The first policy-focused workshop of the COST Action European Network in Chemical Ecology (E-NICHE) was held on 21–22 April 2026 in Izmir, Türkiye, hosted by Dokuz Eylül University, bringing together researchers from twelve countries in a hybrid format.
Organised within Working Group 4 (Communication and Dissemination), the workshop titled “Communicating Science to Policy Makers: Strategies and Tools for Effective Dialogue” focused on how chemical ecology can better contribute to policy-making processes.
Participants, both on site and online, from twelve countries explored practical approaches to strengthening the dialogue between science and policy. The programme combined short presentations with interactive group work sessions.
As a key outcome, participants identified priority policy areas and mapped relevant policy actors and institutions across countries. In addition, a collection of upcoming policy opportunities, consultations and funding calls was compiled to support E-NICHE members in engaging more effectively with policy processes.
The workshop also initiated the development of a joint open letter, aiming to articulate the role and potential of chemical ecology in addressing major societal challenges.
Discussions highlighted the importance of translating scientific knowledge into clear, relevant and actionable messages for decision-makers, and contributed to the first steps towards a shared communication framework within E-NICHE.
The workshop marked an important step towards building a more structured and strategic engagement of the chemical ecology community with policy processes.
We would like to sincerely thank all participants and speakers for their active contributions, as well as the local organisers and Dokuz Eylül University for hosting us.
