Communicate 2022 programme

WELCOME TO

2022

COMMUNICATE CONFERENCE ONLINE

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

Is Communicate online or in-person this year?

Communicate will be held online, with an additional option to attend a day of in-person workshops and masterclasses in London (Day 1, November 15) and Bristol (Day 2, November 16). The events for live audiences will take place alongside the online conference and will follow the theme of the day.

How do I attend the online conference?

You can purchase your tickets here. Passes for the two-day online conference cost £25 +VAT per delegate. Passes for the in-person workshops and masterclass days in London or Bristol cost £75 +VAT per delegate.

What is the duration of the online conference?

Communicate online will take place over two days (15-16 November). Each day will run from 10am-4.30pm, with individual sessions lasting around 45 minutes.

Do I need to book onto a session in advance?

You do not need to book onto an online session in advance except the Roundtable Sessions which have a limited capacity of 20 people so require sign up prior to or during the conference.

How do I join a Roundtable Session?

Anyone can join a Roundtable Session, but they do have a limited capacity and must be signed up to. You can sign up for a Roundtable Session by putting your name and email down here, either before the conference or during it (subject to availability).

Will the talks be recorded and available to watch at a later date?

With speakers' permission, sessions will be recorded and available on the Natural History Consortium YouTube channel after the event. Please note that this could take up to 3 weeks and we will announce when they are online through our social media and newsletter. We will not be recording Q&As or roundtable sessions.

10:00 - 10:45

Opening plenary: Putting nature at the heart of the conversation

Our opening panel will explore the headline themes of Communicate 2022 in light of current headlines and policy changes, before setting a personal challenge to delegates at the start of two days of debate, sharing and network building. Chair: Laura Rawlings, BBC Bristol

11:00 - 11:45

Behind the Scenes: The Working Class Nature Writing Prize

In 2020, Natasha Carthew launched the Nature Writing Prize in order to create opportunities for working class nature writers, and burst the stereotype of what it means to be a nature writer whilst celebrating the diversity of authentic voices in our country. Now in its third year, the prize has the support of Arvon Foundation, Campaign for National Parks and Octopus Books. Join us for a frank discussion of the voices we hear in nature writing, and how our organisations can better support working class writers and audiences.

11:00 - 11:45

The state of direct activism

What role does direct activism play in our ecosystem of communication and engagement techniques?

Join us for an exploration of current campaigns, partnerships, and perspectives from our audiences.

Mike Collins, Arts & Humanities Research Council | Marian Spain, Natural England | Harry Bowell, National Trust

Natasha Carthew | Dr Rose O'Neill, Campaign for National Parks | Simon Moreton (Chair)

Dr Charlie Gardner, XR | Paul Powlesland, Lawyers for Nature | Alison Crowther, MadeToLast Resilience

OR

OR

11:00 - 11:45

Roundtable: Green and blue skills

The Net Zero transition requires huge societal change to meet challenges we face in our homes, workplaces, and behaviours. What skills will our future world need? Explore topics including: jobs in nature restoration and food production; how can nature groups champion green and blue jobs with political leaders; diversity of young people accessing these jobs; and how can we present those jobs as essential for life on earth and therefore worthy of higher pay and support? Join others in the Communicate community for an interactive roundtable discussion and share your experiences.

13:00 -

13:45

| Environmental communications and the cost of living crisis

How are environmental organisations responding to the cost of living crisis, and how is it changing our operations, our communication and engagement programmes, or even our ambitions? Does the cost of living crisis represent an opportunity or a crisis for the sector? Chair: Hayley Coristine

OR

13:00 - 13:45

Environmental communications and the cost of living crisis

Wild Isles and The People's Plan for Nature

How do we mobilise a generation to take action for nature? Join us for a behind the scenes look at Wild Isles, a new broadcast focused on UK nature, and the People's Plan for Nature - new initiatives being delivered in partnership between RSPB, National Trust and WWF-UK.

How are environmental organisations responding to the cost of living crisis, and how is it chan our operations, our communication and engagement programmes, or even our ambitions? Do the cost of living crisis represent an opportunity or a crisis for the sector?

Helen Meech, RSPB | Emma Collacott, WWF-UK

Ruth Hyde, Woodland T

Chair: Laura Fogg Rogers, UWE

Ruth Hyde, Woodland Trust | Caroline Sigley, National Trust | Rob Percival, Soil Association

14:00 - 14:45

Celebrating Nature – inspiration and learning from the Festival of National Nature Reserves

How do we connect people to places and spaces that are important for nature? Join us to discuss and share ideas for inspiring people and communities through nature connection and communications. We'll start the conversation with a behind the scene look at the Festival of NNR's, a summer long celebration of over 250 events for the 70th anniversary of National Nature Reserves.

