Greater proportions of populations around the world are now in older age brackets, and it is critical that we understand the challenges and impacts this has on society. With 2021-2030 declared the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing, James Cook University (JCU) in Singapore is taking the opportunity to promote discussion and engagement with global leaders to help determine how we can contribute to improving life in the Tropics worldwide through discoveries that make a difference.

JCU will explore exciting topics within the theme of Healthy Ageing across seven lectures in the 2021 Professorial and Global Leader Lectures on Healthy Ageing series. The lectures will be free and open to the public, hosted on Zoom Webinar, with advance registration required.

Professor Caryn West, Dean of Research at James Cook University in Singapore, said, “This lecture series is an incredible opportunity for everyone to interact with some of the world’s brightest minds, and learn more about how we can contribute to environments and opportunities that enable people – especially older people – to be and do what they value throughout their lives.”

She added, “The series also builds on JCU’s Healthy Ageing agenda, and lays the foundation for the development of the 2nd major pillar in the Tropical Futures Institute.”

The first of these lectures takes place on 25 February 2021, and will be given by Professor Alex Molassiotis – Head of the School of Nursing at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. His lecture will focus on health variables, epidemiological indicators and “Years Lived in Disability and Mortality” in countries in the Western Pacific Region, and data for those 70-94 years old in the region. The data will reveal possibilities for more regional health policy and planning for countries in the Western Pacific Region, as well as potential changes in key indicators of health for those aged 70+ over the past two decades. Although the focus is the Western Pacific, there are many lessons we can learn and implement locally.

As JCU brings leading insights beyond the campus and to the community, it is up to all of us to support and improve the lives of older people, their families, and the communities in which they live, so that everyone can experience Healthy Ageing.

Find out more about the Tropical Futures Institute.

Discover further information on areas of research and research strength at James Cook University in Singapore.

Contacts

Research: Professor Caryn West [email protected]
Media: Pinky Sibal [email protected]