Cohort of change
A group of international environmental law PhD students has gone on to do great things in research and academia, thanks to the encouragement and support of Professors Michael Jeffery and Donna Craig of the School of Law.
Elizabeth Gachenga graduated in April this year and is now lecturing at Strathmore Law School in Nairobi, Kenya. “I am also involved in research and am working towards the creation of a research centre in environmental law at the law school,” she says. “My aspiration is to contribute to legal education in Kenya and the East African region. I also look forward to contributing to applied research in environmental law in Kenya.”
Qi Gao also graduated in April and is currently preparing for job interviews in China. “I would like to work in an academic position in one of the leading universities in China and contribute to research, teaching and environmental law practice in China,” she says.
Bob Zhao, who graduated in April 2012, is now working as an Assistant Professor at the Law School of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics where he has developed classes in domestic and international environmental law for undergraduate and post-graduates. “I enjoyed every single moment at UWS,” says Bob. “I received so much help from people around me. I think the most important thing about studying at UWS was being provided with the best education resources, including the library service.”
Two additional international environmental law PhD students from China, Xiangbai He and Ying Shen are currently working with Michael and Donna and will complete their studies later this year and early next year. After graduation, Xiangbai would like to contribute to China’s environmental protection. “I am also passionate about helping people change their environmental behaviour to be sustainable,” she says. To this end, she will seek to find a position at a university in China where she can influence younger generations to think about environmental protection.
When Ying Shen completes her PhD she would like to continue her research work. “I hope to find a post-doctoral position at a university,” she says. “I would also like to work in a non-government organisation in the field of climate change. I hope that my knowledge can boost sustainable developments.”
While the opportunities provided at UWS have helped these students’ careers professionally, the friendships built during their studies have also made a significant impact. “Apart from Donna and Michael’s academic supervision, they also gave me away on my wedding day,” says Hem Aitken, who graduated last year. “I also attended conferences and met like-minded people and heard their ideas. My UWS degree has been an enriching experience.”
Michael and Donna welcomed three new PhD students (two from Bangladesh and one from Thailand) to the environmental law cohort in March 2013 and a further three from Thailand, Iran and Australia respectively will commence their studies in July.
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