Laura holds a BSc (Honours) in Geology with a focus on Environmental Geology from the University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria, an MSc (Eng) in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, and a PhD in view, from the Department of Engineering Management at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa.

Laura’s research niche focuses on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, which span all facets of the environment. Her current research aims to develop a framework for plastic waste management in the North-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, a region that is heavily affected by conflict.

The Balzan Fellowship will provide essential resources to broaden Laura’s interdisciplinary network through data sourcing. Collaborating and interviewing local governments and organizations in Northeast Nigeria to implement and test the framework, ensuring its effectiveness and sustainability through the Delphi methodology. Publishing her research in reputable journals and presenting at conferences, to contribute to the global discourse on plastic waste management and inspire further research.