14:00 - 14:45

Sport as a way to drive behaviour change

How can sport be used for a vehicle for reaching new audiences, and ultimately bringing about behaviour change? As the World Cup approaches, Katie Cross from Pledgeball will share research on the criteria for success in bringing about a transformative shift, engagement lessons from the world of sport and address some of the barriers and challenges for our audiences.

OR

14:00 - 14:45

Roundtable: Nature content creators

How can we use powerful and impactful nature content to inspire deeper connection and action? Join this interactive roundtable discussion for nature content creators (e.g. social media, podcasts, filmmaking, campaigns). Explore common challenges, share best practice and learnings, make new connections. (max 20 delegates per session)

Jamie Neale | Stephen Gledhill | Piers Griffin | Danielle Walsh | Sarah Barfoot | Jo Newton | Mike Downey, Natural England (Chair) OR

Chair: Heather Knight

Katie Cross, PledgeBall | David Powell, Climate Outreach (Chair)

15:00 - 15:45

Nature connection in the digital age

Join activists, writers and gardeners to consider how mythtelling can help us restore our connection to nature and envision an alternative future, a radical world where all species flourish. The panel will explore the importance of stories and mythtelling for nature connection in the digital age and the role of technology in restoring our connection to the natural world.

OR

15:00 - 15:45

Innovative practice showcase

Always a Communicate conference favourite: a series of quick-fire practical presentations from innovative projects and people in the field. Come and be inspired, and find out how you can get involved in emerging work in the sector.

OR

15:00 - 15:45

Roundtable: Inclusivity and citizen science

What are the physical and social factors that might impact inclusive participation in citizen science events? We will consider together enablers and barriers within urban diversity citizen science from the perspective of practitioners, research and real-life experiences. Join others in the Communicate community for an interactive roundtable discussion and share your experiences. (max 20 delegates per session)

Kalpana Arias, Nowadays on Earth | Daze Aghaji | Isaias Hernandez | Emma Latham Phillips

Chair: Jen Weston, UWE

James Riley, Birmingham University | Fenella Dawnay, Trigger Stuff | Alex Hall, McMaster University | Sam Langford

Chair: Anna Woolman, Environment Agency

16:00 - 16:30

Closing session: Amplifying Awareness, Focusing Action

How can we work together as a sector to Amplify Action, and Focus Action? Join us to close the end of Day 1 with a personal perspective from Lucy Hodson, whose social media content

(@Lucy_Lapwing) reaches thousands of people across the UK.

Lucy Hodson, 'Lucy Lapwing' - Wildlife Communications

10:00 - 10:45

When nature sets the communications agenda

As environmental communicators, rapid responses to the natural world are part of the job. We'll take a look at two case studies - the British heatwaves in 2022 and Storm Arwen - and discuss approaches for creating sensitive and reactive communications. OR

10:00 - 10:45 Tackling eco-anxiety: Behind the scenes of www.holdthis.space

Eco-anxiety is a key topic for the environmental communication sector - nearly half of young people report feeling distressed or anxious about the climate in a way that affects their daily lives. Join us for a behind the scenes look at an innovative engagement project that brought young people, environmental scientists and engagement experts together to develop new thinking on how we can support our audiences and each other.

11:00 - 11:45

We are who we are: Understanding current attitudes What are the wider social trends at play which influence how people think about the environment? Michael Clemence, Associate Director for Trends & Futures at Ipsos will share current research and data.

|

Michael Clemence, Ipsos MORI

Ellie Turner-Wallace, Natural History Consortium (Chair)

Grahame Madge, Met Office | Mark Holroyd, Forestry England | Sophie Duncan, NCCPE (Chair)

Emma Lawrance, Climate Cares | Sacha Wright, Force of Nature | Caroline MacFarland, Common Vision (Chair)

11:00 - 11:45

The Equity Compass

Join researchers from University College London for a taster session on a new research-based tool, the Equity Compass, to help move your practice in a more equitable direction.

11:00 -

11:45

Roundtable: Innovative membership comms

How can we involve, inspire and engage our members in innovative ways? Where are the bridges between the content we create for our members, and the action they take, and how can we strengthen these to support uptake, action and even behaviour change? Join others in the Communicate community for an interactive roundtable discussion to share best practice, strengths and challenges as we work together to inspire action for nature. (max 20 delegates per session)

13:00 - 13:45

In Conversation with Danielle Mulder

Join us for a special 'In Conversation' session with Danielle Mulder, BBC Group Director of Sustainability. Danielle

OR

Dr Jen DeWitt, Dr Spela Godec, University College Lond

Mulder, BBC Sustainability | Hannah Stitfall, BBC Studios (Host) OR

OR

Chair: Anna Russell, National Trust

ONLINE

13:00 - 13:45

Communicating beyond consumerism

Natasha and Charlotte from Global Action Plan share their top tips for communicating about the climate and nature crisis in ways that activate your audience's compassionate values, uniting diverse audiences around your cause. In this session, you will have the chance to put your new skills for developing inspiring comms for action toward a positive future beyond consumerism, into action!

