My name is Saskia and I'm a first year Geography undergraduate at the University of Cambridge. I'm interested in all things physical and human geography, but in particular I'm passionate about exploring how these physical and human dimensions overlap when talking about Climate Change. I enjoy sports and socialising outside of work life!

Hi! My name is Francesca and I am entering my third and final year at the University of Leeds studying Geography (BSc).  My research project focused on understanding students' expectations of sustainability in their curriculum and experience at the University. The research gained a well rounded perspective of sustainability practices in academic settings and how student voice can be an effective tool for engaging in sustainability further and creating beneficial change.  My LiA is with the make_sense organisation in Medellín, Colombia and focuses on Peace and Social Resilience within Picacho, an area in the city.   I look forward to connecting with many like-minded individuals who are eager to make significant change and adapt the needs of humanity in this climate crisis. 

Hi! I'm Naviya, an Engineering undergraduate at the University of Cambridge (Newnham College). My passion is biomedical engineering, particularly the applications of technology in medicine and public health. I am interested in medical devices, drug delivery, nanotechnology to name some of the very significant (and cool!) technologies being developed and implemented in the field today. My research this summer investigates hydrogel systems that permit acoustic patterning of cardiomyocytes in the pre-crosslinked, fluid state, while providing sufficient structural integrity post-crosslinking to preserve alignment and support tissue maturation. These objectives will be achieved via an acoustic patterning setup including CMs embedded in various hydrogel concentrations as well as comparative mechanical testing of these hydrogels as a “synthetic cardiac slice” to closely mirror native characteristics.

Hi! I am an undergraduate sociology and social anthropology student at the University of Cambridge, with a passion for the study of social movements and research into how activists and organisers can meaningfully effect change. 

Hi! I’m Sophie Kleina, a Psychological and Behavioural Sciences student at the University of Cambridge. I’m passionate about language learning and preservation, which is why my Laidlaw research project focuses on the Kashubian language- a regional and Indigenous language of northern Poland, and a heritage I’m proud to be part of. My academic interests span sociology, linguistics, psychology, and education, and I’m especially drawn to work that supports cultural diversity, educational access, and meaningful social change. I care deeply about doing work that helps people, strengthens communities, and protects the richness of human language and identity. I’m always eager to learn from others and collaborate on projects that make a difference- feel free to connect!

Hi! I'm Shrey, a second year economics student at Cambridge University. I'm interested in game theory and understanding human behaviour, which is why I am a co-author of research titled: "The Cooperation puzzle: What really drives people to cooperate?"

Hey!  I am an undergraduate student at the University of Cambridge studying Geography.  My project looks at agricultural systems that use cooperative practices (cooperatives, CSAs, intentional communities). I want to use Ostrom's eight design principles as a framework to understand similarities in their success stories. I want to understand how they operate alongside and within a capitalist economic system and how law and land policy shape their systems. Though I am realising this is perhaps way too much for one 6-week research project, the hope is that this can serve as a framework to upscale Commoning practices in Cambridgeshire. If you have any knowledge about land-use (policy + law), community economics, Commons and cooperation send it my way! Equally, if you have an LIA suggestion that can build on these interests that would be fab.  Whilst my project is very food and community focused, I am fascinated by all things geography, with a passion for social justice. My interests are definitely multidisciplinary and I am jealous of every project on here. 🦎

Hi, I’m Caitlin. I am a History & Politics student at the University of Cambridge; in particular, I love American History, local politics and modern politics of both the UK & US. I am from Liverpool and play cricket at university. This year, I am also helping run Feminist Society and History Society at my college. 

Hello! My name is Annie, and I am an undergraduate student at the University of Cambridge, studying Geography.    My research project is titled ‘Scroll, Share, Speak: Examining Generational Engagement with Feminist Content on Social Media’. My project will investigate the engagement patterns of self-identified women in the UK with feminist-related content on social media. The investigation will examine how often different generations engage with digital feminist content, and the type of content and platforms they find most appealing. It will also explore how social media has influenced the way feminism is expressed and perceived, particularly in terms of its effectiveness in driving real-world change and shaping more inclusive forms of engagement.   In my spare time, I love to spend time with my friends and family, go on walks, and play netball.    If you’re interested in learning more about my research, or simply starting a conversation, I’d love to connect. 

