On 25 May, the Atapuerca Foundation held an in-house training session entitled “Staff Training”, an initiative aimed at strengthening the team’s skills in cultural communication, science communication and collaboration with young community managers. The event, organised by the Foundation itself, forms part of the European project ‘From past to future’, co-funded by the European Union, which aims to bring science closer to younger generations through innovative strategies and tools tailored to their digital reality.
The session began with a discussion on the current challenges of science communication aimed at young audiences: sparking their curiosity, fostering creativity and critical thinking, teaching them to communicate clearly, promoting the use of age-appropriate media, and strengthening their ability to distinguish between accurate information and false content.
In the first part of the meeting, the team was given an overview of the session’s objectives and the importance of preparing staff to collaborate effectively with young community managers, by understanding their profiles and working methods. Juanjo Martínez then explored in greater depth how these young people’s skills can enrich cultural work, highlighting the importance of active listening, constructive feedback and respect for innovative ideas that bring fresh perspectives to heritage communication.
Candela Antón then addressed the integration of digital innovations in the cultural sphere. Her presentation focused on tools such as social media, gamification and educational apps, and on how to strike a balance between technology and the essence of heritage. She also reflected on generational differences, the common barriers in intergenerational processes and the keys to overcoming them through effective communication.
The session continued with a contribution from Susana Sarmiento, who explained the importance of building a shared vision between the institutional mission and young people’s innovative proposals. Strategies for assessing the impact of new tools were discussed, and a practical exercise was carried out: designing a plan to implement a digital activity, such as a social media challenge.
The meeting concluded with a closing reflection by David Arcos, who summarised the key lessons learnt regarding communication, technological integration and team management. The group was also invited to share their thoughts on the usefulness of the training and suggest possible improvements for future sessions.
Through this initiative, the Atapuerca Foundation reaffirms its commitment to rigorous, accessible scientific outreach tailored to the younger generations, promoting both formal and non-formal communication and strengthening intergenerational collaboration in the cultural sphere.