Natasha Parker, Charlotte Zamboni, Global Action Plan

OR

13:00 -

13:45

Roundtable: Partnerships with artists and arts organisations

Art has a pivotal role to play in bridging the gap between ideas and behaviour change for sustainability and climate change. It can provide a place where creativity and dynamism combine to transform our minds and ways of thinking. So how can we work in partnership with artists and arts organisations to engage audiences around the complex environmental issues we face? Join others in the Communicate community for an interactive roundtable discussion and share your experiences (max 20 delegates per session)

14:00 - 14:45

'OK Doomer ' - positive communications

Join us for a special 'In Conversation' session with Alaina Wood, Founder of 'The Garbage Queen', a social media platform dedicated to discussing climate science and solutions to an audience of over 300k. Featured in The New York Times in March 2002, Alaina will be joining us live from the Appalachian Mountains in the US.

Chairs: Mark Leach, Elise Hurcombe, Bristol City Council

The Garbage Queen Alaina Wood, Chair: Robin Clegg, Curve Communications

Chairs: Mark Leach, Elise Hurcombe, Bristol City Council

OR

14:00 - 14:45

Involving young people in conservation decision-making

How can we effectively and authentically involve youth voices in our governance and decision making? Our inspiring panel will share current projects and programmes as well as practical steps to take your ideas forward.

15:00 - 15:45

Intersectionality and Environment

Communications charity Media Trust are guest curating this session, which brings together speakers from the charity sector and media industry to explore how environmental organisations can address the overlap between environmental and social justice movements in their communications, with suggestions on how to re-engage audiences historically excluded from the conversation.

OR

15:00 - 15:45

Speaking up for our oceans - new terms

for conservation

Join consultant and cartoonist Ralph Underhill for a special workshop exploring how talking about our marine life in new ways can create positive change. Together we'll be identifying problematic terms and coming up with new exciting alternatives.

Ralph Underhill, Framing Matters

Cath Hare, The Wildlife Trusts | Connor Davies, Chester Zoo | Abby Charlesworth, NHC (Cha

Fahmida Miah, Media Trust | Becky Stormer | Sinead Molloy, Media Trust | Ceri Jones, Purpose Disruptors

15:00

- 15:45

Roundtable: Using collections for environmental engagement

How can we use physical and digital collections and objects to communicate complex environmental topics? Where can we strike a balance between conservation and public engagement with artefacts? How can a static object and the reflective space of a museum make people take action for the natural world and change behaviour? Join others in the Communicate community for an interactive roundtable discussion and share your experiences. (max 20 delegates per session)

16:00 - 16:30

hands: behaviour change for climate and environmental goals

Professor

Lorraine Whitmarsh MBE will take us through the crucial headlines from the recently released House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee Report 2022-23: 'In our hands: Behaviour change for climate and environmental goals'

In our

Chair: Anna Perman, Linnean Society

Lorraine Whitmarsh, UK Centre for Climate Change & Social Transformations

COMMUNICATE CONFERENCE LONDON

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

Is Communicate online or in-person this year?

Communicate will be held online, with an additional option to attend a day of in-person workshops and masterclasses in London (Day 1, November 15) and Bristol (Day 2, November 16). The events for live audiences will take place alongside the online conference and will follow the theme of the day.

How do I attend the in-person London day?

You can purchase your tickets here. Passes for the two-day online conference cost £25 +VAT per delegate. Passes for the in-person workshops and masterclass days in London or Bristol cost £75 +VAT per delegate.

Where is the London day taking place?

The Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AR.

Where can I find out about access requirements?

Please visit this page to find out about accessibility during this year's conference, including information on step free access to the buildings, accessible toilets, and online recordings.

Will the London sessions be livestreamed or recorded and available to watch at a later date?

The in-person days are workshop-focused, interactive sessions to encourage participation. Therefore, we will not be livestreaming or recording these sessions.

Will I be able to join the online conference while attending the London 'deep-dive' day?

If you have tickets to the online conference, you are welcome to virtually attend a session while at an in-person day. However, there will not be a dedicated space for this. You will need to organise this yourself via your own device and headset and find a spot away from the workshops to tune in.

