CALL FOR PAPERS: International Energy Drinks Conference: Geelong, Victoria, Australia, 6-7th November 2014

CALL FOR PAPERS:

International Energy Drinks Conference: Geelong, Victoria, Australia, 6-7th November 2014.

The 1st International Energy Drinks Conference

Background

Caffeinated energy drinks are the focus of a new and rapidly progressing public health conversation in a number of countries. With most developed nations experiencing an exponential growth in energy drink sales, there are emergent fears amongst many health advocates about the health and behavioural effects of energy drink use. A developing interdisciplinary group of independent, government-supported and industry-funded researchers are working to investigate the: health and behavioural outcomes of consumption; consumption by young people; the consumption of energy drinks with alcohol; impacts of excessive consumption, and; the public health and policy issues surrounding availability and product labelling.

In this context, an international conference on Energy Drinks Research will be held in Geelong, Victoria, Australia on 6-7thNovember 2014.

The conference will be an interdisciplinary meeting of international non-beverage industry affiliated researchers at the forefront of energy drinks research.

Organisation and Program Committee

The conference will be hosted by the Deakin University Faculty of Health, at the Geelong Waterfront Campus. The Scientific committee is chaired by A/Prof Peter Miller (Deakin University) and includes Mr Nicolas Droste (Deakin University) Dr Raimondo Bruno and Ms Amy Peacock (University of Tasmania), Dr Amy Pennay (Turning Point) and Ms. Genevieve Cowie (Monash University).

A broader organising committee for the conference is chaired by Dr Beth Costa (Deakin University) and includes Dr Lucy Zinkiewicz, Dr Arlene Walker and Ms Alexa Hayley (Deakin University) Mr Sean O’Rourke (VicHealth), and Ms Helen Reddan (City of Greater Geelong).

Submissions

Papers are welcomed from a variety of methodological traditions, including controlled trials, case studies, chart audits, population survey analyses, time-series analyses, qualitative studies, program or policy evaluations, social psychology experimental studies and systematic reviews.

All abstracts relevant to the conference topic will be considered and subject to peer review.

All submissions must declare sources of funding for the research and the nature of any financial relationship with beverage industry stakeholders. Attendance is based on invitation only based upon your application to attend. People who are employed by energy drinks manufacturers, or have received research grants, travel expenses or other financial rewards will not be invited to attend.

Invited Speakers

The following international researchers will present keynotes on the primary themes of the conference:

• “Energy drinks mixed with alcohol: What are the risks?” (A/Prof Cecile Marczinski, USA)

• “The stimulating truth about energy drinks and the heart” (Professor Chris Semsarian, Australia)

• “Scientific evidence regarding the health effects and safety of energy drinks: What are the public policy responses?” (Professor Amelia Arria, USA)

• “These are for the cool people”: why you won’t see advertising for alcohol energy drinks (Professor Sandra Jones, Australia)

Size and Structure of the Meeting

We aim to have 80 or more attendants from various fields participating in the conference. Presentations will be 20 minutes. Poster submissions will also be considered.

Time and Venue

The conference will be held at the Deakin University Waterfront Campus in Geelong, located approximately 1-hour south west of Melbourne, serviced by rail (V-Line) and air (Melbourne Avalon).

The conference will be preceded by a waterfront cocktail party on the evening of Wednesday November 5th and will finish in the late afternoon of Friday November 7th. A conference dinner will be held in the evening of Thursday November 6th. International visitors may wish to combine travel to the conference with attendance at the 2014 Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol & other Drugs conference, taking place in Adelaide from Monday 10th November.

Abstract Submissions

Scholars interested in presenting to the conference are invited to submit an informative abstract by May 31st 2014 by visiting:www.edconference.com.au and using the Abstract Submission Tool.

Abstracts should be no more than 300 words. The document should include all author and institution details as well as contact details of the corresponding author. Abstracts should cover the background to the paper, methodology, results and conclusion.

All submissions must sign the accompanying conflict of interest declaration.

Please send any enquiries you may have to: edconference-admin@deakin.edu.au

Conference registration fee

A registration fee of $250 will apply to all attendants at the conference, reduced to $200 for early-bird registration and $125 for current students. Early bird registration will close Monday 8th September. The organisers will suggest hotel and transport options at different price levels on the conference website.

www.edconference.com.au