The long-anticipated “Convergence Conference” took place over two days in May 2025 at the Inn at Villanova, adjacent to Villanova University, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. More than 50 researchers and students from the US and around the world attended, many in person and, thanks to the nimble work of a team of IT pros and graduate students, via the magic of Zoom.
This was the concluding, capstone event anticipated by the NSF Research Coordination Network (RCN) grant that has funded GKC-related projects since 2020..
The group heard panel presentations covering each of the most recent GKC-themed book projects, work in progress presentations from many others, and brief “lightning” talks from everyone not included in the book panels or the work in progress list. Every attendee had at least one opportunity to address the full conference.
Coming out of the conference, there is good news and better news for the world of GKC and knowledge commons research.
The good news is that the originators of the GKC research framework and the co-PIs of the NSF RCN grant have made major progress toward achieving the goal they aimed at beginning in 2010 and 2011, together with the publication of the original “framework” paper in the Cornell Law Review. Building a knowledge commons of knowledge commons researchers and research was and remains the goal; the Convergence Conference offered abundant evidence of success – so far!
The better news is that the GKC community is energized anew to continue and to expand the domain of knowledge commons research and, we expect, to convene again in two years’ time, likely in Europe. Stay tuned for more information on that front.
Meanwhile, here is a photo of the GKC co-PIs, from the Convergence Conference. Thanks to the photographer, Professor David Levine of the Elon University School of Law.