The ETIC (EffecTs of digital Images on Consumers) project focuses on the negative influences of digital advertising and promotional images on people. lndividuals are analyzed in a dual perspective; as consumers of images on screens, as well as disseminators of images on social media. The aim is to study the consequences of marketing strategies (the attractive and distracting power of images, personification, repeated exposure) on cognitive costs and psychological defense mechanisms, problematic behaviors, negative emotions, and other psychological disorders. The originality of the project lies in the analysis of the similarities and differences in strategies between marketing professionals, and internet users who engage in self-promotion on social media. The purpose of the ETIC project is to define recommendations for reducing these negative effects, in particular through awareness-raising initiatives.  This conference addresses two aspects: the impact on consumers of multiple exposure to advertising images, and the impact on consumers of exposure to self-promotional images posted on social media. 

Scientific Committee 

Laurie BALBO, Associate Professor of Marketing , GEM Alpine Business School (France). Sandra CAMUS, Professor of Marketing, Université d'Angers (France). 
Maud DERBAIX, Associate Professor of Marketing, Kedge Business School (France). Angy GEERTS, rofessor of Marketing, Université de Mons (Belgique). 
Wafa HAMMEDI, Associate Professor of Marketing, Université de Namur (Belgique). Aurély LAO, Associate Professor of Marketing, Université de Lille (France). 
Ingrid PONCIN, Professor of Marketing, UCLouvain (Belgium). 

Deadlines

Start of submissions: March 1, 2026.

End of submissions: May 31, 2026.

Acceptance Notifications: June 10, 2026.

Final submissions: September 1, 2026. 

Submission and Guidelines 

Communications must comply with the presentation and bibliographie standards of the journal Recherche et Application en Marketing: 

• Times font, size 12. 
• Single spacing. 
• Margins of 2.5 cm, except for the title page, bibliographie references, and appendices.
• The title page must include the title, abstract, keywords in French and English, and the author's contact details. 
• One page for "work in progress" papers, and three to five pages for completed papers.

Papers must be sent for submission by the dates indicated above, exclusively by email to the following address: etic@listes.univ-angers.fr. The subject line of the email must contain the following: "ANR ETIC Project: Paper for study day 09/25/2026." Each paper will be anonymously evaluated by two members from the reading committee. 

Congratulations as well to Sabrina Courtois and Antoine Inglebert-Frydman for their excellent proposal and the stimulating discussion it generated.

Thank you all for making this day such a great success!

• Le 4 mars, Ingrid Poncin, chercheuse en marketing digital, était dans un article du Moustique consacré à la mise au régime de la technologie.
• Le 12 mars, Laurent Taskin, chercheur en management humain, intervenait dans L'Avenir dans un article consacré à la popularité du télétravail en 2026.
• Le 13 mars, Ingrid Poncin commentait pour la RTBF les bonnes affaires à faire - ou non - dans les Duty Free d'aéroports.
• Le,17 mars, Gordy Pleyers, chercheur en comportement du consommateur, répondait aux interrogations du Vif sur les dispositifs promotionnels activés lors des foires aux vins organisées en mars dans les supermarchés.
• Toujours le 17 mars, c'est Ingrid Poncin qu'on retrouvait dans Moustique pour un article consacré à l'attrait des Belges pour les IPTV malgré leur illégalité.
• Le 18 mars, Valérie Swaen, chercheuse en responsabilité sociétale des entreprises, était dans un article du Moustique consacré au commerce fait avec les boites chinoises telles que Temu ou Shein. 
• Le 19 mars, Géraldine Zeimers, chercheuse en management du sport, était interrogée par Le Vif au sujet du BX Brussels de Vincent Kompany avec lequel son équipe mène un projet de recherche.
• Le 27 mars, Valérie Swaen était à nouveau dans Moustique pour évoquer les conséquences écologiques liées à la consommation de produits sur Shein.
• Le 27 mars toujours, Gordy Pleyers était dans Le Soir pour parler de l'impact du smartphone sur les ventes de réveille-matin.
• Le 29 mars, James Thewissen, Sébastien Wilmet et Yves De Rongé publiaient dans La Libre une opinion consacrée à l'évaluation financière de l'économie circulaire.
• Le 30 mars, toujours dans Moustique, Valérie Swaen comparait les enseignes à bas coûts chinoises à Action, en termes d'impact environnemental.
• Le 8 avril, Valérie Swaen était à nouveau dans Moustique pour évoquer la qualité des produits Shein et Temu.
• Le 9 avril, Sélénia Anastasia et Tryphène Ndombasi, chercheuses en entrepreneuriat, publiaient dans La Libre une chronique consacrée au mythe du entrepreneur-héros et sa confrontation à la réalité du terrain.
• Le 9 avril également, Ingrid Poncin était au micro de La Première pour répondre aux questions liées à l'engouement pour l'arrivée de la chaine Tasty Crousty en Belgique.

