Engaging ethnically diverse communities to develop future talent in UK environmental science through water resource management (EMBRACE Enviro).

This project aims to inspire refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants from ethnically diverse communities in the UK to pursue careers in environmental science (EMBRACE Enviro). It seeks to achieve this by promoting engagements that connect them with a broader network of professionals working in the environmental science space and introducing them to essential skills in water quality science. A key focus is on addressing water-related harmful algal blooms. EMBRACE Enviro is timely, given the rising number of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants driven by conflicts, environmental degradation, and other crises. The UK remains a key destination for refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants, with around 667,200 residents as of February 2025 (UNHCR, 2025). In 2023, they comprised 14% of all immigrants, with 81% from ethnically diverse communities (House of Commons Library, 2024). Refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants in the UK face barriers to education and employment, particularly in environmental science (Gateley, 2015). Many lack professional networks and experience gaps in education, making entry into the field difficult. However, their lived experiences provide valuable insights into societal challenges such as climate change and water resource management. Despite their potential, these communities struggle to apply their skills in the UK labour market. Limited efforts have been made to equip them with relevant skills or leverage their knowledge, restricting their participation in the environmental science sector and missing opportunities for diverse perspectives in tackling global challenges. Despite the need for greater diversity in environmental sciences, progress remains slow. Only 4.8% of environmental professionals identify as Black, Asian, or minority ethnic, compared to 12.6% across all professions. Since many refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants in the UK come from ethnically diverse backgrounds, EMBRACE Enviro is crucial for improving representation and diversifying the field. Water is vital for human life, but pollution threatens its availability, impacting health, ecosystems, and economies. Addressing these challenges requires diverse perspectives on water quality treatment, monitoring, and communication (Amador-Castro, 2024). Our recent engagement with ethnically diverse communities highlights that water quality science is an opportunity to engage the community and attract future talent in environmental science, promoting inclusion and expanding participation in NERC sciences. To address these challenges, we propose a collaborative approach that values the knowledge of ethnically diverse communities, leveraging our team's expertise in water management and partnerships with organisations like Migrant Help, Environment Agency, British Hydrological Society, and Yorkshire Water to promote representation. This pioneering EMBRACE Enviro pilot will: Evaluate York St John University's capabilities to promote diversity and improve representation of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants from ethnically diverse communities within NERC science. Identify the priorities and barriers refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants from diverse communities face in environmental science education and careers. Expand professional and social networks for refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants from diverse communities in environmental science careers and opportunities. Build the capacity of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants from diverse communities by offering training in essential water management skills. Promote avenues for refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants from diverse communities to contribute to water management policy discussions. Assess the impact of the work completed in objectives 1 to 5. This project will benefit refugees, asylum seekers, migrants, environmental science employers, and key stakeholders, supporting sustainable water management decisions and contributing to literature on representation justice in socio-hydrology and water management (Haeffner 2021).