European Green Deal Projects Support Office (2023 & 2024)

Researchers, project managers, and communicators from 73 EU-funded Green Deal projects, working on climate and sustainability research.

To help partners communicate their research goals, progress, and results more effectively to non-expert audiences using storytelling techniques.

We were first contracted to deliver a 90-minute online storytelling workshop in 2023 to bring everyone onto the same page around:

• What storytelling is (and isn’t)
• How to apply story structures to real research
• How to use narrative across formats — from blog posts to social media and visual communication

Given the wide range of participants — from early-career scientists to experienced communicators — our focus was on keeping things inclusive, engaging, and actionable. We used real examples from active Green Deal projects and built in light theory, group activities, peer learning, and expert commentary.

A second, follow-up workshop in 2024 allowed participants to bring their own materials and apply narrative techniques with targeted feedback and structured reflection.

• We incorporated real examples from a selection of the 73 projects were used to ground storytelling theory in participants’ actual work, which helped make the training relevant and directly applicable
• Interactive exercises helped participants distinguish between narrative and non-narrative communication
• Emphasis on audience, structure, and clarity across multiple platforms
• Participants co-created storytelling “test” materials and received structured feedback
• Generated strong peer exchange and enthusiasm for putting storytelling into practice
• High engagement from a large, diverse group (50+ participants)

We provided:

• Custom cheat sheets and storytelling templates
• A resource pack for ongoing learning
• One-on-one support for participants who followed up post-session

The workshops sparked a wave of storytelling experimentation across several Green Deal projects. Projects shared blog posts, adapted story frameworks into video scripts, and deepened their focus on narrative in dissemination planning. Positive feedback led to further collaboration with the Green Deal Projects Support Office for future sessions.

One project (RethinkAction) cited the training in a public post and implementing storytelling tools in their consortium meetings  [Learn more here →]

Interested in learning more about our communication workshops, training and coaching for scientists and researchers? Take a look around, or get in touch – we’d love to help.