From coffee shops to role swaps, fandoms often like to play with alternate universes (AUs). Which are our favorite AUs? Why are some AUs common or rare, especially in certain fandoms? What can AUs reveal about characters or maybe even about ourselves? Participants: Lyda Morehouse (mod), Susanna Holt, SaraBeth Ray, Nate Wulver, Zakharie
As authors, we lie all the time. We have to since science is so uncooperative. That said, we often have no idea what the real science is. How do we cheat to get the story told? Participants: Kate Dane (mod), Reed Alexander, Anthony W. Eichenlaub, Naomi Kritzer, Sarah Tasz
A celebration of our pets who can't be with us this weekend. Find the QR code outside of Programming Headquarters or Teen Room to submit pictures of your pets, and then join us to enjoy all the geeky pets. Participants: Corbin, Renate Fiora Hyer
With this current administration working diligently to take LGBT people out of our history, it's more important than ever to remember our queer-story. Come to the panel and hear the panelists' favorite LGBT people in history and share your own. Participants: Mordecai Mika (mod), J.R. Dawson, Sean Eberle, John Heimbuch, Eiryn Katherine
What movies didn't need a sequel but have one anyway? Stake your claim about franchises that shouldn't have been. There should be only one! Participants: Noel Thingvall (mod), Nate Anderson, Wendy Fossum, KitKat, The Vern
Chuck Tingle, T. Kingfisher, and the expanding landscape of horror and hope! What does it mean that there is such a thing as "feel good horror"? What is the role of queerness and not-straight-white-men in this? Participants: Josiah John Mannion (mod), Filima, KitKat, Lyda Morehouse, T'Yanna L Singleton
From Godzilla and Mothra to King Kong and the Titans, giant monsters are tons of fun! Come discuss your favorites. Participants: Scott Jamison (mod), Christopher Daniels, Dzhemi, Charlene Holm, Shanna Jansen
Each year North Country Gaylaxians chooses one book a month to read. Our charter is to read books either by LGBTQ+ authors or books with positive LGBTQ+ content. This panel will discuss the books we have read since CONvergence 2025. Participants: Donald Kaiser, David Lenander, Claudia Slovacek
From the newly premiered Starfleet Academy, to Strange New Worlds, to the ongoing hope for a fourth Kelvin timeline movie, join us to discuss what's new in the growing world of Star Trek. Participants: T. Aaron Cisco (mod), Tony Artym, Wes Huntington, Assad Khaishgi, Michael Scott Shappe
Art is often used to speak truth to power. Learn about various avenues and means of creating art as resistance. From sculpture and painting to performance art, we'll discuss it all (or at least what we can in an hour)! Participants: Naomi Kritzer (mod), Leslie Barlow, Kendrick Edmund Hogue, Lyda Morehouse
This panel will introduce the audience to two local conventions: ConFABulous, a GLBTQ+ and allies gaming relaxicon in October, and CONsole Room, the Minnesota Dr. Who convention in January. Participants: Amber Raden (mod), Ben Ellis, Donald Kaiser, Natasha Jo Krentz, David Lenander
What do you get when you combine a pandemic, a Zoom account, four TV series, one film, and three TV movies? A killer group chat, custom t-shirts, long-running in-jokes, and friends for life! Join us for a view of ALL things Stargate that is very personal. Participants: Windy Bowlsby (mod), Scott Jenicek, Laurie Richardson Sweep
Like Gundam? Macross? Transformers? So do we! Hang out and squee about your favorite mecha from any decade. Participants: Scott Jamison (mod), Christopher Daniels, Shanna Jansen, Viga
Want to get into cosplay but don't have a budget? Worried about the environment? Learn how you can recycle materials to cosplay on a budget AND reduce waste! Participants: Dana Baird (mod), Christine Galey, Katie Heilman, Chris Wester, Dirk Ykema
We've all had a friend expose us to strange music, some of which we've loved and some that left us confused. What happens when a lover of random items, thrift finds, and all things obscure exposes comedians to weird music they've never heard before? Participants: Jason Kruger (mod), Maren Aalgaard, Melissa Sue Kaercher, Miss Shannan, Dante Quinn, Duck Washington
Ever wondered if you may have ADHD or be autistic? Come hear from panelists about their experiences getting diagnosed as an adult. Learn how to advocate for yourself, what the process may look like, and what benefits a formal diagnosis may hold. Participants: Bobo (mod), Reed Alexander, Charlene Holm, Kiki Joy Latham, Springyboii
Let's talk about why we love CONvergence! What makes it so special, and what can it do better to not replicate all of the awful things about the outside world--phobia, cliques, gatekeeping. How can we welcome more people into this wonderful community? Participants: Pete Lane (mod), Sean Eberle, Janelle Kloth, Rhea Wessendorf
Find out who we lost this year in genre film and get some recommendations from the panel on what work to seek out. Participants: Garrick A Dietze (mod), Kelvin Hatle, Melissa Sue Kaercher, Megan M Slawson, Noel Thingvall
Fans of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Glee, and Coprock rejoice as you join with friends from Buffy, Xena, Psych, and many others to discuss musical episodes and shows. Why are they so popular? Participants: Kerry T Peterson (mod), Nikki Armstrong, Renate Fiora Hyer, Keeter Man, Kaija Schmauss
How does adapting a property to another medium change the story and how it's told? Are some stories better suited to certain media? Why? Participants: Amber Raden (mod), Megan Noel Johnson, Sean C Novack, SaraBeth Ray
Hear Christine Galey (R2-D2) and Susanna Malak (Gas Mask, Jawa) talk about Star Wars and other acting fun! Participants: Christine Galey, Susanna Malak
