Islamic Civilizations in Trinity College Dublin. My research focuses on the impact of Covid-19 on the arrival to Europe of Syrian and Palestinian refugees from Lebanon. In the second summer of the scholarship I worked with the Egypt Foundation for Refugee Rights. I am interested in migration, diversity and inclusivity.