Hi, I'm Natalie, an incoming second-year student at the University of Cambridge reading History. I am an international student from Sydney, Australia! In my degree, I specialise in early modern European intellectual history, though my Laidlaw project centres on an exploration of imperial women's power and agency in the Augustan age, employing  a case study of Julia the Elder.

Hello!  I''m Luke, a first-year undergrad at the University of Cambridge. I'm reading History and Russian, mostly in the hope of one day becoming a spy. In all seriousness, I'm interested in Russian cultural self-perception: how its relationship with Europe has changed through history, how it navigated the ideological upheaval of the twentieth century, and how the current collapse in relations with the West can be resolved. I also like reading edgy Russian literature, ideally in the most performative setting possible. For fun, I like to spend time outdoors with friends and family, whether that be on a 5 day wild camping hike through the deepest darkest depths of Wales, or sat around a table at my local beer garden. I'm an amateur photographer, and love a good concert / festival. I can also often be found up before the crack of dawn to go rowing (not sure why). Finally, I love to travel and experience new cultures.  I'm looking forward to enriching all of these interests, academic and personal, through the Laidlaw foundation. If you'd like to say hi, get in touch :)

Hi! My name is Amalina, I'm a Psychological and Behavioural Sciences student at the University of Cambridge. I am particularly interested in social and developmental psychology. My research project aims to examine gender and racial stereotypes in children and how the salience of these identities and prototypicality impacts self-perceptions of intelligence. I'd love to talk about this topic or anything else to do with psychology, gender equality or travel! 

I am an Archaeology undergraduate at Newnham College, University of Cambridge. I am interested in biological anthropology and human behaviour, especially cooperation and how it has evolved.  This summer I worked on a project titled 'The Cooperation Puzzle: What drives people to cooperate?' with my project partner Shrey. 

Hello everyone!  I'm Veronika, a 3rd year life science engineering student at EPFL, and part of the Laidlaw Scholars Board. I'm a strong proponent of mitigating existential risks, of which I'm feverishly passionate about research in biosecurity and infectious disease. As a Laidlaw Scholar, I did my research in the Laboratory of Digital Epidemiology on approximations of human-like crowd behavior during pandemics with AI agents, with the goal of creating an epidemiological model that can quickly and cheaply simulate dynamic crowd behavior. In my free time, I love to garden - I'm currently in the process of growing purple sweet potatoes native to Asia. I'm also currently learning oil painting, absolutely love camping whenever I can, and I'm a big fan of metal music and love to go to concerts.   Our goal in the Laidlaw Board is to make the program better for you (and for future cohorts)! So if you have any questions, complaints, compliments, or suggestions for the Laidlaw Scholars program, feel free to reach out by sending a message on here, on LinkedIn, or using this anonymous form --> https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=m1iBtASKYUmzmpVa7SUZOYAOFAGNJNdOhV2pziMDdMZURFE0SEkxVTFDSEQ2TjhXR0cwNlNSMUFKUy4u&route=shorturl

Amy is the Programme Director of the Laidlaw Scholars Leadership and Research Programme. She works with universities, NGO’s, government departments, businesses and charity partners to manage and develop programmes which further the Laidlaw Foundation’s purpose – to reduce poverty and inequality by investing in the education of the underprivileged and underrepresented and to develop a new generation of diverse and ethical leaders.   Prior to joining the Laidlaw Foundation, Amy spent 9 years leading the US-UK Fulbright Scholarship Programme, working with students, academics, professionals, and teachers across every discipline. She has gained 15+ years working within Higher Education and is passionate about cultural exchange and the benefits it can bring to impactful research and solving global challenges. Prior to this, she led faculty-led programmes hosting US students in the UK and managed a busy student services. She studied American Studies at Sheffield University and University of Pittsburgh.