We’re excited to participate in the 8th International Marine Conservation Congress (IMCC8) in Edinburgh, Scotland! Here’s where you can find us:
Open Symposium: “Ocean Science and Conservation Communication: What’s New and What’s Next?”
Saturday, November 14, 2026 | 11:00-12:45 PM
On Nov 14, we will be sharing a 15-minute talk, “Supporting marine conservation practitioners across the globe through virtual capacity building: lessons learned from the 2026 Supporting Blue Parks program.” Led by David Shiffman, the symposium will bring together experts from academia, the environmental sector, and government to explore new tools, successful case studies, and practical approaches for communicating science more effectively with key stakeholders and end users.
Storytelling for Conservation Workshop
Sunday, November 15, 2026 | 12:45-2:15pm
In this lively workshop, participants will explore the science behind storytelling and begin to tell their own story! Using a case study drawn from COMPASS’s work with the Marine Conservation Institute’s Blue Parks program participants will be introduced to a conservationist from a specific Blue Park and will follow the progression of their work throughout the story building process. Through an interactive activity participants will learn the basics of narrative and the components of a story. To conclude the workshop, participants will learn how to translate messages about their work into narrative format through a guided exercise.
Components to be covered in the workshop:
- The science behind storytelling: Participants learn about the biophysical processes that make storytelling a particularly compelling form of communication. Discuss science communication fundamentals (the deficit model, building trust, understanding your audience, etc.)
- Basics of narrative: Participants are introduced to the elements of story (setting, conflict, resolution, etc.) and evidence -supported research on “the shape of stories” that have been found to be effective for sharing science stories.
- From messages to stories: Help participants translate messages about their work into a narrative format through guided exercises.
