Request for Student Research Abstracts

Changing Demographics: By 2050, an estimated 1.5 billion people on the planet will be aged 65 and older. 1.2 billion will live in less developed world regions with fewer resources. Worldwide, life expectancy has increased and people everywhere are living longer with chronic disease.

Growing Health Impact: Worldwide population growth of older people is creating new and growing challenges for public health. The growth of chronic disease and disability is increasing the burden of care on families and society.

Increasing Cost: The cost of providing health care and social services will escalate. Policymakers will face tough decisions about how to allocate increasingly scarce resources and deliver effective programs. This year’s SPH symposium addresses the public health dimensions of the looming global crisis.

A unique aspect of this year’s symposium will be the highlighting of student work and research through a Request for Proposals (RFP). Both Master’s and Doctoral level students of all University of Michigan schools and departments are invited to submit an abstract of work related to aging. Submissions can be research-based or practice-oriented, but must be complete at the time of entry. An interdisciplinary committee will review all submissions and select the top three authors to be recognized at the symposium on October 6. All abstracts will be published on the SPH website in the hopes of fostering a community of concerned students and passionate practitioners committed to the field of aging.

Eligibility

The first author must be an enrolled student in a graduate program (Master’s or Doctoral level) for Fall 2008 at the University of Michigan.
All research and/or projects must be complete at the time of submission.
Entries can be research-based or practice-oriented, but all must include formal evaluation.

Submission and Review Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on the relative contribution to research and/or practice in the field of aging. Proposals are particularly welcome in the following areas: Aging and the Environment, Epidemiology of Aging and the Life Course, Mathematics of Aging, Chronic Care Services, and Aging from an International Perspective.

Selection of Proposals

Three proposals will be chosen and awarded prizes of $200, $100, and $50. Authors of chosen proposals will be announced at the school-wide Symposium.

Important Dates

Tuesday, Sept. 2:	Announcements made to all SPH classes
Friday, Sept. 5:	Proposal materials available from SPH website
Friday, Oct. 3:	Submission due online no later than 12 noon
Monday, Oct. 6:	SPH Symposium, Rackham Auditorium

Questions

For more information, please contact student committee members:

Emily Nicklett (enicklet@umich.edu) or Jaime Hughes (jmhug@umich.edu)