Experimental co‑creation as an approach to collaborative solution‑building
As part of its commitment to global collaboration, the Knowledge Equity & Open Scholarship Week 2026 will include an experimental online co‑creation initiative that invites open scholarship practitioners from around the world to come together in small groups to explore the question “How can we bridge the Opens?”
This experiment aims to foster collaboration and surface fresh, diverse contributions to the global open scholarship conversation. The process is intentionally exploratory and we hope the experience will generate valuable learning, build new connections and model more equitable, participatory approaches to shaping the future of open knowledge.
Participants from any area of open scholarship, such as open science/open research, open education, open pedagogy, open source, open infrastructure and open access, are invited to be matched with other participants across regions and time zones to share perspectives and exchange ideas. Together you will create a contribution such as a blog post, video, online poster or presentation to be showcased during the Week.
A note on languages
The Knowledge Equity & Open Scholarship Week will be conducted in English as the common language of the Knowledge Equity Network. The organisers recognise that participants may prefer to use other languages in conversation and will try to match participants with common preferred languages. Contributions may be produced in languages other than English and must include a summary or translation in English. Correspondence from the organisers will be conducted in English.
What to expect
- Interested participants will apply to take part using a short online form before the closing date of 8 April 2026. You will be asked some questions about yourself which will enable the facilitators to match you based on your interests, closest time zone and preferred language.
- Facilitators will match participants in small groups and introduce you to your colleagues by email by 15 April 2026.
- You will arrange mutually convenient times and ways to meet to get to know each other and explore the question “How can we bridge the Opens?” between 16 April and 11 May 2026.
- You will create a contribution of your choice such as a blog post, video, online poster or presentation and send this to the organisers by the deadline of 11 May 2026.
- The organisers will review your submit and present your contribution on the Knowledge Equity Network website. Your contribution will be shared under a Creative Commons open licence.
- You will be given the option to present during the online Knowledge Equity & Open Scholarship Week 19-21 May 2026.
How to apply
Complete this short online form
You will be asked some questions about yourself which will enable the facilitators to check that you are eligible and match you based on your interests, closest time zone, and preferred language.
Eligibility
To take part you need to:
- Have access to the internet,
- Be able to communicate with your matches and meet at least twice during the co-creation activity period 16 April and 11 May 2026,
- Be willing to build professional connections,
- Be willing to work collaboratively to produce either a blog post, video, online poster, presentation/talk by the end of the program and share it (template and guidelines will be provided),
- Be able to prepare a contribution to the Knowledge Equity and Open Scholarship Week by 12:00 BST 11 May 2026
- Have proficiency in English to communicate with the organisers and deliver the contribution in English or provide a summary or translation in English
- Give permission for your contribution to be shared on the Knowledge Equity Network website under a CC-BY (Attribution) licence or other open license
- Give permission for your contact details to be shared for the purpose of matching you with colleagues.
Participant agreement
By applying to take part, you agree to the following community principles, which are drawn from the work of David Robinson-Morris:
- We come prepared, ready to engage, have dialogue and study together.
- We recognise the dignity and respect the personhood of each human being.
- We have dialogue in order that we might understand. Understanding, not agreement, is the chief aim of our time together.
- Every question is a ‘good’ question. There are likely to be multiple answers.
- We practice conversational justice, giving ample time to those voices less heard.
- Not every question will have an answer but might require us to live the question.
- We are allowed to change our minds. No position is static.
- We are open to the possibility of the new.
If you are no longer able to commit your participation, you agree to inform the organisers and your group straightaway.
Disclaimer: This is an experiment
This co-creation is an experiment and all organisers and participants are volunteers. As such, there will be no payment for taking part. Every effort will be made to match applicants and facilitate the co-creation. However, as with any experiment, failure or the unexpected may happen. Learning from this experience may be reported at future conferences or in written form by the organisers or the participants.
Find out more
More information about the Knowledge Equity & Open Scholarship Week can be found online here.