(Workshop) Can a zoo change how we feel about nature?

Beccy leads the RZSS Discovery and Learning team at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and works to connect people with each other and nature in meaningful, inclusive ways. She has more than 20 years of experience in public engagement, learning and interpretation throughout heritage focussing on nature connectedness and impact measurement.  

Beccy sits on the board or the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) and the habitat restoration charity Bright Green Nature. She is the chair of the BIAZA Conservation Education Committee and is the vice chair of the EAZA Conservation Education Committee. More than anything, Beccy understands how important and valuable communication, meaningful engagement and stories are for connecting, making relevant and educating people about science, wildlife and global conservation. 

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) is a wildlife conservation charity with a bold vision: a world where nature is protected, valued and loved. 

Their mission is to save wildlife and empower people in Scotland and around the world to protect, value and love nature. But they cannot achieve this alone, their vision needs an inspired and empowered worldwide community to join together and help them to achieve their pledges. 

Phill is the Discovery and Learning Manager at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, based at Edinburgh Zoo, where he supports the teams delivering learning, community and onsite discovery programmes. With more than 15 years’ experience across formal learning and visitor engagement, he is passionate about creating inclusive opportunities that help people connect with nature, learning and one another. Alongside his role at RZSS, Phill serves on the board of Play Scotland and contributes to national education and engagement initiatives through the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement and Education Scotland’s Curriculum Improvement Cycle Working Groups. He is a strong advocate for experiential and active learning, believing that meaningful engagement can reduce barriers, build confidence and inspire curiosity in audiences of all ages.

Lizzie believes that to protect the natural world, we first have to fall in love with it. She is a lifelong storyteller fascinated by wild spaces, quirky characters and all things colourful. For nine years, she has bought this passion to the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, turning complex conservation messaging into immersive experiences to make nature accessible to anyone, anywhere. Lizzie constantly pushes digital boundaries. She sees tools like online learning environments, virtual reality and graphic communication as modern day campfires; inclusive spaces which bring people and place together and kindle the imagination. Lizzie is the creator of ZOOdle, an award-winning platform inspiring over 170,000 learners annually, and actively steers industry trends as a committee member and writer for the Digital Learning Network.