The Global Studies Research Network was founded with a commitment to providing innovative spaces for Research Network members to interact, converse, and learn from each other. In this critical moment, we must re-imagine the scholarly conference. We must 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 -- 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 a moral 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.
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Plenary SessionsPlenary speakers, chosen from among the world’s leading thinkers, offer formal presentations on topics of broad interest to the community and conference delegation. One or more speakers are scheduled into a plenary session, most often the first session of the day. As a general rule, there are no questions or discussion during these sessions. Instead, plenary speakers answer questions and participate in informal, extended discussions during their Garden Conversation. In-Person: A traditional lecture formatOnline: Online versions of the plenary sessions will be delivered as a mix (depending on the speaker and space) of live or recorded videos for the delegates to view in real time, or at their own pace. |
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Garden ConversationGarden Conversations are informal, unstructured sessions that allow delegates a chance to meet plenary speakers and talk with them at length about the issues arising from their presentation. When the venue and weather allow, we try to arrange for a circle of chairs to be placed outdoors. In-Person: A traditional lecture formatOnline: Online versions of the plenary sessions will be delivered as a mix (depending on the speaker and space) of live or recorded videos for the delegates to view in real time, or at their own pace. |
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Talking CirclesHeld on the first day of the conference, Talking Circles offer an early 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 community. Questions like “Who are we?”, ”What is our common ground?”, “What are the current challenges facing society in this area?”, “What challenges do we face in constructing knowledge and effecting meaningful change in this area?” may guide the conversation. When possible, a second Talking Circle is held on the final day of the conference, for the original group to reconvene and discuss changes in their perspectives and understandings as a result of the conference experience. Reports from the Talking Circles provide a framework for the delegates’ final discussions during the Closing Session. In-Person: An in-person space to meet, framed by thematic areasOnline: An online space to meet framed by thematic areas. An online discussion board will be available to facilitate conversation, and will be open to both in-person and remote participants. |
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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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ColloquiumColloquium sessions are organized by a group of colleagues who wish to present various dimensions of a project or perspectives on an issue. Four or five short formal presentations are followed by commentary and/or group discussion. A single article or multiple articles may be submitted to the journal based on the content of a colloquium session. In-Person: The presenters should conceive and design the session to allow time for individual presentations (approximately 15 minutes each) and at least 15 minutes of audience discussion or question-and-answer.Online: The presenters should conceive, design and record the session to allow time for individual presentations (approximately 15 minutes each). An online discussion board will be available to facilitate conversation, and will be open to both in-person and remote participants. |
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Focused DiscussionThis type of session is best suited for position papers, reviews of theoretical or conceptual frameworks, works-in-progress, policy analysis, or topics that generate, or benefit from, extended discussion.
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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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