In this critical moment, we must re-imagine the scholarly conference. We should consider our climate impacts, public health obligations, the need to dismantle the enduring blockages of access and participation for segments of our local and global communities, while at the same time supporting the development of meaningful personal relationships. Our mission is to provide a safe, sustainable, and accessible way for us to come together and interact as a Research Network. We are taking on these challenges by offering a blended conference experience, with session types explicitly designed to make the most of both online and in-person social knowledge processes. In conversation with our Research Network Members, we have been reflecting upon the kinds of scholarly conferences we need for our sustainable social futures.
Our blended conference experience is delivered on the CGScholar platform – developed by the Common Ground Media Lab, the research and technology arm of Common Ground Research Networks.
We are trying to move away from the either/or of place-based or online conferences. Whichever way you choose to participate, or can participate, we’ll offer a rich experience. This way we build for our Research Network Members flexible and at the same time resilient spaces for communication, engagement, and participation. The choice to participate virtually could also be an ethical decision – for the planet, for security, or when the financial burden of travel is too great. We aim to foster spaces that align with principles of social justice and community development.
Plenary SessionsPlenary speakers, chosen from among the world’s leading thinkers, offer formal presentations on topics linked to annual themes. As a delivery format, there are no questions or discussions during these sessions. Instead, plenary speakers answer questions and participate in informal, extended discussions in the Garden Conversations.
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Garden ConversationGarden Conversations are open, informal sessions that allow Research Network Members a chance to meet Plenary Speakers. Whether you are onsite or participating online, you can talk with them at length, leave comments, and connect as peers.
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Talking CirclesTalking Circles offer an opportunity to meet other delegates with similar interests and concerns. Delegates self-select into groups based on broad thematic areas and then engage in extended discussion about the issues and concerns they feel are of utmost importance to that segment of the Research Network. Participation is open, encouraged, and supported.
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Themed Paper PresentationsThis type of session is best suited for reports on completed research or scholarly work. Authors present summaries or overviews of their work, describing the essential features (related to purpose, procedures, outcomes or product).
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ColloquiumThis conference session is scheduled for 90 minutes and involves four to five authors who are proposing a set of papers based on a shared theme or topic. The papers may present complementary aspects of a specific body of work, or contrasting perspectives on a specified topic. There must be at least four registered participants per session. A colloquium must be submitted as a single proposal. All participants must be listed on the proposal submission form (list as one primary author, and three or more co-authors). The abstract must summarize the entire colloquium and must list the titles of the four to five papers (abstract limit is 250 words). Either a single article or multiple articles may be submitted to the journal based on the content of a colloquium session.
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Workshop/Interactive SessionWorkshop sessions involve extensive interaction between presenters and participants around an idea or hands-on experience of a practice. These sessions may also take the form of a crafted panel, staged conversation, dialogue or debate – all involving substantial interaction with the audience. A single article (jointly authored, if appropriate) may be submitted to the journal based on a workshop session.
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Poster SessionsThis format is ideal for presenting preliminary results of work in progress or for projects that lend themselves to visual displays and representations. Each display should include a brief abstract of the purpose and procedures of the work. Authors may submit a formal paper describing their work to the journal associated with their proposal.
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Innovation ShowcaseResearchers and innovators present practices, products or research and development. All presentations should be grounded in presenters' research or teaching experience. Promotional conversations are permissible, however, products or services may not be sold at the in-person conference venue.
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