Buzzing Futures
Youth Advocacy and Communication for Pollinators
2026-2027
What is Buzzing Futures?
Pollinators are in crisis across Europe; yet the science behind their decline is often poorly communicated, and policies change too slowly. Buzzing Futures responds to this gap by equipping young people with advocacy tools, systems thinking skills, and creative communication methods to turn knowledge into local action.
Buzzing Futures is a mentoring programme by Biodiversity Action Europe (BAE) and Pollinator Ambassadors, which brings together 25 young advocates who are ready to take pollinator conservation into their own hands.
Quick Facts
- When: July – October 2026
- Workshop: 3–5 July 2026, Lyon, France
- Exhibition: October 2026, Vienna, Austria & online
- Participants: 25 young people (18-35) based in Austria and France (+ some EU-wide spots)
- Costs: Travel, accommodation and food covered
- Language: English
Phase 1: Online Preparation
Two online sessions introduce participants to pollinators, advocacy and systems thinking, setting the ground for the in-person workshop.
Phase 2: Capacity-Building Workshop (Lyon, 3-5 July 2026
A three-day workshop where participants can meet pollinator experts, engage with local policymakers, and explore the complexity of pollinator decline through systems thinking. Participants will learn to design advocacy strategies with practical tools, visit a local pollinator initiative, and create zines – artistic publications that translate science into compelling visual stories. Every participant refines their own local action plan during the workshop.
Phase 3: Implementation & Exhibition
Back home, participants put their plans into action, ranging from wildflower meadows to conversations with local decision-makers. BAE and Pollinator Ambassadors support them through mentoring sessions and an active digital community. In October 2026, the zines and local actions take centre stage in a showcase exhibition in Vienna and online, sparking new dialogues on youth-led pollinator advocacy.
What you get as participant
- All travel, accommodation and food costs covered for the Lyon workshop
- Hands-on training in advocacy, systems thinking and zine-making
- One-on-one mentoring after the workshop
- Support with connecting to local stakeholders
- Visibility for your local project through the Vienna exhibition and social media
- A network of 25 young pollinator advocates across Europe
Who Can Apply?
Buzzing Futures is open to young people (18–35) residing in France and Austria with an interest in biodiversity, pollinators, or environmental policy. Participants must be available for the Lyon workshop (3–5 July 2026), willing to implement a local action afterwards, and comfortable with speaking English. No expert knowledge is required – what matters is your motivation and a concrete idea for change. Applications close on May 10, 2026.
This project is funded by the European Union through the IUCN Save Our Species Fund for Youth Action on Pollinators.
