Ageing Otherwise a series of events that probe the future of ageing and ageing research from an interdisciplinary perspective. Over the summer and fall 2021, join us as we probe the entanglements of technology with ageing, and debate our imagined futures as ageing subjects.

Ageing Otherwise entails workshops designed for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, as well as panels that bring together researchers and community activists in critical discussions around ageing. Ageing Otherwise is co-organized by the ACT Lab and the engAGE Centre for Research on Aging, in collaboration with several partners.

We are kicking off Ageing Otherwise with free online workshops that challenge us to think about the methods that guide our research and the strategies we can mobilize to embolden its impact on society. These workshops are open to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who are working on matters related to age and ageing from various perspectives.

Workshop 1 – OP ED Writing For Ageing Studies

Do you want to bring your research into public and media discussions on age and ageing? You should write an Op Ed!

Op Eds are short commentaries that are generally published in newspapers or magazines, and centred on presenting an opinion and argument on a socially-relevant matter. Ageing + Communication + Technologies (ACT) Lab and the engAGE centre for research on aging are teaming up with Informed Opinions to organize a two-day workshop for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. This workshop is led by Shari Graydon, founder of Informed Opinions, author and women’s advocate. Because space is very limited, we are asking those interested to submit a short blurb about how they would translate their research into a commentary.

Who: This workshop is for all graduate students or postdoctoral fellows working on matters related to age and ageing.

When: June 21 and 23 from 11am to 2pm EDT. Attendance during both days is mandatory for participation.

Where: Online.

Workshop 2 – Demystifying Policy Interventions for Emerging Researchers

How can our research findings help build evidence-based public policy that promotes better ageing futures? This workshop is designed for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who are interested in mobilizing and communicating their research findings to policy makers to help promote societal change. From reports, to white papers, to engagements with decision makers in multiple echelons of society, workshop participants will learn more about the different forms that policy interventions can take. They will discover tips on how to translate research into language and formats that are attuned to policy making processes, and about the sorts of data, methods and evidence that can be most impactful in such contexts. It is organized and facilitated by researchers Dr. Patrik Marier, Dr. Stephanie Paterson and Dr. Francesca Scala (Concordia University). Space is limited, register now!

Who: This workshop is for all graduate students or postdoctoral fellows working on matters related to age and ageing

When: June 28 from 11am to 1pm EDT.

Where: Online

Workshop 3 – COVID Conundrums: Rethinking Research Methods in a Pandemic

As a pandemic has upended our lives, the ways in which we do research have also shifted. Students and other emerging researchers, in particular, are asked to make impactful decisions about their own academic practices and research projects. Social distancing measures have altered fieldwork and disrupted academic plans. The predominance of online tools have posed challenges for data collection. How can we adapt, rethink or shape our research methods in ways that are attuned to an era of profound and rapid societal change? What strategies can be harnessed to help us grapple with methodological choices in uncertain times?

From discussing practical tips to probing methodological conundrums, this interactive workshop is designed for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows working on matters related to age and ageing, from diverse disciplines. It is organized and facilitated by researchers Dr. Line Grenier (Université de Montréal) and Dr. Barbara Ratzenböck (Graz University). Space is very limited, register now!

Who: This workshop is for all graduate students or postdoctoral fellows working on matters related to age and ageing

When: June 30 from 10am to 1pm EDT

Where: Online