Common Ground Research Networks

Our conference formats reflect the diversity of ways scholars, practitioners, and creators speak to one another—whether through formal research, creative practice, or applied experimentation. Each type of presentation offers a distinct pathway for contribution while reinforcing our shared mission: to make knowledge a collaborative, living practice.

Plenary Sessions

The intellectual centerpiece of each conference, plenaries bring together leading thinkers and emerging voices around the annual theme. These sessions set the tone for the conference, offering new perspectives, challenging assumptions, and contributing to the broader conversation within the Research Network.

Talking Circles

Talking Circles transform participants from audience members into collaborators. Organized around broad thematic interests, they create space for open dialogue—embodying Common Ground’s founding principle that knowledge grows through conversation. Rooted in Indigenous pedagogical traditions, the circle is a form of knowledge-sharing that values reciprocity, listening, and collective insight. By drawing on these traditions, our Talking Circles honor multiple ways of knowing and foster an ethics of exchange that challenges hierarchical modes of academic communication, placing community, reflection, and relational understanding at the center of scholarly life.

Case Study Emersion

When place and context invite it, our conferences offer on-site immersions. These may take the form of museum visits, field experiences, or pop-up exhibitions, bringing delegates directly into environments of practice and inquiry.

Social Spaces

Scholarship thrives in dialogue—and in the moments between. Shared breaks and lunches (included with registration) create time for informal discussion, collaboration, and reflection between sessions. Each event begins with a Welcome Reception, with optional Conference Dinners and Cultural Site Visits that highlight the local context of the host institution. These shared experiences extend the intellectual life of the conference beyond its formal sessions—fostering collegial exchange, cross-disciplinary connection, and the spirit of community.

Our in-person formats balance academic rigor with participatory engagement, fostering genuine exchange across research stages and disciplines. Sessions are curated by our Conference Development and Local Committee teams and chaired by Emerging Scholars, who help weave connections across the program.

Themed Paper Presentations

Best suited for completed research or theoretical reflection, these sessions highlight the essential features of a project or study. Presenters deliver a 20-minute formal presentation, often supported by visual aids such as slides or handouts.

Sessions are curated by the Conference Development Team and grouped by topic or perspective into 75- or 100-minute themed panels. Each concludes with shared discussion time, ensuring that presentations are not isolated performances but parts of a collaborative exchange of ideas.

Colloquium

A colloquium brings together four to five authors presenting papers on a shared theme or topic—offering complementary, contrasting, or dialogic perspectives on a specific issue.

• Duration: 90 minutes
• Proposal: submitted as a single, collective abstract (250 words) that lists all participants and paper titles.
• Composition: at least four registered participants.
• Structure: approximately 15 minutes per presenter, with at least 15 minutes reserved for discussion.

Workshop

Workshops emphasize participation and co-creation. Designed around hands-on engagement, they may take the form of crafted panels, staged dialogues, demonstrations, or debates.

• Duration: 45 minutes
• Format: at least 30 minutes of audience interaction, inviting participants to test, question, or apply the ideas presented.

Poster Sessions

Poster sessions provide an interactive space for sharing preliminary findings, works in progress, or visually compelling research.

• Duration: 45 minutes (informal discussion throughout)
• Format: visual displays up to 4 x 3 ft (121.92 x 91.44 cm), including digital or artistic media.
• Presenters: responsible for setup and materials (no guaranteed power source).

Creative Practice Showcase (Conference-Dependent)

Designed for art, design, communication, or performance-based research, these sessions highlight creative work as a form of inquiry. Presenters may share case studies, document processes, or exhibitions. These showcases embody Common Ground’s belief that artistic practice is integral to knowledge production.

• Duration: 20 minutes
• Focus: research-driven creative work (not commercial promotion).

Innovation Showcase (Conference-Dependent)

Focusing on applied research and real-world solutions, these sessions spotlight innovations in policy, education, technology, or community engagement. Innovation Showcases align with our mission to connect scholarship to practice, amplifying knowledge that shapes social and institutional change.

• Duration: 20 minutes
• Format: case studies, project demonstrations, or process-based presentations.
• Focus: practical impact rooted in scholarly or professional research (not for product sales).

Our online conference model is built around asynchronous engagement. This approach extends the conversation beyond the limits of real-time interaction, enabling more thoughtful, reflective, and inclusive exchange. Through CGScholar, asynchronous presentations remain accessible long after the event concludes, creating a living archive of research and discussion. Delegates can return to sessions, revisit comments, and continue building connections with peers around the world. This model ensures that participation is not constrained by geography or circumstance, while preserving the rigor and depth of scholarly dialogue that define our conferences.

Asynchronous Pre-Recorded Presentation

Best suited for completed research or theoretical work, this format allows presenters to share their scholarship in a concise and engaging visual format.

• Duration: up to 20 minutes

• Format: pre-recorded video presentation uploaded to the presenter’s Presenter Page on CGScholar

• Supplementary Materials: optional visual supports (PDF, PowerPoint, or similar) may accompany the presentation

• Engagement: discussion boards are open to all delegates—online and in-person—encouraging dialogue and collaboration across time zones and formats

Asynchronous Poster Presentation

Ideal for visually driven research or work in progress, this format allows presenters to communicate key concepts and findings through a concise, digital visual display.

• Format: one high-resolution PDF or single PowerPoint slide

• Accessibility: files should be clear and readable when viewed online or downloaded

• Engagement: an online discussion board supports conversation with all conference participants, fostering informal exchange and constructive feedback

Audience Passes are designed for those who wish to engage with the conference intellectually and socially—benefiting from the presentations, connecting with speakers, and contributing to discussions. Audience members are acknowledged in the conference program as active participants in our global scholarly communities. We welcome both returning and new members to add their voices to the conversation, whether in person or online.

In-Person

Join us in an immersive, human-scale environment that fosters genuine exchange. As an in-person delegate, you will:

• Participate in innovative session formats, plenaries, and Talking Circles.

• Engage directly with presenters and peers across disciplines.

• Enjoy full access to all online conference content and discussion spaces via CGScholar.
  

Online

Engage with the conference from anywhere in the world—on your own time and schedule. As an online delegate, you will:

• Access recorded presentations, welcome addresses, plenaries, and curated thematic content.

• Contribute to asynchronous discussion boards and network with other participants through CGScholar.

• Revisit sessions, presentations, and key insights long after the conference concludes.