Convergence Research

A research into tools, best practices and learnings from various online, blended and live permaculture convergence organisers across the globe.

Team

Aimee Fenech, Cândida Shinn, Daniel Mello-Mattos

Reporting Officer: Aimee Fenech

Previously also: Maria Prieto, Annaik LeNet, Naomi Joy Smith

Area

Network Weaving, Next Steps project, Capacity+ project

objectives for 2022

Convergence organisers and participants will benefit from this work with access to learnings from previous experiences and recommendations. By working with members of PIRN, IPCC and others we will be strengthening the collaboration bonds between teams whilst working towards a common goal. We will also be raising the visibility of CoLab in the larger permaculture community.

OUTCOMES FOR 2022

A design and collection of effective practices and most common challenges, feedback that convergence organisers can refer to when preparing online and blended convergences and that other permaculture colab Circles and organizers can integrate into strategy about services to offer to organizers in the permaculture movement.

objectives for 2023

–  Springboard from findings in case studies performed in the previous research phase.

–  Ongoing identification of convergences to include in proceeding stages of research.

–  Share findings of the research using a variety of methods.

–  Perform outreach via a diversity of channels and methods, within and beyond CoLab.

–  Collaborate with the CoLab “Global Permaculture Movement Map” and “Permaculture Convergence website aggregator” activities.

OUTCOMES for 2023

The project went from harvesting insights from the previous years’ report, to identifying key areas to focus further research, finalising with a second phase of surveys. These were a fruitful time interviewing event organisers, capturing their amazing experiences.

The initiated collaboration with the Permaculture Convergence Website and the Global Permaculture Movement Map teams will prove to be key in the next year to share future developed resources further, especially with event organisers.

The CoLab communications team has assisted in handling external and internal communications with CoLab members and perma.earth newsletter readers.

objectives for 2024

1. Training resources for event organizers.

2. Outreach from the research team.

3. External Research through consultants/existing organisers of events.

4. Case studies to check hypothesis (eg. problem = lack of training on subject a, > provided with training > how has this changed from starting point).

september 2024 update

The Convergence Research team has partnered with the Permaculture Convergence website team to share resources, the research team is contributing with resources and the website team provides the infrastructure for publication and helping with the communications.

You can find the website here: https://permacultureconvergence.org/