Current scholarships
Hansard Research Scholars Programme
Applications are now closed for the January 2010 scholarship. Watch this space for information on the next round of scholarships.
Ms Grace Lee
Read Grace's first report on Cambridge
The 2009 Chevening Scholar was in Wellington in August at a meeting of Chevening alumni hosted by Britain’s High Commissioner Mr George Fergusson.
Grace is a graduate of Canterbury University and is hoping to do her post graduate work in Law and Climate Change. She was born in Korea but her family emigrated to Christchurch where they live on a life style block north of the city.
The High Commission’s communication manager Chris Harrington spoke to Grace:
Q In a nutshell Grace what do you want to get out of the Chevening and your trip to Cambridge University.
A As you know I want to study for my Law Masters concentrating on International Law papers.
There is a research component to the course and I want to focus my research on Climate Change. This is a particular area of law I am fascinated in. This is an issue of global importance and it defies the traditional boundaries in almost every branch of law. And I have come across this in all my commercial and corporate dealings at my law firm .I really wanted to focus my studies on this particular area. At Cambridge I guess I want to gain a deep understanding of the legal issues and policy implication and I guess I want to become involved and contribute in innovative policy making.
Q To me it sounds like you almost want to get involved in the political sphere of climate change and law?
A Well I still have my studies. I am a lawyer at heart and .I still want to retain a legal focus around my studies but I do want to enter the public service.
Q But you want to do that public service in New Zealand?
A Given that the reason why I am even able to take studies at Cambridge is due to the generous support of the British High Commission. I guess I will return and give that back to New Zealand.
Q Have you got a vision of where you want Law and Climate change ending up?
A I want to focus my studies on the International Community response and I really want to explore the possibility of an international liability redress regime .for Climate Change related damages. But as things stand International Climate change legal instruments are often general in nature and lack strong enforcement procedures. . International law on Climate Change is often led to national not international bodies. So that is what I want to concentrate on, a mandatory legal framework for international reform.
Q Any such framework is going to be highly unpopular isn’t it?
A Well its highly unpopular now isn’t it. but things will change.
Q Are you a committed environmentalist in your own right?
A Ummm …When |I was in Auckland I refused to buy myself a car …I caught the bus everywhere. Christchurch is a little different, as the public transport system is pretty poor. If you are asking whether I am passionate about environmental causes well yes I would say I was.
Q Have you ever been to the United Kingdom before?
A No. No this is my first time in that part of the world
Q Are you apprehensive about going to Cambridge University?
A In a way yes …I am from Christchurch but I have had to work for a law firm in Auckland this past year. So I have gone through that experience of having to settle in a new environment. I will have to create a new support network. This time it’s a bit different as I will be doing what I have always wanted to do which is my post graduate studies. So I am a little apprehensive but I think the advantages will far outweigh the hurdles on the way.
