Emerging Researchers in Ageing (ERA)

Futures of gerontology, future gerontologists: Building leadership and research capacity for BSG 2046?

6th July 2021

The annual ERA pre-conference event provides space and opportunity for emerging researchers in ageing to experience meaningful participation and active engagement with their peers, and capacity-building of future leaders of gerontology. The ERA event is your chance to talk with, and listen to your peers, as you practise presenting your research. It is an opportunity for reflection and skills development all within a safe, supportive environment.

There are several good reasons to engage and connect with your peers:

• We share an interest/passion in ageing
• We are students or early career gerontologists
• We are tomorrow’s leaders in gerontology

Opportunities for professional development at this event include: networking, a masterclass and workshop, presentation of your research.

In 2021, the British Society of Gerontology celebrates its 50th anniversary. As we reflect on the past and present of British gerontology throughout the year, we would also like to draw attention to the future of gerontology. We represent a cohort of scholars who have researched the unequal consequences of austerity, ageism, racial and gender inequalities in later life, and innovations in health and care have had on older adults and related communities of practice. We will be the generation who continue to observe these phenomena and their consequences over the years to come. As British gerontology considers its future, it must ensure that its emerging researchers have opportunities to develop the skills and attributes necessary to become future leaders in the field.

To explore the joined up futures of British gerontology and gerontologists, we will explore how we can ensure representation of a wide variety of backgrounds in British gerontology. What will the British Society of Gerontology look like for its 75th anniversary in 2046? What topics may shape the research agenda in the decades to come?

We are delighted that Professor Shereen Hussein (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) will provide this year's keynote address. Her keynote and a diverse panel composed of academics and other professionals will seek to answer these questions based on their own lived experiences. 

NB: Due to ongoing restrictions in response to Covid-19, this event will take place online. 

We recognise that many early career researchers will face particular challenges at the moment as a result of hiring freezes, reduced financial support from their institutions, and additional obligations on their time such as family care. In recognition of these circumstances, the ERA Committee has made this event free for all early career researchers and professionals interested or engaged in activities related to ageing.

ERA Pre-Conference Programme: 

6th July 2021

You are invited to submit an abstract of no more than 250 words to present on ongoing or completed research related to ageing, not limited to this year’s theme. Please include the following with your submission:

• Name and affiliation. (name, affiliation, position, contact information)
• Presentation Title
• Abstracts word limit is 250 words
• Keywords (max 3)

Abstracts should be sent as an attachment and emailed to era@britishgerontology.org by 29th January 2021.  A confirmation e-mail will be sent to your e-mail address soon after your submission. Notifications for selected presentations will be communicated by 25th March 2021.

Further information, please contact: era@britishgerontology.org

PLEASE NOTE: You will need to register for ERA through the main registration process for the British Society of Gerontology Annual Conference, for more information please see the Registration page. The deadline for submission to the main British Society of Gerontology Annual Conference is the 20 January 2021 and early bird registration closes on 29 April 2021.