Request for Proposals
About
The 2027 EKBN Forum brings together knowledge brokers from across the education system to connect, share, and lead the field forward. Over three interactive days, this collaborative forum provides a space to build connections, cultivate professional identity, elevate new voices, and spark fresh solutions to pressing educational challenges. We welcome both emerging and experienced knowledge brokers to join us in energizing our practice and expanding our collective impact.
This year’s forum will focus on Knowledge Brokering for a Changing World, featuring three tracks:
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Navigating Complexity: Exploring AI, emerging technologies, adaptive leadership, and the changing information landscape.
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Building Trust: Strengthening relationships, engagement, equity, and authentic partnerships.
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Creating Impact: Moving research, ideas, and relationships into meaningful action and measurable results.
What We’re Looking For
The forum theme, Knowledge Brokering for a Changing World, explores how knowledge brokers navigate change, build trust, and create impact. While proposals should align with one of the conference tracks, all submissions should be grounded in the theory, practice, or application of education knowledge brokering. Regardless of track, proposals should clearly articulate their relevance to education knowledge brokering and the use, mobilization, or exchange of research and evidence.
We welcome proposals from presenters across the education system. We invite submissions from individuals or teams on relevant education knowledge brokering topics such as:
- Addressing problems of practice in education knowledge brokering
- Research, working papers, and emerging scholarship related to the theory and practice of knowledge brokering
- Knowledge brokering strategies in diverse contexts and with diverse constituencies
- Examples of knowledge brokering approaches, methods, or tools in action
- Building relationships to support collaboration, capacity-building, trust, and equitable participation
- Co-design approaches used in research planning, data collection, analysis, implementation, or knowledge mobilization
- The role of knowledge brokers in helping individuals, organizations, and systems use research and evidence to inform decision-making
- Emerging challenges and opportunities shaping the future of knowledge brokering
- Evaluation, implementation, and impact assessment in knowledge brokering work
- Other topics of importance to the education knowledge brokering community
Audience
Knowledge brokers occupy diverse roles and positions across the field of education. Prior forum participants include researchers, practitioners, policy makers, ed tech specialists, technical assistance providers, and many more. We encourage presenters to avoid highly technical jargon or the use of acronyms to ensure content is accessible for all participants. While all forum attendees can attend any session of interest, your application will include the opportunity to suggest which audiences or roles might benefit most from your presentation.
Event Types
We welcome proposals from presenters across the education system. To support our goals of building community and connection, our program offerings encourage interaction and collaboration.
Knowledge Cafe
Knowledge cafes are a flexible format that combine a short presentation with facilitated discussion or activities. These 50-minute sessions should limit direct presentation time to no more than 30 minutes. The remaining time should include discussion prompts or activities that engage participants in conversation, deeper learning, or problem-solving.
Poster
The virtual poster session is an opportunity to showcase your work throughout the duration of the forum. Digital posters will be available to event participants up to a week before the forum, with a dedicated time during the event for attendees to speak directly with poster presenters.
Apply Today
Before you begin:
You can preview a copy of the application questions here.
You will be asked to provide a short bio (150 words) and headshot of all presenters during the application process. These items are not included as part of proposal review.
Proposals will be reviewed using four criteria:
- Alignment with one of the conference strands
- Meaningful opportunities for participant interaction and engagement
- Clear, practical takeaways for attendees
- Contribution to the theory, practice, or advancement of education knowledge brokering
Ready to apply?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Knowledge Broker?
Knowledge brokers span roles and sectors to connect people, ideas, and evidence. They facilitate learning, foster dialogue, and support the use of knowledge in ways that are relevant, inclusive, and actionable.
How do I know if my topic connects to knowledge brokering?
If your work involves sharing insights across roles, engaging diverse stakeholders, or translating research into action, you’re contributing to the field. We can help you frame it.
Who will I be speaking to?
Our audience includes a cross-section of educators, researchers, nonprofit leaders, policymakers, and funders.
Questions? Email us at edknowledgebrokers@udel.edu.