Conference Intensives

Kick off your GSA 2026 experience with these Conference Intensive programs, offering in-depth learning and hands-on engagement.

HBCU Aging Conference

The 2026 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Aging Conference is your chance to connect with researchers, students, and advocates who are pushing for a more inclusive and justice-centered approach to aging.

NIA BioSci Workshop

Explore how organ systems communicate to support health and resilience in this NIA BioSci workshop—featuring insights from the MoTrPAC initiative and leading aging research.

HBCU Aging Conference

About this program

As the need for a diverse and knowledgeable workforce in the gerontology disciple continues to grow, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are an excellent source of talent and scholarship. From the number of current GSA members that are alum and/or current faculty at HBCUs, to students who represent these institutions, the HBCU Aging Conference stands as a testament to the impact of education, collaboration, and mentorship in shaping a more inclusive and equitable future for aging research and practice.

The conference takes place over two days, with the first day dedicated to undergraduate, graduate, and post-baccalaureate students, and the second day open to all GSA attendees. Learn more below.

2026 HBCU Aging Conference: Student Summit

Aging Bodies, Living Stories: Past, Present, and Future Perspectives for Students in the Aging Discipline

Undergraduate, graduate, post-baccalaureate students ONLY

Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Room Location: Details will be available on the GSA 2026 Program Website on September 15
Price: $35 registration required

Students registering for the Student Summit will automatically be registered for the Day 2 Conference for All Attendees.

The 2026 HBCU Aging Conference, Aging Bodies, Living Stories: Past, Present, and Future Perspective: Student Summit, convenes students in the aging discipline to critically examine the evolving aging discipline. Grounded in the rich intellectual and cultural traditions of storytelling, this year’s theme ensures that research not only studies aging bodies, but also uplifts the communities and histories they carry.

The HBCU Aging Conference: Student Summit allows students to explore qualitative and quantitative approaches to research among diverse groups that include interdisciplinary frameworks designed to strengthen community engagement and translational practice. Sessions will examine historical foundations of aging scholarship, contemporary challenges in social policy, and intersections of race, health, and structural equity, community-based participatory research models, and progressive strategies that advance equity in research.

Through keynote addresses, interactive discussions, research symposia, and student poster sessions, the Student Summit of the HBCU Aging Conference pre-conference workshop will provide professional development and mentoring activities, while fostering cross-institutional collaboration.

2026 HBCU Aging Conference: Evening Reception & Poster Session

Open to all GSA 2026 Attendees

Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Room Location: Details will be available on the GSA 2026 Program Website on September 15
Price: Free

Please join us for the HBCU Aging Conference evening reception and poster session for all GSA 2026 attendees from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Tuesday, November 3, 2025. This highly anticipated networking reception will allow members to connect with conference speakers, HBCU Aging Ambassadors Program (HAAP) Fellows, and other conference attendees. Attendees will also have the opportunity to interact with the HAAP Fellows as they present posters on their current research and/or research interest(s). So, come out and support the HBCU Aging Conference and the future generation of aging scholars!

2026 HBCU Aging Conference: All Attendees

Aging Bodies, Living Stories: Past, Present, and Future Perspectives for Students in the Aging Discipline

Open to all GSA 2026 Attendees

Date: Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Time: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Room Location: Details will be available on the GSA 2026 Program Website on September 15
Price: $45 registration required

Students registering for the Student Summit will automatically be registered for the Day 2 Conference for All Attendees.

The 2026 HBCU Aging Conference, Aging Bodies, Living Stories: Past, Present, and Future Perspectives, convenes educators, practitioners, and community leaders to critically examine the evolving aging discipline. The conference experience will provide a shared space to tell our stories - honoring the past, engaging the present, and intentionally shaping the future. Grounded in the rich intellectual and cultural traditions of storytelling, this year’s theme ensures that research not only studies aging bodies, but also uplifts the communities and histories they carry.

This conference aims to critically examine and transform current aging research and practice methodologies with a strength-based focus. Sessions will examine historical foundations of aging scholarship, contemporary challenges in social policy, and intersections of race, health, and structural equity, community-based and participatory research models, and progressive strategies that advance equity in research. This pre-conference is a must-attend for researchers, educators, practitioners, community advocates, and other professionals dedicated to advancing justice and inclusivity in the field of aging research and practice.

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NIA BioSci Workshop

Mechanisms of Inter-Organ Communication Changes in Aging

Date: Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Time: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Room Location: Details will be available on the GSA 2026 Program Website on September 15
Price: Free, registration not required but encouraged

About this program

This workshop explores how multiple organ systems communicate with one another to maintain overall physiological balance—a process fundamental to health and resilience. Drawing on findings from the MoTrPAC Common Fund initiative, participants will gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of how organs interact, and how disruptions in these communication pathways may contribute to age-related multimorbidities.

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GSA 2026 Program Website—Opening September 15

To learn more about these sessions—including dates, times, and locations—and to begin building your personalized schedule, visit the GSA 2026 Program Website (available September 15). Registered attendees can log in using their GSA ID to access full session details and abstracts.

Available September 15

Already registered for GSA 2026 but want to register for one of these Conference Intensives?

Log into your GSA 2026 Account.

Click on "My Dashboard" in the top right corner.

Under “My Upcoming Events”, select "GSA 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting" and click "View Registration".
Select additional items to add to your registration (e.g., workshops, continuing education, or social events like pickleball), and follow the prompts to proceed to checkout.
Finalize your registration by selecting the "Update Registration" button.