CAREERS2 is designed to break down systemic, organisational, and cultural barriers that limit people from ethnic minority groups from participating in environmental citizen science, education, and research.
The UK environmental sector suffers from a severe diversity gap at both the educational and professional levels. Ethnically minoritised individuals make up only 11.1% of geography, earth, and environmental science students, compared to 28% of the general undergraduate population. They represent just 4.5% of staff in environment, conservation, climate, and sustainability charities, compared to over 16% of the broader UK workforce.
The new £700k funded by NERC builds on groundwork laid in 2025 by a 'super consortium' that unites academic, government, and NGO partners: Five Yorkshire universities (Bradford, Leeds, Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam, York) focused on equity in postgraduate study and UKTEPoP (16 NGOs and government bodies running national biodiversity citizen science projects).
The project will deliver activities that drive change at two levels: equip students for environmental education, research and careers, and support organisational change for academic and citizen science biomonitoring partners.
Some of the planned activities over 2026–28 include:
- Delivering targeted staff workshops utilising consortium expertise to address inequality in research and citizen science, covering allyship, inclusive mentoring, and equitable fieldwork.
- Recruiting students from Yorkshire universities to co-develop citizen science programmes with UKTEPoP partners. Students will undertake local biomonitoring, contribute to national datasets, and gain vital skills and experience. The project will provide these students with practical, financial, and social support.
By simultaneously empowering students and enabling organisational change, CAREERS2 makes possible the inclusive, innovative workforce essential for the future of UK environmental science.
I'm incredibly proud to lead the University of Sheffield's role in this vital project. There is a huge diversity gap in the UK environmental sector, which isn't just a statistical issue - it's a barrier to innovative science. CAREERS2 is actively dismantling these systemic barriers through improving practice, supporting students and transforming organisational cultures so that the future of environmental science is genuinely inclusive and reflective of our whole society.
Dr Asha Akram