Laura Young

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My time at University

In 2018 I began the Environmental Protection and Management MSc at the University of Edinburgh, and it was one of the best academic years I have completed.

For a year, I was immersed in such a wide range of environmental issues, looking at everything from the soil biology to political strategies and everything in between. I chose to study at Edinburgh because of its reputation and academic quality. I was also highly interested in the subject choice and scholarships offered with this course.

The best thing about studying within the geoscience school was the breadth of knowledge and course availability across the course. There was a wide range of subjects to choose from and topics that were extremely relevant to Scotland, where I am from and want to live and work. While doing this masters, I completed both the co-curricular pathways with the Sustainability and Social Responsibility department, which have been fundamental since graduating and beginning work.

I also took my dissertation as an opportunity to do an internship with Scottish Power Energy Networks looking at their sustainability practices across the country. As part of the course, we also went on a field trip to Morocco, which was unbelievable and deepened my knowledge of research immensely.

My experiences since leaving University

I currently work for the international development NGO Tearfund as their newly appointed Scotland COP26 Advocacy and Campaigns Coordinator. This role looks at how we as a charity can engage supporters in the run-up to COP26 in Glasgow while also ensuring that voices from the global south are put front and centre during discussions about climate change.

I also run the environmental platform Less Waste Laura across all social media channels, but predominantly on Instagram, where I am an ethical influencer. This platform has grown since I began it in 2018. Now I do a breadth of work, including school talks, conferences, and consulting for businesses looking to bring sustainability into their practices.

Both jobs, which I do right now, were not where I saw myself working. I saw myself going down a very science-heavy role in a graduate type scheme. However, it is clear that as time moves on, more and more businesses are looking for environmentally minded people to join their teams and improve their practices.

Alumni wisdom

My advice for all students is that while you have the university contacts and resources at your fingertips, use them! Take every opportunity possible to do extracurricular activities, such as the co-curricular pathway courses or internships, as these provide an essential experience that is needed when working. I got to where I am today from really gripping every experience, no matter how uncomfortable it might have been at the time. The people skills, presenting skills, and ability to adapt to environments were things I learned from outside the academic learning.

If you are looking to study at Edinburgh, make sure that you check out what courses suit you and seek out the projects staff themselves are working on. There is so much opportunity at Edinburgh, so make sure not to let it slip by you!

Watch Laura's TedXGlasgow talk 'Kicking the plastic habit':