Bioethics and Sciences of Aging: The Case of Dementia

Date/Time
Friday - Sunday
5 Oct - 7 Oct 2012

Location
470 Stephens Hall

Event Type
Workshop


Questions of age and ageing are rapidly shifting to the centre of public as well as academic discourses. Especially recent developments in dementia research and care find increasing attention. However, the socio-cultural factors and theoretical/methodological premises of understanding and conceptualizing this emerging field of research are still often less than clear: While the medical point of view has long been dominant in many western countries, leading to an understanding and treatment of age(ing) and dementia in terms of physical and mental decline and pathology, social and cultural aspects have often been neglected. On the other hand, there is increasing awareness that socio-cultural factors such as cultural traditions, the structures of national legal and economic framework conditions and healthcare systems, as well as the foci of popular media discourses also frame and shape the way age(ing) and dementia are perceived and dealt with.

The workshop will include perspectives from neuroscientists, philosophers, ethicists, cultural anthropologists and social scientists. The discussion will focus on recent developments of dementia research, diagnosis and prevention and care in the USA and Germany, also highlighting the role of political players such as patient associations. Sufficient time slots for discussion will be allowed to ensure intensive interdisciplinary exchange and elaborate concrete research topics.

Since the number of participants is limited, we kindly ask for registration in advance. Please email Mark Schweda to reserve your place (mark.schweda@medizin.uni-goettingen.de).

See the full program.

Confirmed Speakers include:

  • Thomas Laqueur (UCB, Department of History)
  • Stephen G. Post (Stony Brook University, NY, Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics)
  • Margaret Lock (McGill University, Montreal, Department of Social Studies of Medicine)
  • Patrick J. Fox (UCSF, Institute for Health & Ageing/Department for Social and Behavioral Sciences )
  • William Jagust (UCB, Jagust Lab)
  • Joel Kramer (UCSF, Memory and Ageing Center)
  • Silke Schicktanz (UMG, Medical Ethics and History of Medicine)
  • Julia Inthorn & Mark Schweda (UMG Medical Ethics and History of Medicine)
This event is sponsored by CSTMS.
Additional sponsorship comes from:  Berkeley Program in Science and Technology Studies • Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute • Resource Center on Aging • University Medical Center, Goettingen
Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute