Yantai, China - May 23rd will see the opening of this major conference. Current population ageing is a demographic phenomenon without precedent in the history of humankind. The aged population is at its highest level in human history and will continue to grow at an accelerated pace in the coming decades. 1 billion people in the world will be over 65 by 2030. This phenomenon, due to declining fertility rates and increasing life expectancy is particularly widespread in the developed countries and in China. It has far reaching consequences which are reshaping the tourism industry as we know it.

The International Association of Universities of the Third Ages (AIUTA) is one of the key partners of the World Senior Tourism Congress. To learn more and to register click on http://www.wstc.website/

Recent research by Dr Dale Bredesen of University of California, Los Angeles, has thrown more light on the onset of dementia and Alzheimers. The U3A Forum - taking place on Sunday 6th January - will discuss the implications of that research.

To take part you will need mic/speakers/webcam and the free ZOOM application.

For more information and to request participation click here>>>

From January 2019 a new Nature Machine Intelligence journal will publish research from a wide range of topics in machine learning, robotics and AI. The journal will also explore and discuss emerging cross-disciplinary themes, such as human-robot interaction, and provide a platform to discuss the significant impact that AI has on other fields in science, society and industry.

The report from the UK Government's Office for Science on 'The Future of an Ageing Population' makes sobering reading, and Chapter 3 on Lifelong Learning especially so.

Life expectancy in Britain has risen steadily for decades as improved sanitation and antibiotics have vanquished most infectious diseases. Chronic ailments such as heart disease and cancer have been slowly succumbing to medical interventions. As a result the average lifespan in Britain has risen from just under 50 in 1900 to over 75 in 2000 – and that figure, has continued to rise.

Family sizes are smaller so that numbers of older people have increased proportionally within the population. That has consequences for the makeup of our workforce. In coming years, more of our population will be people over 50. They will need to remain productive longer, yet these are also the people being encouraged to retire early.

The project is supported by the EU Erasmus+ program through the Spanish Erasmus+ Agency, SEPIE, and coordinated by our Alicante colleagues, UPUA, Universidad Permanente, with whom we cooperated so successfully in the BALL project. Apart from U3A Reykjavik, other partners are TDW, Democracy East in Warsawa (also with colleagues from the BALL project) and POUZ, Public Open University in Zagreb.
For further information see our Facebook page here>>> or download a two-page leaflet here>>>

Moira Allan is enthusiastic about her meeting with the older adult founders of FABSA (Fifties and Beyond South Africa) and to learn about the impact they are having through Reach Out South Africa (ROSA), a comprehensive, multi-generational outreach program that focuses on the development of school-based family and community programs that support teachers and learners.

The ROSA Program, is just one example of how FABSA utilizes the skills and experience of retirees, keen to be of service to their communities. FABSA serves as a catalyst for galvanizing communities, through homegrown solutions that get community members involved. For more information on this and many other international initiatives, see the December issue of the Pass It On Network's newsletter>>>