Want to sign up for a workshop? Register for ConsMark2021 and email us at ConsMark@conbio.org for the sign up sheet.
Below you will find the list of workshops.
Wednesday, October 27, 2021 11am-2pm EST
Presenter(s): Lily Maynard and Jennifer Torchalski
Title: Discovering diverse pathways to inspire conservation behavior change.
Maximum Participants: N/A
Workshop Description:
As active conservationists wanting to inspire your teams, audiences, and communities to reduce threats to the environment, this workshop will provide you resources and skills to jumpstart and increase your conservation impact. We will facilitate discussions and individual applications of social science tools to refine and amplify your engagement strategies using a framework to explore diverse paths to motivate conservation action. We will train participants in the spectrum of messaging techniques using a Pathfinder Scale of integrated conservation psychology theories, designed by the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden and Disney Conservation teams. This workshop will provide new lenses to frame your communications and new resources to mobilize your audiences, as well as next steps for your program evaluation to monitor progress and find opportunities to adapt along the way. By the end of the workshop, participants will have a draft strategic engagement plan to mobilize their audiences.
Speaker Bios:
Lily Maynard, Ph.D. is the Director of Global Conservation at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Spending years in zoos including working as a conservation manager at Disney’s Animal Kingdom instilled her passion for wildlife. Lily received her B.A. in Biology from Smith College and completed her Master’s and Doctorate in the Human Dimensions of Wildlife Conservation at the University of Florida. She has worked in Africa, Central and North America on community-driven conservation projects and continues to partner with global organizations to advance conservation impact, inspire communities to join in, and save diverse wildlife ranging from African lions to monarch butterflies.
Jen Torchalski is an artist and designer with a background in biology. As a member of the Disney Conservation Team, she’s had the opportunity to work on artistic initiatives within the Animals, Science, and Environment branch of The Walt Disney Company, as well as develop creative concepts and marketing strategies for the many NGOs that Disney supports. With experience doing everything from 3D printing animal enrichment to drawing larger-than-life sea turtles, she’s learned that there’s always art to be shared in the world of conservation.
Lily Maynard
Jennifer Torchalski
Wednesday, October 27, 2021 3-6pm EST
Presenter(s): Lisa Yeager, MA Candidate, Biology Cee-Change Fellow with NAAEE and Karen Strong, Principal, Strong Outcomes LLC
Title: Getting Your Message Across: Tools for Effective Communication for Conservation Professionals
Maximum Participants: 30 – Workshop FULL
Workshop Summary:
Effective conservation relies on effective communication. Conservation practitioners need to talk with people with different perspectives and life experiences to address conservation problems and co-create solutions together. Some stakeholders are eager to engage in discussion and take action, and others less so. And though there are many resources to learn about messages and framing that work for various audiences, there are few opportunities to practice what you learn in a low-stakes environment. Effective communication is more than what you say, it’s also how you listen and respond to the other person. This workshop will provide you with skills needed to engage anyone in a thoughtful and respectful dialogue. Through fun and interactive exercises, you’ll practice crucial communication skills that can help you connect more authentically, get your message across more effectively, and grow your influence.
Speaker Bios:
Karen Strong is the principal of Strong Outcomes, a consultancy that works with conservation organizations. Karen is trained as a biologist and over her 22 year career has built capacity to conserve natural resources in dozens of communities and organizations. She is committed to science-based decision-making and believes that conservation will have limited success unless we address social and cultural dimensions.
Lisa Yeager is currently a Cee-Change fellow with the North American Association for Environmental Education where she is helping to build an emergent framework for educators working at the intersection of environmental education and civic and community engagement . She holds an MBA and has over 20 years of experience leading change initiatives as an internal and external consultant. She is currently pursuing a second master’s degree in biology focused on climate change engagement.
Thursday, October 28, 2021 3-6pm EST
Presenter(s): Paul Cox and Ralph Underhill
Title: Advancing the Narrative for Shark and Marine Conservation
Maximum Participants: 30 – Workshop FULL
Workshop Outcomes
- Learn about the key issues in shark and ray conservation and messaging
- Learn about positive framing and how it is being applied to shark conservation
- Participate in practical exercises that will help you communicate better and help test our prototype messaging toolkit
- Develop new skills and appreciation in developing effective communications around complex conservation issues.
Speaker Bios:
Paul Cox is Managing Director of the Shark Trust. A Marine Biologist and Science Communicator, he is leading the Shark Trust’s current initiative to advance the narrative in shark conservation. The Shark Trust is a UK-based non-profit which uses science, education, influence and action to safeguard the world’s shark and ray populations.
Ralph Underhill is a communicator, cartoonist and conservationist. He has written various publications on communicating conservation including the Framing Nature Toolkit and the Positive Communication Toolkit and runs the consultancy Framing Matters. He works with a wide number of organisations across many sectors, including conservation.
