Hello there! I'm Ashiya, a member of the 2025 Laidlaw Leadership & Research Programme Cohort. I am a student at the University of Toronto's Munk School, pursuing a double major in Peace, Conflict & Justice and Ethics, Society & Law. I'm passionate about education and the governance of digital technologies, particularly artificial intelligence. I am currently exploring how this affects children facing socioeconomic disadvantage through my Leadership-in-Action project in Northern England. This builds on my previous work in student advocacy, my research of Indigenous-led education initiatives in Canada for my first Laidlaw summer, and my new role as a Center for International Governance Innovation Digital Policy Hub Fellow.  I look forward to reading and contributing to the incredible body of work on this platform (you all are awesome)! Outside of research, I love to read, dance ballet, explore, learn new things and make new friends - please feel free to reach out anytime :) 

Hello! My name is Lily, and I’m pursuing a degree in psychology with a minor in music. My research is interdisciplinary in that it includes psychology, cognitive neuroscience, behavioral studies, and music. I’m studying how listening to emotionally-intense music impacts the later ventriloquism effect, which is a measure of multisensory binding between visual and auditory stimuli. Then, I will investigate if this effect changes when the visual stimulus is imagined using visual mental imagery. My work is motivated by my deep interest in the interactions between visual mental imagery and mental health, specifically with flashbacks in post-traumatic stress disorder. In the future, my goal is to get a PhD in clinical psychology to support mental health in developmental populations and continue research.

My name is Lianne and I am a rising fourth-year student at the University of Toronto! I am super passionate about public health and related advocacy initiatives, and hope to be a physician-policymaker. Outside of academics, I love playing the guitar, singing, reading, dancing, traveling, and exploring new cities!

Hello, my name is Hannah Treagus, I'm a current 2nd year psychology student at The University of St Andrews. My research project titled "Exploring the Impact of Wellbeing Intervention Strategies on Master’s Students: Valuing the Student Voice" is focused on exploring and advocating for the underrepresented voice of postgraduate taught (PGT) students. I'll be working with a group of postgraduate students to create a student-led intervention that can hopefully be utilised globally as a wellbeing tool. I have a significant interest in Educational Psychology but would love to connect with scholars of any discipline. I also love travel, photography, baking and horse riding in my free time and am always up for a chat!

Hi everyone! I am a rising sophomore at Tufts University in Boston, studying biology and environmental science. I am originally from Cape Town, South Africa, and attended high school in Louisiana. For my research summer, I am working in Tanzania as a part of a coral restoration project, conducting my own experiment to identify which coral species will be most resilient during this year's upcoming El Niño event with rising sea temperatures. I will also be exploring how to make the coral gardening process more cost-effective and accessible to coastal East African fishing communities. 

I'm a law student at the university of Leeds.

Emily Yu is a rising sophomore at Harvard College studying Chemistry with a secondary in Sociology. She calls Boston, Massachusetts her home and is proud to be part of the family that is the inaugural class of Laidlaw scholars at Harvard!  Before college, Emily was often knee-deep in case problems and Latin phrases as the captain of her mock trial team. As part of her love for public service, Emily interned in the office of the Honourable Patti B. Saris and MA's Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, gleaning wisdom from observing trials, reading opinions and Statehouse bills, and compiling and presenting a comparative study of workforce services across four states.  In addition to researching in college, Emily writes for The Harvard Crimson and is tapped into the many mentorship networks across campus as a Peer Advising Fellow and First-year Outdoor Program leader.  Through Laidlaw, Emily hopes to bring her research and understanding of colorectal cancer studies and treatment to new heights and depths. The intersections between law and new technology is something Emily is constantly exploring, whether it be through possible career paths or a casual conversation.  Outside of work, Emily loves trying out new styles of dance, playing around on the piano, dissecting movies, and wrapping her head around interesting would-you-rathers. She is always open to chat for anything at all!! 

Hey, fellow Laidlaw scholars! I'm Maria Clara! I was born and raised in Brazil and moved to the US in 2025 to start my academic journey at Harvard University, where I am studying Economics and Political Science! As a MUN and debate kid during high school, I became passionate about studying and creating solutions for the world's issues early in life. I can say that I am a very impact-driven person: I love to lead teams and work with inspiring groups to think about problems and their possible innovative solutions.  As part of Harvard's inaugural cohort of Laidlaw Scholars, I am doing research in the area of development economics with a team of economists and political scientists. At Harvard, I also do research with the Government department, I am involved with the Brazilian community on campus, various MUN groups, conferences, and mentorship initiatives, serving as a Peer advising fellow for incoming first-year students, and helping to lead the first-year international program in our school!   One of my defining characteristics is that I am passionate about travelling, meeting new people, and hearing their stories. I have already visited many places in South Africa, Europe, and some in Asia! If you want to connect with a fellow Laidlaw scholar who wants to make a difference in this world, please reach out to me and let's connect! I am genuinely so happy to be part of this community! Please, have a look at my LinkedIn or email if you want to reach out and talk about bold ideas, projects, laidlaw, research, life, or anything:) 

Hey! My name is Martha and I'm a first-year Psychology student studying at Durham University.  My research project examines how children in care engage with STEM subjects, exploring the barriers and opportunities that shape their educational experiences and long-term outcomes in this field. As previous research has shown that young people who are raised in care are eight times less likely to enrol in University and pursue STEM subjects, I believe that this gap demands immediate attention and targeted interventions so that there is equal access to STEM education for all young people, regardless of their background. I am really looking forward to starting this research as it is a subject that I care a great deal about. Growing up in a fostering family, working in HAF summer camps and completing work experience in Liverpool schools in challenging areas have all given me a clear and early understanding of the care sytem which has deepened my determination to address the inequlities that these young people face.