Groundstation.Space to Host Nature FIRST Communication Webinar Featuring Local & Media Experts

Groundstation.Space will host the upcoming webinar “Conservation Communication That Works: Clear Messages, Local Voices, and Media-Smart Strategies” on 24 April 2025. Organised within the framework of the Nature FIRST Horizon Europe project, the webinar will bring together conservation and communication experts to share practical strategies for science communication, local outreach, and media engagement.

The session is designed for conservation professionals, researchers, and communication practitioners working across different regions and with varied resources. It will offer real-world examples and useful insights for adapting communication in diverse and often complex settings.

Confirmed Speakers:

• Nikola Ganchev – PhD researcher at the Bulgarian Academy of Science and former science communication expert at Pensoft Publishers.
• Iva Toncheva-Boesten – Journalist and Senior PR & Communication Expert at the Bulgarian News Agency.
• Dr. Anna Sustersic – Communication Coordinator at Coexistence.life, specialising in community engagement.
• Boris Hinojo – Founder of 3edata (Galicia, Spain), with experience in stakeholder communication at the regional level.
• Roman Cherepanyn – Projects Manager at WWF-Ukraine and lecturer at Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University.

Event details

Date: 24 April 2025
Time: 15:00–16:00 CEST
Optional Discussion: 16:00–16:30 CEST
Platform: Google Meet
Moderator: Kacia Rutkouskaja, Consultant Content & Social Media at Groundstation.Space and Media Coordinator for the Nature FIRST project.

The agenda will cover four short thematic sessions:

1. Science Communication – Making scientific findings clear and accessible without oversimplifying.
2. Media Relations & Sensationalism – Engaging with the media while maintaining accuracy and relevance.
3. Localisation & Community Engagement – Adapting communication to local contexts, languages, and needs.
4. Adapting to Contexts – Communicating effectively in settings with limited infrastructure or resources.

The webinar aims to provide:

• Examples of effective conservation communication approaches
• Ideas for adjusting outreach strategies based on time, funding, or staffing limitations
• Guidance for navigating common challenges such as misinformation or cultural differences
• Practical tools and takeaways for use in participants’ own projects

Insights from this webinar will help shape a communication-focused workshop during the Nature FIRST Final Conference, taking place on 25–26 June 2025 in Rhenen, the Netherlands.

Read more about the webinar and register here: https://www.naturefirst.info/events/webinar-conservation-communication-that-works-clear-messages-local-voices-and-media-smart-strategies

Featured image: Freepik

About Nature FIRST project

As a Horizon Europe project funded by the European Commission, Nature FIRST will develop predictive, proactive, and preventative tools for nature conservation for the next three years.

 The tools we use are demonstrated in the following European regions:

• The Carpathian Mountains, a 1,500 km-long range in Central and Eastern Europe.
• The Danube Delta River is Europe’s largest remaining natural wetland. The more significant part of the Danube Delta lies in Romania, and a small part is in Ukraine.
• The Stara Planina mountains, a mountain range in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula.
• And the Ancares y O Courel, the largest green reserve in Galicia, Spain.