Our Story

Hello! Welcome to PEN, a free online membership platform for educators to download resources and find publications. For
7 years, we worked diligently to understand and address our community’s greatest challenges and needs.

  • Trained 700+ educators and practitioners across 70+ countries through an online course and in-person workshops.
  • Highlighted 30+ educators through our storytelling blogs and crowdsourcing contests.
  • Curated 250+ publications and 200+ education materials in 12 languages.

We express our heartfelt gratitude to the PEN global family of members and Regional Coordinators for their hard work and dedication to our mission. Join us in taking a walk down memory lane to celebrate our accomplishments!

The History of PEN

2020
February 19

PEN Closes to Seed New Beginnings

PEN Closes to Seed New Beginnings
Although PEN is no longer a functioning organization, our team built an inspiring global community of thousands of educators and was a great success in addressing the needs of its time. Thank you for an amazing 7 years of impact! Read a letter from PEN's founder and watch our thank you video.
2019
May 21

Design Education Programs for Conservation Success Online Course

Design Education Programs for Conservation Success Online Course
PEN delivered a 4-week online course for 500+ learners across 70 countries in English and Spanish with four instructors. Our course provided learners with a step-by-step process, practical methods, and real-world examples to design or improve their education and outreach programs. Read more
2018
July 26

Design Pathways Equips Environmental Leaders with New Skills

Design Pathways Equips Environmental Leaders with New Skills
Design Pathways led its first design sprints for 65+ environmental leaders during the UC Berkeley’s Beahrs Environmental Leadership Program, Conservation Marketing & Engagement Conference, and AgTech accelerator program in Guatemala. Read more
2017
December 1

New Nonprofit Design Pathways Launches

New Nonprofit Design Pathways Launches
PEN’s founder launches Design Pathways to equip organizations with design skills to change human and business behavior. Our 2016 workshop at the Int'l Primatological Society Congress verified the need and led to the creation of this new model to address strategy and skill gaps that could not be addressed in typical PEN workshops focused on education. Read more
2016
August 24

Applying Creativity & Behavior Change Frameworks in Education Program Design Training Workshop

Applying Creativity & Behavior Change Frameworks in Education Program Design Training Workshop
57 conservation educators and practitioners working across 20 countries in Latin America, Africa, and Asia participated in our training workshop at the Int'l Primatological Society Congress. They learned behavior and creativity fundamentals, experienced creative teaching techniques, and applied this knowledge to prototype three new creative products with peers. Read more
March 1

Empowering Educators & Building a National Task Force in Uganda Training Workshop

Empowering Educators & Building a National Task Force in Uganda Training Workshop
PEN led a four-day training workshop in Uganda that filled a critical gap in equipping and training 37 conservation educators, park rangers, and park wardens on how to effectively design and evaluate their education programs. During PEN’s training workshop, our colleagues shared their experiences, showcased their tested and proven teaching techniques, identified their challenges and needs, solved case study challenges, designed network maps, and drafted a collaborative national plan of action for Uganda. Read more
2015
November 5

Primate Education Course at XVI Brazilian Primatology Conference

Primate Education Course at XVI Brazilian Primatology Conference
PEN's Regional Coordinator for Brazil presented on PEN and co-led the first primate conservation education course that was hosted by the Brazilian Primatology Society at the XVI Brazilian Primatology Congress. Read more  
August 19

Storytelling Challenge Prize Contest

Storytelling Challenge Prize Contest
Our community of featured educators continues to grow! Meet the finalists of PEN's second Challenge Prize Contest (with support from our partner Primate Connections) Aline Oliveira Santos, Maholy Ravaloharimanitra, and Swasti Prawidya Mukti and read their stories. Read more
May 15

Lessons Learned Challenge Prize Contest

Lessons Learned Challenge Prize Contest
PEN (with support from our partner Eric Losh Illustration) launched our first Challenge Prize Contest to crowdsource lessons learned and reward educators in Latin America, Africa, and Asia with funding. Meet the winners Yeissy Sarmiento, Denis Agaba, and Mathilde Chanvin! Read more
2014
December 4

Strengthening Collaborative Learning & Partnerships in Colombia Workshop

Strengthening Collaborative Learning & Partnerships in Colombia Workshop
PEN delivered a second collaborative workshop with our partners Asociación Primatologica Colombiana and Fundación Proyecto Titi that targeted regional needs in Colombian primate conservation education. Read more
October 1

Global Survey: 5 Things Learned From Educators & Practitioners

Global Survey: 5 Things Learned From Educators & Practitioners
PEN's 2014 Global Survey results are in! We would like to thank our colleagues, representing over 50 countries, who participated. Our findings revealed educator and practitioners' greatest challenges, needs, and more! Read more  
August 14

Fostering Synergy & Solving Global Challenges Symposium, Panel, & Workshop in Vietnam

Fostering Synergy & Solving Global Challenges Symposium, Panel, & Workshop in Vietnam
Educators and practitioners joined PEN for our symposium (featuring 11 speakers), panel discussion (with representatives from CI, JGI, Hutan, and PEN), workshop, and dinner reception at the Int'l Primatological Society Congress in Hanoi, Vietnam. Our colleagues came together to share experiences, learn from each other, and collaboratively solve three real-world challenges of their peers working in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Read more
June 13

PEN 2.0: New Tools. New Resources. New Website.

PEN 2.0: New Tools. New Resources. New Website.
In June 2014, we introduced PEN 2.0, our new and improved website, membership program, Bibliography (a comprehensive list of over 200 publications in primate education!), and Projects Directory for our members to find primate education projects and connect. Read more
April 12

Promoting Conservation Through Education in Colombia Training Workshop

Promoting Conservation Through Education in Colombia Training Workshop
PEN's two-day training workshop filled a critical gap in building the capacity of primatologists in Colombia. The participants traveled from the Caribbean, Andes, Amazon, and Orinoquia regions to take part. They learned about how to effectively design and evaluate conservation education programs, identified their challenges and needs, solved case study challenges, designed network maps, and drafted a collaborative national plan of action. Read more
January 27

Interactive Session at IV Brazilian Field Primatology Course

Interactive Session at IV Brazilian Field Primatology Course
PEN's Regional Coordinator for Brazil presented on PEN and led an interactive session for 16 primatologists at the IV Brazilian Field Primatology Course. Read more
2013
August 4

Evaluating the Status and Needs in Latin America Workshop at XV Brazilian Primatology Conference

Evaluating the Status and Needs in Latin America Workshop at XV Brazilian Primatology Conference
PEN's regional team for South America hosted a workshop at the XV Brazilian Primatology Conference. Participants shared their experiences and worked together on a plan of action for Brazil. They identified and discussed their challenges and needs of educators. In addition, our Regional Coordinator for Brazil gave a presentation on PEN during the Strategic Planning for Neotropical Primate Conservation Symposium. Read more
July 9

Promoting Dialogue & Collaboration Roundtable Discussion at ZACC

Promoting Dialogue & Collaboration Roundtable Discussion at ZACC
PEN facilitated a productive roundtable discussion at the Zoos & Aquariums: Committing to Conservation (ZACC) Conference with educators and practitioners working across Latin America, Africa, and Asia who exchanged education products, materials, and ideas. Read more
2012
August 17

Introducing PEN at the IPS Congress in Mexico

Introducing PEN at the IPS Congress in Mexico
Amy Clanin presented her ideas for the network and survey results that verified the need for PEN at the Int'l Primatological Society Congress (IPS) in Cancun, Mexico...and the results were overwhelmingly positive!
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