5th APRU Research Symposium on Ageing in Asia-Pacific: “Ageing populations affects every person from newborns to centenarians”

 

 

Renowned Ageing Researchers in the Asia-Pacific region met at University of Southern California (USC) Davis School of Gerontology from 14-17 September 2014 to discuss the rapid demographic changes and its impact among the Pacific Rim economies. USC’s Provost and Vice-President Academic Affairs Elizabeth Garrett welcomed all participants in Los Angeles and stressed that ageing populations and its impact is of concern to all of us. Ageing populations are a challenge for politics and the society in each Pacific Rim economy. According to UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) the Pacific region hosts with Japan the oldest population in the world. In addition the region also hosts with Hong Kong the population with the lowest number of people under the age of 14 according to data of the World Bank. Other Pacific economies are not far behind like Korea, Singapore and also China is ageing on a fast track.

 

The Symposium highlighted population ageing from different scientific perspectives and follows the interdisciplinary approach of the past APRU Research Symposiums on Ageing. The economic, political and social dimension of population ageing has been discussed as well as the living situation and special needs of elderly people in the Asia-Pacific. Many presentations stressed the psychological status of old people and the limited number of empirical research on that topic. Rates of depression and suicides in this age group are high in many economies but less discussed in their respective societies.

 

At the same event the proposal from University of New South Wales (UNSW) Australia to host an APRU Research Hub on Population Ageing in the Asia-Pacific at their renowned ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research (CEPAR) was very well received. The hub shall bring senior and junior researchers from APRU member universities together for discussions and collaborations. It will reach out to foster partnerships with governments and international organisations as well as with the business community. A stronger emphasis will be put on early career researchers in gerontology and related disciplines by the new APRU research hub. USC Davis School of Gerontology did successfully implement the idea of actively involving PhD candidates and young researchers in international research symposiums.

 

Please read more on the 5th APRU Research Symposium on Ageing on USC Davis School of Gerontology website.

 

Please find the videos of the conference here:

 

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