ABSTRACT GUIDELINES

General Information

CLICK HERE to download a PDF version of the Call for Papers submission form.

The program is primarily organized around the four sections of the Society: Biological Sciences; Clinical Medicine; Behavioral and Social Sciences; and Social Research, Policy and Practice. When you submit an abstract, you are applying to one of these four sections. Symposia may be jointly sponsored by two Sections.

To facilitate the review process, please pay careful attention and complete all abstract and application materials. Incomplete applications cannot be processed. Please select one category from the "Session Codes" that is most descriptive of the submission's content. The code will be used in assigning reviewers and in composing the final program.

Speaking invitations to public officials who are not members of the Society may be extended only with the prior written approval of the Program Committee through the Society office. The Society must receive requests for this approval by March 15, 2006. Approval to speak carries no automatic waiver of the registration fee for the meeting.

In accordance with GSA policy, persons may not engage in fund-raising activities in the name of GSA and its programs, including the annual meeting and meeting sessions, without prior written approval from the GSA Executive Director. Submission of papers, posters, or refereed roundtables is limited to one per person as a first author.

Submission for participation on symposia (as presenter or discussant) is limited to two per person. Should an individual participate in more than one session, the Society does not guarantee that those presentations will be scheduled in non-conflicting time periods. It is assumed that the first author will be the presenter.

Criteria for Review of Abstracts
Abstracts should be factual and report on significant research findings. Other criteria are:

• Originality of ideas and methods
• Specificity of methods and findings
• Clarity of theoretical and/or applied implications
• Quality of writing
• Use of proper abstract format (please follow instructions on the application form)

• To be accepted for presentation, abstracts based on empirical research projects must report actual results, not promised results. Abstracts of presentations that seek to frame theoretical questions or advance understanding of the application of the arts and humanities should summarize major conclusions.
• Materials previously published or presented at another national conference are NOT acceptable for this meeting.

• Abstract Fee: $15
• Abstract Fee for Students: $5

All persons attending the Annual Scientific Meeting are required to register and pay the registration fee. This includes authors, co-authors, chairpersons, invited speakers, and discussants. No person is authorized to waive registration fees.

Special Sectional, ESPO and AGHE Notes
Biological Sciences – The Biological Sciences Section seeks submissions on research relevant to the fundamental processes of aging. Abstracts which address the meeting theme of "Education and the Gerontological Imagination" are especially encouraged. BS submissions are accepted as Poster and Refereed Roundtable presentations. A limited number of Paper presentations will also be accepted. Posters are to be put up at 8:30 AM, Friday, November 17, 2006 and are to remain up until 5:00 PM, Saturday, November 18, 2006. Poster presenters are to be at their posters on Saturday, 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM. A limited number of Poster submissions will be eligible for consideration as "hot topics" as late as October 3, 2006.

Behavioral and Social Sciences – The Behavioral and Social Sciences Section seeks submissions addressing topics related to the full range of behavioral and social science topics in gerontology. Abstracts that address the meeting theme, "Education and the Gerontological Imagination," are especially encouraged.

The BSS program will emphasize Symposia, Poster Sessions, and Refereed Roundtables and will accept only a very few Paper submissions (generally comprised of Papers not well suited to other presentation formats such as humanities). We highly recommend that individual submissions for Paper sessions also indicate willingness to accept an alternative format. Research-based Paper and Poster submissions that do not include actual empirical results will not be accepted. Proposed symposia should include multiple perspectives on important scholarly and educational issues in gerontology and can be submitted by emerging scholars and professionals as well as by more senior scientists. Sessions addressing the theme of the meeting may be given special note in the program.

Clinical Medicine – The Clinical Medicine Section seeks submissions which reflect a broad range of multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary patient/family-focused clinical, health services, epidemiologic, and translational research. Abstracts which address the meeting theme of "Education and the Gerontological Imagination" are especially encouraged. Physicians, nurses, dentists, nutritionists, therapists, and other professionals conducting clinical research will present and discuss their work with a multidisciplinary audience.

Symposia, Papers, Posters and Roundtables will be organized by topic. It is recommended that authors consider Paper, Poster and Refereed Roundtable session options to increase presentation opportunities, which is an ideal forum for scientific presentations focused on cross-cutting geriatric syndromes and innovative approaches to geriatric patient care.

Social Research, Policy and Practice – The Social Research, Policy and Practice Section seeks submissions which address the promotion of the social well being of older people through the scientific study of the social, political, and economic contexts of aging. Abstracts which address the meeting theme of "Education and the Gerontological Imagination" are especially encouraged. The Section equally welcomes Posters, Papers, Refereed Roundtables, and Symposia sessions. Symposium submissions that emphasize a theoretical perspective are particularly sought. Also encouraged are abstract submissions that reflect scholarly collaboration between beginning and senior investigators.

All Paper, Poster, Refereed Roundtable, and Symposium sessions will be organized by topic. It is recommended that authors consider Paper, Poster, and Refereed Roundtable session formats to increase presentation opportunities. While effort is made to accommodate authors' preferences, it is not possible to guarantee assignment types. Each year, one SRPP symposium is designated as the Ollie Randall Symposium. This recognition is given to a high-quality submission that examines cutting-edge issues with broad implications for policy or practice. All Symposium submissions will automatically be considered, but applicants may also check the appropriate box under "Additional Information" on the application form if they believe their symposium is particularly appropriate.

Emerging Scholar and Professional Organization (ESPO) - The purpose of ESPO of GSA is to provide students and trainees with an opportunity to be active in the field of gerontology. All GSA members who are full-time students (undergraduate or graduate) and postdoctoral trainees/fellows are considered to be ESPO members. ESPO members are encouraged to submit abstracts to one or more of the Society's four sections. Abstracts which address the meeting theme of "Education and the Gerontological Imagination " are especially encouraged. The theme should resonate among students. ESPO members have a discounted abstract handing fee of $5.

Association for Gerontology in Higher Education - The Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE) is a membership organization composed of over 300 colleges, universities, private businesses, and government organizations that provide education, training, and research programs in the field of aging. The purpose of AGHE is to advance gerontology and geriatrics education in academic institutions. In 1999, AGHE became the educational unit of GSA. AGHE will consider co-sponsoring symposia from any GSA section that addresses research objectives related to the delivery or outcomes of education and training in gerontology or geriatrics. The theme of this year’s meeting should resonate with AGHE members.

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The Society is committed to making the annual meeting accessible to persons with disabilities. For further information or suggestions, please contact the Meetings Department at (202) 842-1275 or meetings@geron.org.