New NERC-funded project to open up environmental science pathways for young people

A new collaborative project supported by University of Leicester has been recommended for funding through the Natural Environment Research Council’s Opening up the Environment programme. 

The project, The C3ITEES Passport: a unified model for opening up the environment, led by Loughborough University, will develop a structured, inclusive and place-based model to help young people, schools and communities engage with environmental science, climate adaptation and future careers in the sector. 

The project brings together expertise from Loughborough University, the British Geological Survey, the University of Leicester, the University of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent University, the Environment Agency (East Midlands), Charnwood Forest Geopark and wider partners.  

Together, the team will create a “passport” model of environmental engagement, designed to build confidence, knowledge, skills and opportunity over time. 

The C3ITEES Passport will support young people to explore their local environments, understand environmental challenges, and see themselves as active contributors to environmental futures. It will also help strengthen pathways into environmental science by connecting schools, communities, researchers, practitioners and sector organisations through a shared model of progression and participation. 

Professor Sarah Davies, project co-lead at the University of Leicester School of Geography, Geology and the Environment, said: “We are looking forward to collaborating on this important project that seeks to co-design inclusive pathways to environmental science with communities that have not traditionally had access to environmental education and careers. The co-operation between universities and organisations across the East Midlands region, and the project’s long-term ambitions to embed and scale efforts to open up environmental science, are really exciting and aligned with our university's values.”

Dr Katie Parsons, Research Fellow at Loughborough University and a key architect of the C3ITEES Passport model, said: “Young people have a vital role to play in understanding and responding to environmental change, but too often opportunities to engage with environmental science are fragmented or unevenly distributed. 

“This project is about creating a more coherent, creative and inclusive route into environmental learning, action and aspiration. We want children and young people to feel that environmental science is for them, connected to their lives, and relevant to the places they know and care about.” 

Dr Keely Mills, from the British Geological Survey, said: “We are really excited to be working in partnership across sectors to inspire the next generation of environmental scientists and explore how we can build more inclusive routes into environmental careers. Across the East Midlands we will be bringing together schools, teachers, parents, researchers and environmental employers to showcase the breadth of environmental careers and the importance of environmental knowledge in responding to real-world challenges.”

Professor Daniel Parsons, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at Loughborough University, said: “We are delighted that this project has been recommended for funding by NERC. Opening up environmental science is not just about broadening access to knowledge; it is about creating meaningful, sustained and inclusive pathways through which young people and communities can participate in shaping environmental futures. 

“The C3ITEES Passport gives us a fantastic platform to work with partners across universities, schools, communities and environmental organisations to build something with lasting impact for young people and for the wider environmental science pipeline.” 

The project will support NERC’s ambition to widen participation in environmental science and create more equitable routes into the sector. It will place particular emphasis on sustained engagement, partnership working and the development of resources and activities that are locally relevant, accessible and scalable. 

Further details about the project, its partners and opportunities for schools and communities to get involved will be announced once the award is formally confirmed.