This is an international conference bringing together researchers working in the economic, social, psychological and health fields to present state of the art analyses of ageing processes; pinpoint existing gaps in knowledge and identify priorities for future research and data collection.

The keynote speakers are: Jim Heckman, University of Chicago; David Barker, University of Southampton and Jack Guralnik, National Institute of Ageing.

The focus of this conference is the use of longitudinal data from studies such as the British Birth Cohorts and the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing to understand life-course determinants of healthy ageing, including the effect of early-life circumstances on outcomes in later life.

Research using such data is essential to inform sound policy that can address the needs of an ageing society. Themes addressed in the conference include: Frailty, disability and physical functioning at older ages; Ageing and cognition; Employment at older ages and transitions to retirement; Economic and financial circumstances over the life-course; Ageing, social participation and wellbeing in later life; Government policies and the ageing population.

Further information and booking is available as the conference website: www.ageingconf.org

Booking is now open, with an ‘early bird discount’ available.

“Britain’s population time-bomb: The challenges and opportunities of an ageing society”

Britain’s 17 million baby boomers are fast approaching retirement age, with over 65’s now outnumbering under 16’s for the first time. What are the challenges and opportunities that this presents Britain?

An expert panel including Rosie Winterton MP, George Magnus and chaired by Channel 4 News presenter Samira Ahmed will explore issues such as the changing nature of retirement; the importance of older people in the workforce; the pressures on public services; and how Britain should be adapting to an ageing society.

For details click here.

Book tickets online here or call +44 (0)20 7591 3100.

The Oxford Institute of Ageing (OIA), University of Oxford, is a multi-disciplinary research institute which believes that the production of high quality, strategic research, which informs and is informed by good policy and practice, will lead to a greater understanding of societies as they age.

1. Intra-European Fellowships for career development (IEF)

Researchers from EU Member States or Associated Countries can apply for an IEF; you must have a doctoral degree or at least 4 years full-time equivalent post-graduate research experience. The Fellowship offers financial support for 12-24 months.

Deadline: 18 August 2009

2. International Incoming Fellowship (IIF)

Researchers from “Third Countries” (all countries outside the European Union that are not recognised as an Associated Country) can apply for an IIF; you must have a doctoral degree or at least 4 years full-time equivalent postgraduate research experience. The Fellowship offers financial support for 12-24 months; there is the possibility to fund a “return period” if you are coming from an International Cooperation Partner Country.

Deadline: 18 August 2009

More information here.

If you would be interested in applying for one of the above mentioned schemes, please contact Dr Andreas Hoff andreas.hoff@ageing.ox.ac.uk in the first instance. Submission deadline for receipt of expressions of interest is 15 June 2009.

     Fertility, Living Arrangements, Care and Mobility

      Understanding Population Trends and Processes – Volume 1

      Stillwell, John; Coast, Ernestina; Kneale, Dylan (Eds.)

      2009, Approx. 350 p., Hardcover

      ISBN: 978-1-4020-9681-5

      More information

Many parts of the world are experiencing rapid demographic restructuring, resulting in an ageing population with increasingly significant work and care pressures on cohorts less able or willing to provide support. This book examines some of the important trends that have underpinned reductions in fertility, including delayed child-bearing and increased childlessness. It demonstrates how relationships between partners have resulted in new living arrangements with changing attitudes from marriage to co-habitation as the social norm, and it considers the health and well-being for particular at risk groups such as the elderly and stepparents as well as aspects of mobility such as household migration and commuting to school.

The book brings together a series of studies that all involve quantitative analyses of secondary data from censuses, surveys or administrative records. The trends and patterns reported provide new and interesting insights into behaviour of the household and the roles of adults and children, and point to questions of critical importance for practitioners and policy makers.

“This book is the first of three volumes on ‘ Understanding Population Trends and Processes’. Volume 2 will report the findings of research on a further set of dimensions including population change, deprivation, educational attainment, employment, health and well-being, identity, religiosity, social values and trust, whilst Volume 3 will have a more specific focus on ethnicity and integration.”

The demographic ageing of societies represents one of the major challenges for the 21st century. As fertility has fallen, longevity has increased, with older people living longer and healthier old ages. The experience and meaning of old age is being transformed. However, in Latin America the context for this is very different from other world regions. Population ageing is taking place much more rapidly than it has done in Europe and North America for example, and against a background of limited health care and social protection. Both collaborative research and data collection are now needed to better understand the implications.

The Oxford Institute of Ageing is pleased to announce the first conference in Oxford on “Ageing in Latin America”, which will take place at the Oxford Institute of Ageing on July 2-3, 2009.

The programme includes key speakers from all over Latin America and from the UK, including:

Armando Barrientos, Manchester University, UK

Sylvia Beales, HelpAge International, London, UK

Ricardo Iacub, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina

Rosita Kornfeld Matte, Pontificia Universidad Católica, Santiago, Chile

George Leeson, Institute of Ageing, Oxford University, UK

Blanca Lopez La Vera, Pontificia Universidad Católica, San Miguel, Peru

Conference attendance is free, registration is mandatory; deadline for registrations is 1 June 2009.

Please download the programme and registration form from our website:

http://www.ageing.ox.ac.uk/events/conferences-workshops

A flyer is available here: http://www.ageing.ox.ac.uk/system/files/LARNAConferenceflyer.pdf   

This conference is sponsored by the British Academy.