The British Society of Gerontology 35th Annual Scientific meeting was a great success with over 270 delegates attending the conference at the University of Wales, Bangor. Members of the Centre for Social Policy Research and Development (CSPRD) were delighted to host the 2006 Annual Conference of the Society. The conference focused on interdisciplinarity and user involvement. We promoted the engagement of academics and practitioners from disciplines that do not traditionally attend BSG conferences. CSPRD drew on the expertise of UWB and some of our 5-star rated departments in the Faculty of Science and Engineering (Psychology; and Sport, Health and Exercise Science). Therefore, the conference covered a range of perspectives on ageing within societies, which although taking a critical social perspective, also encompassed mental health, health and well-being.

In the spirit of multidisciplinarity we invited key note speakers from different disciplines Professor Steve Zarit (psychology), Professor Christine Fry (anthropology) and Dr Julian Tudor Hart (medicine). All gave extremely powerful addresses and promoted some meaningful discussion among delegates. Delegates who would not traditionally have viewed gerontology from these angles were given a chance to consider ageing from other perspectives. The key note address by Professor Clare Wenger challenged myths regarding the ease of international and multidisciplinary collaborations by highlighting some of the difficulties faced by researchers embarking on these types of projects.

CSPRD were eager to imprint the conference with a special Welsh identity and included references to ageing policy within the devolved Welsh Assembly Government. In particular, Wales is a forerunner in Europe, having developed the first Strategy for Older People. Highlighting this issue, Robert Taylor OBE, Director of Age Concern Cymru, gave a key-note address at the BSG Conference (in place of John Griffiths AM who was unable to attend). In addition, policy makers from the Welsh Assembly gave a distinguished symposium. Given the breadth of plenary sessions and the interest they sparked in the audience, I’m delighted that this issue of Generations Review is publishing all of the key note addresses from the conference.

We believe that the conference met its main aims and:

• Provided a programme which is attractive to gerontologists both in the UK and overseas (demonstrated in the number of delegates from Britain and further a field).
• Promoted the engagement of academics and practitioners from disciplines that do not traditionally attend BSG conferences (demonstrated in the mix of delegates from different backgrounds attending the conference).
• Involved the lay community in this event (demonstrated in the number of older people who were both delegates and presenters).
• Imprinted the conference with a special Welsh identity (demonstrated in the key note address by Rob Taylor and symposia by Welsh Assembly policy-makers).