Awarded to around sixty (PhD) students each year in Belgium, this highly selective scholarship will fund a one-year research stay at the University of Illinois at Chicago. There, Sébastien will continue his work on organisational changes and corporate reporting.

Each year, the Belgian American Educational Foundation (BAEF) supports more than 65 Belgian students and researchers in pursuing their studies or research projects at leading universities and research centres in the United States.

In the interview below, Sébastien shares his experience and advice for future applicants.

What motivated you to apply for a BAEF fellowship for your upcoming visiting stay in the USA?

I applied for a BAEF fellowship because it represents a unique opportunity to strengthen international research collaborations and to immerse myself in a highly stimulating academic environment in the U.S.

For my PhD project, it allows me to interact with leading scholars in finance and accounting, receive feedback on my ongoing research, and further expand my academic network.

Beyond the academic benefits, I was also motivated by the opportunity to experience a different research culture and gain exposure to new methodologies and perspectives. The BAEF fellowship makes this type of international mobility financially and logistically feasible.

How would you describe the application process?

The application process is serious and well structured, but overall very manageable. It requires some preparation to put together a clear and coherent application package, but it is not excessively time-consuming if you plan ahead.

You need to prepare a solid research proposal, secure recommendation letters, and clearly explain the added value of the stay for your academic development. This mostly involves articulating your project in a focused way and showing how the visit fits into your broader research trajectory.

The most challenging part is usually the interview in front of the selection jury, which consists of around thirteen professors. This step is more demanding and definitely worth preparing carefully, as it requires presenting your project clearly and answering questions confidently.

Fortunately, UCLouvain offers support to help candidates get ready for this interview, including a dedicated preparation session. It is also possible to seek advice from professors who have previously served on the jury, which can be extremely helpful. Overall, with a bit of anticipation and good preparation, the process can be completed smoothly.

What does the BAEF fellowship cover?

The BAEF fellowship provides substantial financial support to make the research stay possible. It covers:

• A stipend intended to cover living expenses during the stay, including accommodation and flights.
• Health insurance coverage

What advice would you give to colleagues who are considering applying for a BAEF fellowship?

A few key pieces of advice:

1. Start early. Give yourself enough time to refine your research proposal and gather all required documents. A rushed application is easy to spot.
2. Be very clear about the fit. Clearly explain why this specific host institution and supervisor are the right match for your project. Show that the collaboration is meaningful and not generic.
3. Tell a coherent story. Your CV, research proposal, and motivation should form a consistent narrative about who you are as a researcher and where you are heading.
4. Prepare actively for the interview. Do not hesitate to make full use of the support offered by UCLouvain to prepare for the oral interview. Even though I could not attend the dedicated preparation session myself, the advice and guidance shared from it were extremely useful to better understand what to expect and how to structure the discussion.
   It is also a great idea to contact professors who have previously served on the jury. Their insights into what the committee expects and how the interview typically unfolds can make a real difference in how confidently and strategically you approach this key step.
5. Be clear and precise during the interview. During the interview, it is essential to clearly explain why this specific host university is the right place for your project. The committee wants to understand what makes this fellowship particularly important for you: the expertise of certain professors, the research environment, the seminars, the methodological strengths, or the unique academic fit with your topic. Showing that your choice is well motivated, and that this is something you could not achieve in the same way in Belgium, strengthens your application significantly.

In addition, it is important to avoid being too vague. The jury appreciates clear, structured, and concrete answers. When discussing your project, explain precisely what you will do during the stay, which paper you will focus on, what analyses you plan to run, who you intend to collaborate with, and what you expect to produce by the end of the visit.

If a question is asked, answer directly and concisely. Being specific, well-structured, and demonstrating a strong fit with the host institution shows that your project is mature, realistic, and carefully planned.