Our Laidlaw Scholars recently joined more than 350 undergraduate students from twenty-two universities around the world at the prestigious Laidlaw Scholars Conference, hosted by Imperial College London.  

The event brought together scholars participating in the Laidlaw Scholars Leadership and Research Programme to exchange ideas, share experiences, and celebrate the impact of undergraduate research and leadership. 

This year's conference theme, 'Ambition - Passion, Progress, and Possibility in a Changing World' encouraged scholars to think boldly about the challenges and opportunities facing society today. Through a series of engaging panel discussions, workshops, and interactive sessions, students explored how research, leadership, and global engagement can contribute to positive change. 

Research Success for Trinity Scholars 

A particular highlight of the conference was the research poster exhibition, which showcased the outstanding projects being undertaken by Laidlaw Scholars across the network.  

We are proud to celebrate the achievements of Eva McParland (Medicine), Seán Radcliffe (Economics and Mathematics), Anna Halvey (Philosophy, Political Science, Economics and Sociology) and Sarah Flynn (Engineering), who were selected to present their research at the conference: 

  • Eva McParland – HSP90 Inhibition as a Dual Therapy for Glioblastoma and Tumour Related Epilepsy 
  • Seán Radcliffe – Reading Between the White Lines: An Investigation into Cocaine-Related Harm in Ireland During Periods of Economic Change and Crisis, 2004–2023 
  • Anna Halvey – Think for Yourself? Influencers, Delegated Citizenship and the Future of Democracy 
  • Sarah Flynn – Rethinking the Mesh: Erosion Testing of Polypropylene Used in the Surgical Treatment of Female Stress Urinary Incontinence 

 

In addition, amongst the 11 Trinity Scholars, whose research posters were shortlisted by Taylor and Francis publishing group, four were selected for publication on the open research platform, F1000Research, the publication pathway for undergraduate research: 

  • Eva McParland (Medicine) – HSP90 Inhibition as a Dual Therapy for Glioblastoma and Tumour Related Epilepsy   
  • Seán Radcliffe (Economics and Mathematics) – Reading Between the White Lines: An Investigation into Cocaine-Related Harm in Ireland During Periods of Economic Change and Crisis, 2004–2023   
  • Sarah Flynn (Engineering) – The Development and Testing of Suitable Materials as an Alternative to Polypropylene for Use in Surgical Meshes for the Treatment of Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Stress Urinary Incontinence 
  • Nal Butolen (Engineering) – Community-centred Flight Path Optimisation for Urban Drone Delivery 

This remarkable accomplishment meant that Trinity College Dublin had the highest number of scholar posters selected for publication among all participating universities, reflecting the exceptional quality and impact of our scholars' research. 

These international connections are a key part of the Laidlaw experience, creating a vibrant global community of future leaders committed to making a positive difference in their fields and wider society. 

We warmly congratulate all of our scholars who represented Trinity College Dublin at the conference. Their enthusiasm, dedication, and research excellence showcased the strength of our Laidlaw community and highlighted the significant contribution Trinity students are making across a diverse range of disciplines. 

Below are some of our favourite moments from the conference weekend: 

Trinity Laidlaw scholars reviewing research posters at the Laidlaw Scholar Conference in London, 2026Trinity Laidlaw scholars sitting in a large auditorium at the Laidlaw Scholar Conference in London, 2026

Trinity Laidlaw scholar Sean Radcliffe presenting at the Laidlaw Scholar Conference in London, 2026Trinity Laidlaw scholars at the Laidlaw Scholar Conference in London, 2026