This presentation explores the crucial intersection of STEM education and lifelong learning for individuals aged 60 and above. With a growing segment of the U.S. population entering their mature years, we delve into the potential of harnessing this demographic as a valuable resource for the workforce and society at large. Lifelong learning's profound impact on the health, independence, and...
We are living at a time where there are nearly equal numbers of people in every age group in the U.S., from birth to the early 70s. At the same time, increasing numbers of people past midlife need or desire to work well into traditional retirement age. This presentation will review findings from several studies (e.g., Encore Career Survey, Cogeneration Survey, Current Population Survey, Health...
For over 25 years, the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center has been looking at risk factors for developing cognitive problems with age. By conducting the largest longitudinal studies in the world where 1000s of people agree to yearly testing and organ donation at time of death, we are learning the lifestyle choices which seem to be protective for brain health. This presentation will cover...
NASA has a strong Earth science program, which sometimes surprises people. We would like to invite “citizen scientists” of all ages to “tell their stories” as they interact with NASA data and use it to better understand their local environment. In this free, easy to access effort, participants use smart phones to take a quick observation of a tree or clouds, and then send their observation to...
In today’s economy, adults ages 50-plus continue to show interest in growing their skillsets – for their own personal interest or to remain competitive in the workforce. They employ a growth mindset and have a desire to learn and grow professionally. The demand for skilled workers is providing the workforce with leverage to seek jobs with growth opportunities they desire. And, as a result of...
This presentation will center on funding opportunities for research on programs that support STEM learning for older adults. We will provide a brief overview of the National Science Foundation and the importance of proposals focusing on science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM). We will then provide an overview of the Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program and the...
