MUARG and MICRA researchers present at the BSG Conference

The event was hosted online by Lancaster University and addressed the theme: Ageing Past, Present and Future: Innovation and Change. The Manchester Urban Ageing Research Group was well represented at the conference.

The conference started with the Averil Osborn Symposium on participatory research chaired by MUARG Director Tine Buffel. The Flagship Symposium delivered on Wednesday was on the topic of ‘Celebrating change in British Gerontology’ and James Nazroo presented on inequalities in ageing.

Also during the conference, Chris Phillipson, Luciana Lang and Sophie Yarker all presented in a symposium on ‘Comparative perspectives on the impact of COVID-19 on older people: Community studies from the UK and Switzerland’. More details about MUARG’s COVID-19 work were presented at the report launch on 12 July.

Sophie Yarker chaired a symposium on ‘Recognising diversity and reaching marginalised communities to tackle social isolation: learning from the Ambition for Ageing Programme’.

Chris Phillipson spoke on ‘Inequality, Austerity and Precarity: Individual and Collective Agency in Later life’ in a symposium on ‘How useful are theories of inequality in understanding precarious ageing in the Global North? A discussion of contemporary experiences of ageing and future challenges’.

Paul McGarry delivered a paper on ‘Leading public campaigns to change narratives of ageing: lessons and reflections from Manchester and Greater Manchester’, as part of a symposium on challenging ageism during COVID-19.

Amy Barron delivered a paper on ‘More-than-representational approaches to the life-course’ as part of a symposium on ‘The rhythm of ageing beyond representation: developments from human geography’.

All abstracts and conference details can be found on the BSG Conference website.