Laura Pels Ferra

I am a Coordinator in the Global Research Centre for Diverse Intelligences in the School of Psychology and Neuroscience.

From March 2021 to October 2024 I was the Coordinator for the St Andrews Network for Climate, Energy, Environment and Sustainability (STACEES), an interdisciplinary initiative designed to drive impact and visibility in environmental research at St Andrews. My role had a strong focus on leading the network’s communication strategy, and included coordinating network events, engagement activities, outputs, identifying areas for potential interdisciplinary collaboration and supporting the writing of funding bids.

In 2024 I was also the Coordinator for a STAIRS-funded interdisciplinary Climate Change project that aimed to identify interdisciplinary expertise and collaboration opportunities in climate change research and impact at St Andrews, and with global partners. This project hosted the inaugural University of St Andrews Climate Week in May 2024, with a series of events designed to highlight climate-themed research and build new cross-disciplinary collaborations.

Between 2015 and 2019 I was the Network Facilitator for the Leverhulme International Network for Contemporary Studies, a role in which I contributed to and participated in all aspects of planning the Network's events, which took place in Montreal, Paris, Delhi, Glasgow and St Andrews. I was also the Administrative Officer for Research and Impact in the School of Modern Languages, where I provided support for all research activities in the school, including REF and Impact, ethics, grants, conferences and events. 

Alongside my research support work, my artistic research and practice explores the human condition and the environment through drawing, painting, and installation. Deeply rooted in my personal experiences and surroundings, I often work on paper, using a multidisciplinary approach that combines stylised motifs and observation-based drawing to invite reflection on the interconnectedness of life. I held my first solo exhibition in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2002 and have exhibited internationally since. More about my art can be found at www.laurapelsferra.com.