Two University of Warwick graduates will be joining the next cohort of the prestigious Schwarzman Scholars programme, at Tsinghua University in Beijing.

Ross Jaggers will graduate from the University of Warwick with a Doctorate in Chemistry (PhD) in 2017, following a Masters in Chemistry at the University of York where he spent a year working at the Dutch life sciences company DSM. He is a strong believer of open and accessible science, working to share his work with academics, industry and the public, alike.

During his scientific career, Ross conducted research into the design of new functional materials of the future. In addition to his research, he is a passionate advocate of equality and diversity in the workplace and the scientific community. Ross' long term goal is to change public perception of scientific research and expertise. He plans to do this by shaping public policy and by bringing more scientists to the forefront of politics. He is currently working at the Royal Society, London, in the Industry Engagement team. Ross is 26 years old and from the United Kingdom.

Yi Lok Enoch WONG was born in Hong Kong, studied in the UK for 10 years, and has worked in 7 countries across Asia, Europe and Africa. He was a Swire Scholar and graduated from the University of Warwick with BSc. MORSE (Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics and Economics). After working at the world’s largest youth leadership non-for-profit and world’s largest private education company, he continued to pursue his passion and co-founded 3 educational start-ups.

He is currently the CEO of CareerX, the founder of the “Belt and Road Innovation Academy”, and was selected as a Global Shaper and the Advisory Council Steering Committee by the World Economic Forum (Davos). He is also a mentor and a guest lecturer across over 30 countries, at universities like Tsinghua and organizations/companies like China UnionPay on the topics of design thinking, innovation and entrepreneurship. Enoch is 27 years old and from Hong Kong.

142 Schwarzman Scholars were selected from over 4,000 applicants. The Class of 2019 is comprised of students from 39 countries and 97 universities with 41% from the United States, 20% from China, and 39% from the rest of the world.

The Class of 2019 will enroll at Schwarzman College on the Tsinghua University campus in Beijing in August 2018.

About Schwarzman Scholars:

Schwarzman Scholars was inspired by the Rhodes Scholarship, which was founded in 1902 to promote international understanding and peace, and is designed to meet the challenges of the 21st century and beyond. Blackstone Co-Founder Stephen A. Schwarzman personally contributed over $100 million to the program and is leading a fundraising campaign to raise an additional $500 million from others to endow the program in perpetuity. Schwarzman Scholars has already raised $516 million towards this $600 million goal.

The endowment will support up to 200 Scholars annually from the U.S., China and around the world for a one-year Master’s Degree program at Tsinghua University in Beijing. Scholars chosen for this highly selective program have demonstrated exemplary leadership qualities and their potential to bridge and understand cultural and political differences. They will live in Beijing for a year of study and cultural immersion, attending lectures, traveling, and developing a better understanding of China.

4 December 2017

Further information contact:

Luke Walton, International Press Manager

+44 (0) 7824 540 863

+44 (0) 2476 150 868

L dot Walton dot 1 at warwick dot ac dot uk