Abstract
There is growing interest in aging research internationally, yet many students and emerging scholars are uncertain of the process of establishing, building, and maintaining local, regional, and international connections. To address this need, the IAGG Council of Student Organizations (IAGG-CSO) offers a symposium of several presentations and a structured discussion bringing a multidisciplinary and multicultural perspective to the topic of engaging in gerontological networks. Emerging scholars are pursuing, more than ever, professional networking opportunities spanning local, regional, and international borders. As access to quality information and communication technology increases across the globe, the field of Gerontology is approaching a new frontier, with emerging scholars looking to establish collaborative research networks unrestricted by geographical boundaries. This symposium explores the “why” and “how” of engaging locally and internationally. This symposium includes paper presentations reflecting an international perspective (IAGG-CSO Executive Committee members who are emerging scholars from Australia, Canada, and the United States); a regional perspective on the challenges of networking across vast distances where there may be few student organizations; and the local perspective by the Emerging Scholars Professional Organization of the United States, on the establishment and momentum of a successful student organization. To conclude the session, the audience will be engaged in an interactive discussion of how to foster engagement at a local, regional and international level.