51Âþ»­

A postgraduate student has won a scholarship to visit the United Nations and work with colleagues from around the world on ideas to fight climate change.

Alice Jackson-Rushby will travel to New York for the event in March – which will be attended by former President of the United States Bill Clinton.

“It still doesn’t feel real,” said Alice, 22. “I can’t believe that I will be there in March and that I’ll have the chance to have my voice heard in the United Nations headquarters.”



Her application was chosen from hundreds of others who applied for a place at the event. Alice, who is studying for a Master’s in Diplomacy and World Order, is one of just 10 young people attending from the UK.

Alice, from Mansfield, aims to work in humanitarian aid, and hopes attending the conference will give her an insight into the field.

She said: “According to some reports, we only have about 10 years left before the effects of climate change are irreversible. This conference gives us the opportunity to create a voice to show the world that young people can come up with solutions and make a better future.”

All together there will be around 3,500 delegates take from Model UN branches around the world, with 20 per cent of attendees coming from Europe.



Model UN is a network of clubs based in schools, colleges and universities around the world. Members research issues, debate and hold conferences along the same ethos and values as the United Nations.

Topics such as climate change denial and the controversy of palm oil use will be under discussion during the Change the World Model United Nations conference, which is due to run over three days in New York.

The theme of the conference is Freedom’s Boundaries: Democracy, Climate Change, Migration. It’s the people who make history.

“It’s an incredible opportunity, and I’m still in shock that I will be going,” said Alice. “I will be making the most of the trip and I am so proud to be representing the university.”

Her tutor, Adam Fishwick, Reader in International Political Economy and Development Studies, said: “This is a brilliant opportunity for Alice to attend the UN and to meet and work with students from across the world. For the exciting career plans she has, this will be invaluable. I am very proud that Alice has had this success and that 51Âþ»­ and our Diplomacy and World Order MA will be represented at such a fantastic event!”

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