Sharon Laws: Conservationist and Cycling Champion

A UCL Geography alumna (MSc Conservation, 1999-2000), who went on to become a British Champion in cycle time trials, road racing and mountain biking, tragically died on 16 December at the age of 43.

She is remembered by Dr Peter Jones, then Convenor of the MSc Conservation course, as a student of boundless energy and enthusiasm, who managed to continue training during her course, even on field trips. Born in Nairobi, she had lived in other parts of Africa, and her MSc dissertation was on the threatened livelihoods of Oromo and Afar Pastoralists in Ethiopia.

After gaining her MSc, she expanded her cycling career, including competing at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, retiring in 2016. She also continued working as an environmental consultant, including to the British Government, the United Nations and for mining company Rio Tinto in Australia.

See

• Wikipedia
• BBC Sport