I would like to introduce myself to the membership of BSG, but particularly to those of you who are students or emerging scholars. I have recently taken over as Chair of the Network of Gerontology Students (NOGS) from Kelly Fitzgerald and Karen Baker who have worked very hard and successfully in advancing the participation and influence of students within the Society, leaving the organisation in a stronger position than when they started. My own, and the members’ thanks go out to you both.

My Background

My own background is rather eclectic. After training as a scientist and engineer at Brunel University, I worked within industry for ten years, before retraining as a geographer at the University of Wales. I obtained an MSc in Research in Human Geography at the University of Leicester in 2005. I then worked within the University of Leicester as a research associate on two projects; one in the area of the cultural representation of the rural; the other within urban regeneration. I am now based within the Centre for Social Gerontology at Keele University where I am undertaking research towards a PhD entitled ‘Pathways to Disadvantage: A Study of Older People in Rural Areas’ which is funded through an ESRC/Defra collaborative studentship award.

A New ERA

Having talked to a number of students at the recent annual conference in Sheffield I feel that the remit and direction of my own stewardship of the organisation could not be better outlined than Ingrid Eyers’ comments which appeared in the last edition of Generations Review (Vol 17, No.3, July 2007). She states that ‘For students by students’ has always been the accompanying by-line for the Network of Gerontology Students (NOGS).’ However on deeper reflection, the complex life course trajectories that many of us take into gerontology (see my own brief biography) cannot be described as that of a standard student, if there was ever such a thing in the first place. Some of us have entered the broad field of gerontology research and practice though undergraduate study, through professional qualifications and practice, through interdisciplinary research, or even by accident. At a recent doctoral progression viva at Keele University, I was asked how I became interested in this field of research; I must admit I struggled to come up with a definitive answer.

With this in mind, and the ongoing debate around the name of the student organization, the general consensus is that we have outgrown the name NOGS and it should be changed. Those of you who attended the student meeting at Sheffield will be aware of this. We have now had a very healthy debate about the new name of NOGS, one which could continue ad infinitum. However, it has been decided that this needs to be drawn to an end and a decision made.

I am pleased to announce that our new name will be:

BSG ERA (Emerging Researchers in Ageing)

It is hoped that this will enable the organisation to move forward and encourage active participation from a wider ranging cross section of people working and researching in the field of gerontology. It is hoped that the encouraging and supportive atmosphere that NOGS has engendered over the years will be continued within ERA. I also hope that this will inspire those who are embarking on new careers or changing roles within the broad field of gerontology to participate in our community.

I would also like to take this opportunity to outline a number of areas that I wish to address during my time in office:

• Increase membership: Kate Davidson spoke of declining membership at the AGM in Sheffield. As a student body we are the future of the Society. We will aim to recruit new members from our own colleagues and by actively ‘harassing’ more senior academics to encourage their own students and those new to their departments to join.
• Improve cohesiveness within ERA to aid the formation of networks of people who are working within similar areas of research or using similar methods. This is especially important for those working in multidisciplinary areas, or those outside the mainstream academic departments that undertake ageing studies who can often become isolated.
• Annual meeting of ERA: These have been very successful in the past. The aim is to encourage greater participation, whilst maintaining the encouraging and supportive atmosphere of these events.
• Finally, regional meetings: Concern has been expressed at the cost and time of travelling to the main annual meeting. Some students have suggested that regional meetings would be a way of overcoming these issues, whilst also giving students a chance to present their own work and gain a greater exposure to others’ work. The logistics of holding such events will be considered. The recent successful experiences of BSG Scotland may offer us some pointers in this direction.

I look forward to an exciting and challenging year in office. I welcome your suggestions and ideas for ERA. Please email me at i.sidney@ilcs.keele.ac.uk

Ian Sidney