Welcome to Active Intellect! Thank you for being here!

Active Intellect is an academic and personal blog, run by me, Lauren. I am a PhD Student at Royal Holloway University of London*. And also a Fitness Instructor. And a Mum…

I started Active Intellect in 2025, just as I began my PhD research, for many reasons.

First and foremost, a desire to make my, and scientific research in general more accessible. I love reading academic papers, because I’m a nerd. But, let’s be real, academic papers often comprise too many words, we end up skimming the abstract and discussion and hoping for the best. For some reason it’s been my desire for as long as I can remember to write one such academic paper. But, crucially, I also want scientific research to be accessible to everyone; non-academics and non-scientists included. My blog, Cardio & Conservation aims to do just that; explaining my research findings, and the importance of it, in simple terms that everyone can get behind.

Second, I’d played around with the idea for a blog for years, and embarking on this academic journey seemed like the perfect time. I know for sure over the next three-and-a-half years I’m going to have plenty of ups, downs, emotional outbursts, heartbreaks, the lot. I love writing, so what better way to express some of these experiences than with a blog? Away from the actual scientific research, PhD in Motion focuses on the experience of studying for a PhD, alongside my other love, and job, fitness.

I very much hope you enjoy reading. If you learn to love the humble Guppy, and find some use in experiencing the life of a PhD student, I will be more than happy.

Lauren x