Diversifying Geography and Environmental Sciences Outreach
NUSTEM has collaborated with colleagues in Northumbria University and Newcastle University on a ‘‘ONE Planet Outreach Network’ project. This project was funded by the National Environment Research Council (NERC) through their Diversifying the Talent Pipeline call.
Our project aimed to understand and address the low engagement of minoritised ethnic groups in the natural and environmental sciences across the North East of England by:
- Mapping and critically evaluating our own current outreach initiatives
- Strategically developing a framework for effective co-ordinated outreach delivery
- Piloting the delivery of an outreach programme to challenge the perceptions of Higher Education and career opportunities within the natural and environmental sciences.
Context
Data from UK national funding bodies highlights a clear under-representation of students from ethnic minority backgrounds within undergraduate, masters and doctoral programs.
Research has shown that black, asian and minority ethnic students studying Geography and Environmental Science subjects in the UK may experience isolation in their learning environments, as they may be the only students of colour in their department and lack access to visible role models. Similarly non-white students are more likely to perceive their department environment as being less tolerant, equitable and diverse, and less likely to perceive their working environments favourably.
There are many ways that University departments could, and do, support diversity. Outreach has been named as an important and valuable route for Universities to increase diversity in their qualification pathways. However, increasing diversity will require efforts across multiple dimensions, and cannot be detached from the historical and structural, psychological and behavioural dimensions.
Project Findings
NUSTEM has been involved in two areas of this work:
- We conducted a rapid evidence review to critically evaluated the current outreach activities from outside the partner institutions in terms of engagement with equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) practices.
Download the report: Rapid Evidence Review Diversity in Geography and Environmental Science Outreach - We used learning and recommendations from this an internal review of outreach practice, and the rapid evidence review of EDI outreach practices to develop a framework for effective outreach delivery. This offers suggestions for approaches and ways of working and should have value to institutions, departments, academics and others involved in outreach.
Download the report: Improving diversity in natural and environmental science: guidance for outreach
