My name is Kaitlyn Law and I will be a research student with the LCEDN team at Loughborough University for the next 11 weeks. I am currently completing my undergraduate degree in Urban Systems Geography and Political Science at McGill University in Canada. Through my studies, I have become especially interested in disaster risk management and climate change adaptation as well as issues around the political economy of energy access. I feel that with the intensifying global climate situation, research relating to sustainability and the environment has become increasingly important.
Prior to this, my experiences have been predominantly research and policy-related. During the school term I write policy briefs and articles for the McGill Policy Association and manage the journalism committee for a science research journal. However, my interest in sustainability and renewable energy was catalysed during my time studying at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2018. While in Hong Kong I examined global and local environmental issues as well as consequential social and economic problems that arose from continuous urban development and growth.
During my time here, I will be assisting Dr. Long Seng To with research focused on community energy resilience in Nepal, including literature review, as well as quantitative and qualitative data analysis. This opportunity will allow me to further my understanding of community energy resilience and acquire experience conducting research and data analysis based on renewable energy issues. I hope to apply the knowledge and experience gained from my time at LCEDN towards writing a research paper in the upcoming school year that examines the barriers faced by communities trying to make clean energy transitions and attain energy access in post-disaster situations and any future endeavours.