Leading Experts Present Research on Living Longer, Healthier Lives at the “Science of Longevity” Colloquium at the Linda Hall Library, Oct. 2-3
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (PRWEB) September 17, 2015 -- A panel of leading, national experts will share groundbreaking research and theories on living longer, healthier lives — well past 100 years old — during the Science of Longevity Colloquium at the Linda Hall Library, October 2-3, 2015. Presented by the Linda Hall Library Foundation, the Science of Longevity Colloquium will explore revolutionary scientific advances that are impacting the future of the human lifespan.
At the beginning of the 20th Century, the life expectancy of people in developed countries was 47 years, and by the end of the century, it was 76 years. People alive today in developed countries are adding an estimated three months of longevity for every calendar year. That means that the average life expectancy will be 88 by mid-century and 100 by the end of the 21st Century.
“It has been noted that aging is the disease from which we all suffer. The Science of Longevity Colloquium is an opportunity for participants to perceive the impact that science is having on our lifespan through research, tissue regeneration, stem cells, and numerous other advances,” said Linda Hall Library President Lisa Browar. “In presenting this colloquium, the Linda Hall Library Foundation hopes to provide the public with a deeper understanding of the role that science can play in their daily lives.”
Panelists include Jonathan Weiner, one of the nation’s most distinguished science journalists. Weiner, a member of Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism faculty, has explored the science of longevity in his book, Long for this World: The Strange Science of Immortality. Dr. Stephen Badylak has grown new muscle in patients with leg injuries. Dr. Jay Olshansky has developed a process to assess potential health issues by scanning facial photographs, and Dr. Gregory Benford’s biomedical company is making progress in treating early stage Alzheimer’s disease.
The full schedule for the Science of Longevity Colloquium at the Linda Hall Library (5109 Cherry, Kansas City, Mo.) begins on Friday, Oct. 2, with registration at 5:30 p.m., and concludes at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3. Attendance is limited to 150 participants. The registration fee is $95 per person (includes Friday evening reception, Saturday morning continental breakfast, refreshments, and Saturday lunch).
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2
6:30 p.m. — 7:30 p.m. (Keynote Address)
The Strange Science of Immortality
• Jonathan Weiner is the Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and best-selling author of Long for This World: The Strange Science of Immortality — a look at the scientific search for the Fountain of Youth.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3
9:15 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Voices from Literature: The Ethics of Extending Life
• Dr. Martha Montello, associate professor, department of History and Philosophy of Medicine,
University of Kansas Medical Center. Montello’s research examines the relationship between literary studies and the moral aspects of illness and how it is transforming clinical medicine and biomedical ethics.
10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. (Breakout Sessions)
Regenerative Medicine Strategies for Tissue and Organ Replacement
• Dr. Stephen Badylak is the deputy director of the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine in Pittsburg, PA. His research focuses on the development of regenerative medicine strategies for tissue and organ replacement, including whole organ engineering of the liver and lung.
The Longevity Dividend
• Dr. Jay Olshansky is a professor in the School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Illinois in Chicago. His work focuses on estimating the upper limits to human longevity and pursuing the scientific means to slow aging. He is the co-author of The Quest for Immortality: Science at the Frontiers of Aging.
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (Breakout Sessions)
Artificial Biological Selection for Longevity
• Dr. Gregory Benford is the founder of Genescient in Fountain Valley, California. The biomedical company’s mission is to extend healthy human lifespan with advanced genomics and develop therapeutic substances that attack the diseases of aging.
A Realistic Look at Stem Cells and Their Potential
• Dr. Evan Snyder is regarded as one of the fathers of the stem cell field. After 23 years teaching at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Snyder was appointed professor and program director of Stem Cells and Regenerative Biology at the Burnham Institute for Medical Research in La Jolla, California.
2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Q&A with all speakers moderated by Jonathan Weiner
The Science of Longevity Colloquium is the first event sponsored by the Linda Hall Library Foundation, whose mission is to deepen understanding of science among the public and to further scholarly research. The Linda Hall Library Foundation collaborates with the Linda Hall Library in offering a full schedule of programs and other events throughout the year. The Colloquium is funded through the support of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, H & R Block, Ever Glades, Kansas City Life, and Linda Hall Library Foundation Annual Fund donors. For more information about the Science of Longevity Colloquium — or to register — visit http://www.lindahall.org.
About the Linda Hall Library
The Linda Hall Library is among the world’s foremost independent research libraries devoted to science, engineering, technology, and their histories. Founded in 1946 through an endowment by Linda and Herbert Hall, the library is a not-for-profit, privately funded institution, and is open to the public free of charge. Scholars, technologists, engineers, researchers, academic institutions and businesses, nationally and internationally, use the Linda Hall Library’s collections to investigate, invent, and increase knowledge. The Library’s holdings range from rare books to private papers, including extensive collections in diverse areas such as aeronautics, the history of food science, astronomy, Galenic medicine, engineering standards, a resource center for patents and trademarks and more. In addition to the libraries resources, hundreds of people attend the Library’s public programs throughout the year to expand their awareness and understanding of science and technology. To learn more, visit http://www.lindahall.org.
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Elaina Boudreau, BELA Communications, +1 (913) 660-0548, [email protected]
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