Seven Questions with... Lia Bote

This week we meet first year Biological Sciences student Lia Bote, who is founder of London COVID-19 Care Central, a student-led initiative publishing updates on the pandemic for students. What are you studying, why are you interested in this subject and what do you plan to do in the future? I've just finished the first year of my Biological Sciences degree, with the Cell Biology concentration from second year onwards. Growing up in the Philippines, where both the healthcare and education systems are largely inefficient and inaccessible, I've always been interested in biomedical research and particularly how medical developments can be brought to low and middle-income countries. I'm also passionate about science communications and ensuring that accurate information is as widely accessible as possible, driven by the belief that an informed population is an empowered population. I'm excited to explore both of these fields in the future!  - What is the most interesting thing you've done, seen or got involved with while at UCL?. As founder and project leader for Covid Care , I've gotten to work with dozens of student volunteers who share my passion for accessible information and dedication to inspiring youths to take action. Through my involvement with this initiative, I've also helped with launching the Visions for a World after COVID-19 competition , in collaboration with the UCL Institute of Education and the political website openDemocracy, where students aged fourteen and up have the opportunity to draw from their experiences and reflect on how we can build a better post-pandemic world.