SFOA09082U Interdisciplinary Aspects of Healthy Aging

Volume 2015/2016
Content

Population aging is one of the most important demographic events of the 21st century. For the first time, the elderly population will make up the larger part of our society and this will profoundly impact citizens and society, economically, politically and socially. Recent years have seen increasing interest in understanding healthy aging, the ability of the individual to maintain sufficient physical, mental and social energy to live active and meaningful lives. The course, offered by the Center for Healthy Aging, University of Copenhagen, on behalf of the IARU network, will focus on exploring the aging phenomena through an interdisciplinary lens with a special focus on the concept of energy, a key component of healthy aging. Energy relates to processes at the cellular as well as the individual level and has not only physical but also important psychological and social dimensions which affect every facet of life. The course will take a starting point in the newly published book, Growing Older Without Feeling Old: On Vitality and Ageing by Professor Rudi Westendorp.

The objective of this course is to gain interdisciplinary knowledge and research experience in the field of aging to better understand how people can live more energetic lives and enjoy a robust older age.  The objective will be achieved through a combination of lectures, interactive discussions and project work in which students will conduct aging research projects under the supervision of experienced researchers from the Center of Healthy Aging.

The lectures will cover basic knowledge in different aging research disciplines including: humanities, social science, public health, epidemiology, neurology, physiology and molecular biology.

Students will carry out a research project in small groups under the supervision of the Center for Healthy Aging researchers. These projects span disciplines from molecular biology to the humanities. Hence, the projects will represent different scientific methods from: laboratory work, to statistics and qualitative analysis.

Learning Outcome

After completing the course, the student is expected to be able to:

Knowledge:

  • Define the aging population's associated social, economic, and political impacts.
  • Define aging related research areas
  • Define the main methods that can be used to conduct aging research
  • Explain the principles for carrying out interdisciplinary aging research
  • Summarize principles for collaborating with people from different educational and cultural background

 

Skills:

  • Assess the problems related to the aging population
  • Evaluate and discuss to various ‘aging-population’ related issues
  • Evaluate the research methods and identify research collaborators to address ‘aging population’ related questions
  • Structure and conduct scientific presentations
  • Organize and conduct molecular biology experiments, statistical analysis or qualitative analysis with supervision

 

Competence:

  • Coordinate with the others by both writing and speaking in a professional, scientific manner
  • Plan research in the aging research fields
  • Take leadership and responsibility when working with people from different educational and cultural backgrounds
  • Independently adapt to a new environment and take responsibility for their professional development and specialization further.

The students are asked to read a number of research articles together with the newly published book: Westendorp, Rudi (2015): Growing Older Without Feeling Old: On Vitality and Ageing, Scribe. More information will be available later.

Completed BSc degree.
Students who have obtained a bachelor degree from any discipline, have interests in aging research, and have good English skills are welcome to apply for this course.
The teaching methods in this course includes: lecturing in classroom, close supervision in practical projects, and self-conducted group discussion and presentations.
The course also includes three excursions and two dinners, as part of the social program.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam
  • 29
  • Lectures
  • 20
  • Preparation
  • 32
  • Project work
  • 50
  • Seminar
  • 7
  • Total
  • 138
Credit
5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
The course will be evaluated by a 10 page report. The report will be based on the course work, lectures and scientific literature.

In addition to the written report, active participation in the research projects, plenary discussions and an oral presentation is a prerequisite for completing the written report.
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
Exam period

A report must be submitted on the last day of the course.

Criteria for exam assesment

The written report should cover the practical project the student has carried out. The following learning goals should be adressed:

Knowledge:

  • Define the aging population associated social, economic, and political impacts.
  • Define aging related research areas
  • Define the main methods that can be used to conduct aging research
  • Explain the principles for carrying out interdisciplinary aging research

 

Skills:

  • Assess the problems related to the aging population
  • Evaluate and discuss to various ‘aging-population’ related issues
  • Evaluate the research methods and identify research collaborators to address ‘aging population’ related questions
  • Organize and conduct molecular biology experiments, statistical analysis or qualitative analysis

 

Competence:

  • Writing in a professional, scientific manner
  • Demonstrate how to plan research in the aging research fields