10:00 - 10:30

Opening keynote: Putting nature at the heart of the conversation

Professor Joe Smith, Chief Executive of the Royal Geographical Society, will welcome delegates to the first live Communicate conference since 2019 and will share his own perspectives on 'putting nature at the heart of the conversation'.

Joe Smith, Royal Geographical Society

Savita Willmott, The Natural History Consortium

10:30 - 11:00

In our hands: Behaviour change for climate and environmental goals

Baroness Parminter will take us through the crucial headlines from the recently released (12 Oct) House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee Report 2022-23: 'In our hands: Behaviour change for climate and environmental goals'

11:00 - 11:45 Breaking down the echo chamber

How do we break down, and reach beyond, our echo chambers? Our expert panel will each share a provocation and invite delegates to share their own perspectives engaging public and stakeholder audiences.

Camilla Tham, Natural History Museum

13:00 - 13:45

Alice Russell, Seahorse Environmental

Trewin Restorick, Sizzle Innovation

Formats and Attention: How to turn communications into culture

Join us for our feature presentation from Anjali Ramachandran, Director at Storythings, a strategy and content company working globally with a HQ in the UK. Anjali is also a co-founder of global network for women and non-binary people in technology, Ada's List, and a trustee of Chayn, a feminist technology non-profit.

Anjali Ramachandran, Storythings

Chair: Chris Venables, Green Alliance

14:00 - 14:45

Social Media Masterclass: Working with Influencers

How can we maximise our social media campaigns and communications through effective use of influencers? Heidi Easton will guide us through researching, approaching and building relationships with those who can help us tell our environmental stories.

14:45 - 15:15

Reflection and provocation

Liz Parkes, Environment Agency, will summarise the key themes of the conference so far, and offer a perspective and provocation to lead us into the final sessions of the day.

Parkes, Environment Agency

15:30 - 16:30

Leave your egos and logos at the door

How can we work together more effectively as a sector? Can we ignore our own egos and logos and take an audience-led approach to move forward with bolder, more courageous action for nature? This interactive session will bring Communicate delegates together to discuss, debate, and find more ways to come together and deliver change.

Heidi Easton, Media Communications Specialist

Alan Wright, Lancashire Wildlife Trust

Liz

10:00 - 10:45

Lecture Hall

Opening keynote: Reassessing audiences and approaches - reflections and challenges from three decades of trying to make the world a better place

Simon has been at Bristol Zoological Society for over 30 years, and has attended every main Communicate conference. He will welcome delegates to a final conference at Bristol Zoo Gardens and will share his own perspectives on reassessing on our audiences and approaches.

11:00 - 11:45 Environmental Keywords

Lecture Hall

In 2022, the Centre for Environmental Humanities at the University of Bristol ran a series of workshops with researchers from different disciplines and community organisations to develop a shared understanding of key terms including 'resilience', 'transition' and 'energy'. In this workshop, we will share the lessons learned from the Environmental Keywords project, and work collaboratively to explore new potential formats and applications for this approach.

OR

11:00 - 11:45

Garden Room

Failspace workshop

It's all gone wrong! From projects going off track, to missing our environmental targets, how does your organisation talk about failure? Join producer Tom Bevan for a 'Failspace' workshop, using research techniques designed to normalise conversations about failure.

Bristol Zoological Society Simon Garrett, Paul Merchant, Daniela Schmidt, Anna Haydock Wilson

Tom Bevan, The Failspace Project | Rachel Topley, Bristol Zoological Society (Chair)

13:00 - 13:45

Crafting effective messages Lecture Hall

Looking for inspiration? The team from Enviral, an award-winning communications and consultancy agency will share strategies for infusing your marketing, video content, advertising and engagement programmes with creativity and purpose.

14:00 - 14:45 Garden Room

Hear Water: building environmental empathy through deep listening

How could listening to the environment be a new approach to achieving positive social change and increased environmental empathy? Join researchers behind a NERC funded project that worked with local communities in Bristol and explore the interactive exercises used to connect the scientific research with creative outputs, and share your own ideas following a viewing of the project film.

OR

14:00 - 14:45

Lecture Hall

Measuring online impact

How can you judge your organisation or project's success online? Ryan Webb, Digital Marketing Consultant, will explain how to use Google Analytics, including tips, a demo, lots of time for discussion Q&A. Build your skills and find out how the new Google Analytics version 4 can support your engagement projects.

Ryan Webb, Consultant | Emma Peddie, BBC (Chair)

Amanda Bayley, Bath Spa University | Jill Parsons, Imayla Bristol

Sarah Hobbs, independent researcher | Ian Thornhill, University of Manchester

Joss Ford, Enviral | Savita Willmott, Natural History Consortium (Chair)