First Year student wins highly sought-after scholarship for research and leadership

This scholarship, run by the Laidlaw Foundation with the generous support of Lord Laidlaw of Rothiemay, is offered at high-performing research-based universities around the world, in Britain, Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, Singapore and the USA. The two-year programme enables talented undergraduate students to undertake a research project with funding, and gain valuable leadership and management experience in projects which benefit the community. Scholars graduate from the programme with a respected management qualification and into a global community of fellow scholars. The ultimate aim is to produce the next generation of ethical leaders.

Andrew’s research project is a multi-period study combining elements of landscape and digital archaeology, both of which are strengths within the department. It is entitled ‘A comparative view-shed analysis of the hilltops and archaeological sites of the Mid-Cheshire Ridge’. Over the summer of 2021, he will use GIS viewshed analysis to assess and compare the visibility of sites from within the Mid-Cheshire Ridge landscape, and study the change in view over time. The project seeks to address several research aims and has valuable potential to benefit local heritage. The circumstances for the research, and for the wider scholarship programme, are adapted this year given the pandemic. Scholarship applicants were encouraged to design their research methods to be possible to conduct remotely, without access to departmental facilities in York, should restrictions be ongoing over the summer.

Andrew’s success makes him the third Laidlaw Scholar from York’s Department of Archaeology since the scholarship launched in York in 2017. It is excellent to see the success and enthusiasm of our undergraduates, and we feel confident we'll see continued success in the future.

Reflecting on the award, Andrew said, “I am delighted to have the opportunity to undertake the scholarship programme, to conduct this research, develop skills and experience and work to benefit the community. I am looking forward to starting this summer; the research topic is very promising, and it is a very interesting and exciting project to conduct.”

Andrew’s mentor for the project, who will supervise his research, is Dr James Taylor, Lecturer in Archaeology.

Find out more about the Laidlaw Scholarship.