Congratulations to students Elyse Chaves, Eugénie Chene and Aglaé Fricoteaux, who have been awarded the first-ever Marquess of Lansdowne Prize in the Entente Cordiale University Challenge for their research on the topic of Climate Change, Biodiversity and the Developing World.
Their report, The Desert Light Project: How Solar Parks in the Sahara Could Revolutionise Renewable Energy, earned them a place in the final round at the London School of Economics on 7-8 April, where they presented their work to a Grand Jury of leading academics and practitioners including the President of COP26, the Rt Hon. Lord Alok Sharma KCMG.
Congratulations also go to our other UCL finalists, Becky (Rebekah) Weldon, Ariadne Kalakou and Bronwen Smith, who got to celebrate their work by attending the Entente Cordiale Day Summit and Awards Gala and joining its lifetime alumni network. Their project was titled: An innovative framework to mitigate the impact of climate change and biodiversity loss on the nutritional status of indigenous communities: The case of the Wayuu people in La Guajira, Colombia.
A unique opportunity
Becky, who is in the first year of her International Social and Political Studies BA, said: "It was an amazing experience. Particularly because I’d never written on this wonderful topic or worked in a team before, so I learnt a lot, but also because I got to meet such amazing people. My advice for people next year, especially people who get into the final group, is for them to speak to everyone. You will make such good friends. You’ll hear so much you’ve never heard before and you’ll find new ways to look at the world."Ingrid Chan, final-year Social and Political Studies student and President of UCL Diplomacy Society , added: "Having the honour of working with the Entente Cordiale Day Association in my role as President of the UCL Diplomacy Society, I am very pleased for, and proud of the 48 students who joined the inaugural Entente Cordiale University Challenge this year.
"Special congratulations as well to our finalists and prizewinners - it was a privilege to listen to their remarkable solutions on mitigating climate change, biodiversity loss and strengthening renewable energy infrastructure in person.
"I highly encourage future students to join, not just for the fabulous dinner and opportunities, but also for the chance of interacting with like-minded peers who are also passionate about enacting change in the world."
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