ABSTRACT SUBMISSION

The Abstract Submission forms are now closed. Primary Author's can expect to hear from GSA regarding the status of their submissions by early August. Please contact meetings@geron.org with any questions.

Glossary of Terms and Submission Guidelines

Abstract Submission Deadline: March 18, 2008

Please review the guidelines and terms below before beginning your submission. To begin the process of submitting an abstract, please select the correct form (Symposium vs. Paper and Poster) from the menu at left. To make your submission smooth and efficient, we recommend having your abstract information typed out ahead of time so that you can cut and paste the information into the form as you go along.

General Information

For information regarding general abstract information, Section notes, awards, presentation formats and audio visual equipment, please download the Call for Papers.
Please spell-check your submissions. GSA will not spell-check your abstract before it is printed.
SAVE YOUR WORK! Please note that if you remain on any page of the submission form for too long and do not save your work, your information will be lost.
The length of abstracts for Paper/Poster and Main Symposium Abstracts is limited to 250 words. The limit for Individual Symposium Abstracts (which must be attached to a Main Symposium Abstract) is 150 words.
The electronic submission fee is $15. The methods of payment for submissions are credit cards (Visa, MC, American Express). A discounted fee of $5 is available to students. Please note that the abstract submission fee is non-refundable.
If you require assistance in completing this form, send your question to meetings@geron.org and include "On-Line Abstracts" in the subject line. This mailbox is checked daily.
Abstract notification e-mails will be sent to first authors in early August. Please contact us at meetings@geron.org if you are a first author and have not received your notification e-mail by August 15, 2008. If you are not a first author, please contact the first author of the abstract on which you are a participant.

Glossary of Terms

Symposium Submission Terms
Symposia are a form of Abstract organized and submitted by a Primary Author, with the help of Co-Chairs and Discussants. They are comprised of a main Abstract as well as several Individual Symposium Abstracts authored by Participants/Co-Authors.

• Parent/Child Relationship - In a Symposium submission, the Main Abstract is considered the Parent, and the Individual Symposium Abstracts are known as the Children.
• Primary Author – The Primary Author is considered the organizer of the abstract submission and is the main point of contact. They are responsible for disseminating any information that GSA may provide to the other participants on their abstract.
• Co-Chairs/Discussants – Co-Chairs/Discussants are participants on a Main Symposium. Co-Chairs work with the Primary Author in the role of co-organizer, while Discussants are expected to act as moderators of the presentation.
• Participant/Co-Author – Participants/Co-Authors are the presenters of the Individual Symposium Abstracts, which make up a main Symposium.

Paper and Poster Submission Terms
Paper submissions are completed using the same online form as Poster submissions. Papers are submitted by a Primary Author and up to 5 Co-Authors. Paper Sessions at the Annual Meeting are organized by topic and are comprised of between 4 and 6 Papers. They are organized by topic areas assigned by GSA Section Chairs.

Poster submissions are completed using the same online form as Paper submissions. Posters are submitted by a Primary Author and up to 7 Co-Authors. Poster sessions at the Annual Meeting are presented on a 4 foot by 8 foot poster board. They are organized by topic areas assigned by GSA Section Chairs.

• Parent/Child Relationship - In the case of Papers and Posters the Paper or Poster Session itself is known as the Parent while the individual Papers or Posters that comprise it, are know as the Children.

Additional Terms

Participant Details is the contact information for those associated with the abstract submission.

Reviewer – A Reviewer is someone who volunteers to peer review submitted abstracts. When a Reviewer signs up for a Reviewer Account in the Abstract Service Center, they are asked to select areas of expertise. Those areas of expertise correspond to the list of Session Codes on the Abstract Submission Form. Reviewers are assigned between 8 and 10 abstracts with Session Codes that match their areas of expertise to review.

Submission Guidelines

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

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

To help 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 14, 2008. Approval to speak carries no automatic waiver of the registration fee for the meeting.

In accordance with GSA policy, persons may not engage in fundraising 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.

Participation

Submission of papers or posters is limited to one per person as a Primary Author.

Submission for participation on symposia (as Co-Chair 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 Primary 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)

Please note:

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 are NOT acceptable for this meeting.

Abstract Submission Fees

Abstract Fee: $15
Abstract Fee for Students: $5
Submission fee is non-refundable

Notification, Attendance & Registration
By early August, letters will be e-mailed to the Primary Author regarding the status of each submission. If accepted, the Primary Author will be notified of the date, time period, and location for presentation as well as the presentation type (i.e., Paper, Poster, Roundtable, or Symposium). Primary Authors are asked to notify fellow participants of their abstract's acceptance. If e-mail notification is not received by August 15, 2008, please contact a GSA staff member at meetings@geron.org.

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

Behavioral and Social Sciences - The Behavioral and Social Sciences Section seeks submissions addressing topics related to the full range of behavioral and social science issues in gerontology. Abstracts that address the meeting theme, “Resilience in an Aging Society: Risks and Opportunities,” are especially encouraged.

The BSS program will include symposia, paper sessions, and poster sessions. There will be a limited opportunities for paper sessions; therefore, we strongly recommend that individual submissions for paper sessions also indicate willingness to accept an alternative format. While effort is made to accommodate authors’ preferences, it is not possible to guarantee assignment types. 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.

Biological Sciences - The Biological Sciences Section seeks submissions on research relevant to the fundamental processes of aging. Abstracts which address the meeting theme, “Resilience in an Aging Society: Risks and Opportunities,” are especially encouraged.

Back by popular demand! This year, the BS section will continue its "Late Breaker" poster session tradition. Submissions for this session must be received by September 15, 2008. This session will be jointly sponsored by the Health Sciences (HS) section.

Health Sciences - The Health Sciences 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, “Resilience in an Aging Society: Risks and Opportunities,” 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, and posters, will be organized by topic we encourage everyone to submit multiple presentations. While every effort is made to accommodate authors’ preferences, it is not possible to guarantee assignment types. All types of presentations are ideal forums for scientific dialogue focusing on the ideas that motivate the research and imaginative approaches to geriatric patient care.

Back by popular demand! This year, the HS section will continue its "Late Breaker" poster session tradition. Submissions for this session must be received by September 15, 2008. This session will be jointly sponsored by the Biological (BS) section.

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, the “Resilience in an Aging Society: Risks and Opportunities,” are especially encouraged. The Section equally welcomes posters, papers, 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, and symposium sessions will be organized by topic. It is recommended that authors consider paper, and poster 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 symposia 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 the ESPO of GSA is to provide new and emerging scholars with an opportunity to actively engage in the field of gerontology. All GSA members who are full-time students (undergraduate or graduate), postdoctoral trainees/fellows, or individuals who have recently transitioned from a student/trainee position into a junior faculty/professional position are considered 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, "Resilience in an Aging Society: Risks and Opportunities," and that resonate with ESPO members are especially encouraged. SPO members have a discounted abstract handling fee of $5.

Association for Gerontology in Higher Education - The Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE) is an institutional 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 address 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.

Audio Visual Information.

Individuals who will require the use of a computer for their presentation must bring their own laptops. The Society provides the following equipment for all symposia and paper sessions: LCD projector, screen, and electric pointer.

Individuals who wish to use additional equipment must arrange for it at their own expense. Please note that no audio-visual equipment will be used for poster sessions.

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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.