For almost as long as there has been an Internet governance ecosystem, there have been researchers and academics studying and assessing it. Today's researchers are expanding connections between the study of Internet governance and that of governance more broadly. Additionally, Internet governance scholarship is increasingly seeking to offer more concrete guidance and resources that could be used to help build innovative tools for participation. This panel will discuss current trends in research and toolkit development, and explore how future academic research might helpfully contribute to the on-going development of the IG ecosystem.