Blog
Tools & Resources
Creating Space for Constructive Conflict
When Conflict Shows Up
What do you do when conflict crops up? Maybe you’re in a meeting making a decision, and things get heated. Or maybe you’re talking with a colleague or neighbor and all of sudden, they say something you deeply disagree with. Or perhaps it’s the classic holiday dinner example, where everyone avoids certain topics, so that you can all g...
Tools & Resources
Inside the Message Box: Comparing 'Benefits' and 'So What'
I was recently facilitating a virtual workshop and a participant asked me to dive deeper into what differentiates the So What? and the Benefits sections of COMPASS's Message Box. The distinction between these two trapezoids—thanks, middle school geometry—is subtle, and they frequently overlap, but parsing out the difference between the two can be a valuab...
Announcements
Meet the 2025 COMPASS Pathfinders: Conservation Leaders
COMPASS is thrilled to introduce the first cohort of the COMPASS Pathfinders: Conservation Leaders Program—a group of twenty amazing humans from across North America and the Caribbean who are ready to lead with clarity, courage, and connection.
Built on the foundational strengths of the Wilburforce Leaders in Conversation Program, this 8-month long program is...
Media Tips
Op-Ed Writing: It's OK to Argue for something
Expressing perspectives, opinions or even recommendations about the implications of your science can be a bit uncomfortable, even scary in politically charged times like we are in now. But if you want your science to be relevant and useful, you need to make sure it gets out of pages of peer-reviewed journals or organization reports and into real-world discussions. ...
Leadership in Action
Putting Science Engagement into Practice with Dr. Matthew Costa
Dr. Matthew Costa’s path to conservation and coastal science began as a curious kid drawn to explore coastal ecosystems in his hometown. That early fascination deepened in college, where hands-on fieldwork showed him the power of asking — and answering — meaningful questions about the natural world.
Since then, Matt’s research has focused on blue carbon ...