Get to Know Your Student Committee: Laura Stevens, Experimental Liaison

We asked the members of the 2022-2023 Student Committee to answer some questions about themselves to help you get to know who they are and what they do.

​What is your school, program, and year? 
University of Birmingham, PhD Psychology, Final Year
 
Why psychology and the law? 
As a little girl I was always told I should go into law as I loved to debate and stand up for what I believed was right. As I got older, I realised that whilst that sounded interesting, I was more passionate about learning about people and why they behave the way they do. This led me to study Psychology, where I combined my passions of learning about human behaviour and the law and justice by specialising in forensic psychology. Now, I get to use my knowledge and passions to aid vulnerable victims in accessing justice.
 
What is your favorite thing about your current graduate program?
My graduate programme allows me to work alongside world renowned academics, passionate forward-thinking practitioners and community actors and other innovative, motivated students from all over the world, including Kenya, Jordan, Lebanon, Rwanda, Palestine, South Korea and Australia. We pride ourselves on our interdisciplinary and international work that allows me to learn from such a broad range of individuals.
 
If you were not in graduate school what would you do? 
I would work for an NGO or charity that assisted survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
 
What advice do you have for those applying to graduate school? 
Make sure you are passionate about the area that you are going into. It can be a difficult time, so it is great to have that passion and interest to fall back on. Ensure that you are a good fit with your mentor/supervisor. This relationship will be integral to your programme. I am fortunate to have an incredibly supportive, understanding supervisor who is top of her field and great at assisting us with gaining opportunities. This goes a long way to my enjoyment with my programme.
 
If you could only watch 3 movies or tv shows over and over for the rest of your life, what would they be and why?
Criminal Minds, Gossip Girl and The Greatest Showman, feeds my love of forensic psychology, musical theatre and cliche teen dramas!
 
Is cereal soup?
No
 
Explain your hot take about cereal. 
Traditionally sweet and not savoury.
 
Is water wet?
Yes
 
Explain your hot take about water. 
Water makes other substances wet, therefore by association I would class it as wet.
 
What is a quote you like and who said it?
"The past is history, tomorrows a mystery and today is a gift, that is why it is called the present." No idea who originally said it, I learned it from the turtle in Kung Fu Panda!
 
If you could invite five people (dead or alive) to a dinner party, who would it be any why? 
My mom, brother, husband, grandparents - my comfort people. I know I would have the best time, especially if my nan is cooking.
 
What’s the best Wi-Fi name you’ve seen? 
router I hardly know her
 
What is your favorite city and why? 
Rome, Italy. It is where I got engaged.

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