Groundstation.space to Join Nature FIRST Conference as Exhibitor and Workshop Host

Groundstation.space will take part in the Nature FIRST Conference on 25 and 26 June in Rhenen, Netherlands, both as an exhibitor and workshop host. Organised by the EU-funded Nature FIRST consortium in collaboration with Bears in Mind and Ouwehand Zoo Foundation, the event brings together professionals working on biodiversity monitoring, wildlife crime prevention, and human-wildlife coexistence. It takes place at Ouwehands Dierenpark, home to “Het Berenbos” bear sanctuary.

Showcasing satellite data solutions through the Sat-Insight Tech Hub

As an exhibitor, Groundstation.space will showcase its efforts to democratise access to Earth observation data and promote the use of space-based technologies in pressing societal challenges, particularly in the domains of nature conservation, biodiversity monitoring, and sustainable urban ecosystems.

This includes a dedicated presentation of the Satinsight Techhub, an ambitious new initiative co-invested by the Province of South Holland and implemented in close collaboration with NL Space Campus, Netherlands Space Office, and Innovation Quarter. The Satinsight project bridges the gap between cutting-edge remote sensing (RS) and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and their application in non-space sectors.

Drawing inspiration from European projects such as Nature FIRST, Satinsight aims to create a thriving ecosystem for cross-sector collaboration. By making RS/AI data products transparent, interoperable, and transaction-ready, via the Groundstation 2.0 platform with smart contracts and NFT-backed licensing, the initiative enables a new wave of data-driven innovation in agriculture, water management, environmental monitoring, and urban planning.

Workshop on conservation communication

Groundstation.space will also host an interactive workshop during the conference:

From Information to Understanding: Rethinking Conservation Communication

Moderated by Kacia Rutkoŭskaja (dotSPACE Foundation), the session explores how conservation communication influences public perception, trust, and response. It invites participants to reflect on how stories are shaped and what effects they may have, from building local trust to influencing public awareness or interest. We will also look at how the perceived value of a message, including its relevance or resonance in different settings, can affect which topics receive more attention.

The session includes:

• A short introduction to the facilitators and the TransWILD project
• Two short presentations (10 minutes each):
  • Iva Toncheva-Boesten (Bulgaria, Bulgarian News Agency) will offer practical insights into working with the media, sharing stories under pressure, and maintaining trust in complex or sensitive contexts.
  • Stefania Volani / Kyle Jewell (Italy, University of Trento, TransWILD initiative) will share experiences from the TransWILD project and regional fieldwork in Trentino. Their talk will reflect on how values, perceptions, and context influence how conservation messages are received, and how the visibility of some topics may be shaped by emotional or perceived relevance.
• An interactive poll to explore participants’ experiences with communication in their work
• A short group assignment, where participants will be invited to reflect on how they would approach communication around a controversial conservation issue

Please note: Active participation is expected. Attendees will work in small groups during the session to develop a short communication approach around a real-life scenario.

This session builds on the April webinar (watch the recording below) and is designed to encourage practical thinking on how communication strategies can support conservation outcomes in different settings.

About the Conference

The Nature FIRST Conference showcases applied tools for conservation, such as conflict prediction maps, environmental time series, digital twins, and forensic kits. The event is aimed at professionals in conservation, enforcement, policy, and science.

More information and registration: naturefirst.info
Conference brochure: Download here

Featured image credit: Freepik