New Pathways for Science and Conservation

How can we connect our skills and interests with the scientific and conservation needs of our time while finding ways to sustain our work? This professional development program offers space to explore this question together and open new possibilities for how to conduct science and conservation across the Baja California Peninsula and the Sonoran Desert.

The full program is open to anyone working in or contributing to science, conservation, and sustainable livelihoods in this region, both within N-Gen and in the broader community. We welcome researchers, students, community members, producers, artists, and others interested in participating. You can arrive with an early idea, a project underway, or a professional direction you want to explore.

Join us to create new paths

(1) Semilla de Cambio, in person Thursdays January 7–28, 2027, or online Fridays, January 8–29, 2027

(2) Semilla de Cambio at the Desert Seas Summit, February 1 & 2, 2027

(3) Vivero de Sueños, coming Spring 2027

Contribution Guidelines

Semilla de Cambio has no fixed price. You choose a contribution that feels right for you, including zero. When deciding on an amount, you might consider:

The value you receive from the workshop and how it enriches your life.
Your financial circumstances.
Your desire to support the continuation of this work.
What feels like a meaningful expression of commitment.
Your intuition: you may have an amount in mind that simply feels right, fair, and honest.

Shared Agreements

(1) Speak and contribute thoughtfully.

(2) Listen without judgment and without taking things personally.

(3) Ask rather than assume.

(4) Do your best, recognizing that everyone else is doing their best, too.

Please reach out to nextgensd2012@gmail.com with any questions.

(1) Semilla de Cambio

Workshop Goal:

Semilla de Cambio is a personal development workshop that helps you explore new tools to connect with the seed of your purpose and plant it in fertile ground to create the world you know is possible.

Two ways to engage:

In person: Thursdays, January 7–28, 2027
Online: Fridays, January 8–29, 2027

Four weekly, two-hour sessions with options to participate online or in person in La Paz, Baja California Sur.

**Note, sessions will be conducted in Spanish.**

What We’ll Do:

Explore our strengths and motivations.
Practice communication and collaboration tools.
Begin defining the project we want to develop.
Identify what each person can offer, what they need to move forward, and how collaboration can help.

(2) Semilla de Cambio at the Desert Seas Summit

Activation Session and Workshop | February 1–2, 2027, La Paz

Session and Workshop Goal:

Bring together those who participated in Semilla de Cambio, both online and in La Paz, to share what they hope to contribute, identify opportunities for collaboration, and carry their ideas forward during the Desert Seas Summit and beyond.

What We’ll Do:

February 1 | Activation Session
Bring both groups together to share ideas and lessons learned, and clarify what we hope to find and contribute at the Summit.

February 2 | Collaborative Design Workshop
As part of the Summit’s satellite events, we’ll use project design tools to shape our ideas and identify next steps, support needs, and potential partnerships.

We also encourage you to register to participate in the full Desert Seas Summit, February 2–6, 2027, to exchange knowledge and connect with potential collaborators from across the region.

(3) Vivero de Sueños

Workshop Goal:

Vivero de Sueños helps you cultivate your idea and turn it into a pilot project, connecting your purpose with the needs of your community and landscape. Participation is limited to those who have completed Semilla de Cambio.

What We’ll Do:

Design and launch small pilot projects, defining objectives, activities, and ways to evaluate their results.
Explore collaboration tools, funding opportunities, and ways to sustain our work.
Share progress and lessons learned to refine our proposals and define next steps.