Let’s converge on convergence!
Convergence Workshop: Combining Theory and Praxis in Complex Research Centers
October 6–8, 2025
Appalachian State University
Boone, North Carolina
The Convergence Workshop: Combining Theory and Praxis in Complex Research Centers will bring together teams utilizing a convergent approach to addressing complex societal challenges. This invitation-only workshop will focus on sharing models and best practices for boundary-spanning, integrative research while collaboratively tackling key challenges in advancing convergence. This workshop will be highly action-oriented, fostering dialogue, co-creation, and directly resulting in the publication of a shared compendium for convergence research.
Register to Attend
Registration instructions have been sent to research teams who developed a case study for participation as well as to interested research leaders at Appalachian State. If you need assistance registering or completing your travel arrangements, please reach out to Lauren Essick (essicklm@appstate.edu).
Workshop Schedule
Welcome Social Event on Monday 10/6
Join us for an evening social at SouthEnd Brewing in Boone to connect with one another in advance of Tuesday’s workshop sessions.
Monday, October 6, 6–8PM
Workshop Sessions on Tuesday 10/7
Case study teams will engage with one another through facilitated workshop sessions. We will examine shared insights from our case studies around the four dimensions of convergence, to surface critical factors in success, overcoming barriers, and lessons learned in supporting intentional convergence in large research teams. Panels composed of case study representatives will lead discussions to unpack additional cross-cutting themes that emerged from teams’ pre-workshop reflections on their shared experiences.
Tuesday, October 7, 8AM–4:30PM
Dinner on Tuesday 10/7
We will transition from workshop sessions to a social hour and dinner. Over dinner, attendees will have the option to participate in imaginative, hands-on activities to reflect creatively on ideas that surfaced during the workshop.
Tuesday, October 7, 5:30–8:30PM
Workshop Sessions on Wednesday 10/8
During the final day of the workshop we will interact around areas of greatest curiosity, develop future team aspirations, and translate our insights into priorities for inclusion in the published Convergence Case Study Compendium.
Wednesday, October 8, 8AM–1PM
Convening Team
Program Commitee
Christine Ogilvie Hendren, Co-chair,
Vice Provost for Research & Innovation,
Appalachian State University
Grace Marasco-Plummer, Co-chair,
RIEEE Managing Director,
Appalachian State University
Anne Heberger Marino,
University of Maine Gateway; Founder, Lean to Collaborations
Susan Winters,
Director of Research Operations,
Georgia Institute of Technology
Jeni Cross,
Director of Co-Creation,
CO-WY Engine
Alison Deviney,
Postdoctoral Scholar,
North Carolina State University, STEPS
Kimberly Bourne,
Program Coordinator,
North Carolina State University; STEPS
Lauren Essick,
RIEEE Research Development Manager,
Appalachian State University
Advisory Commitee
Jacob Jones,
Director of STEPS; Professor of Materials Science and Engineering
North Carolina State University; Research Triangle Nanotechnology Network; STEPS
Darius Melvin,
Assistant Director of Diversity, Inclusion, and Partnerships
Cornell University; CROPPS
Marisa Rinkus,
Associate Director of the Toolbox Dialogue Initiative Center,
Michigan State University
Hosting Commitee
Grace Marasco-Plummer, Committee Lead,
RIEEE Managing Director,
Appalachian State University
Lauren Essick,
RIEEE Research Development Manager,
Appalachian State University
Whitney Wallett,
Executive Assistant to the Vice Provost for Research & Innovation,
Appalachian State University
Sponsors
National Science Foundation via the Science and Technologies for Phosphorus Sustainability (STEPS) Science Technology Center (STC),
Grant Number CBET-2019435
