Welcome from the Conference Chair
Welcome to the British Society of Gerontology 55th Annual Conference, 24th-26th June 2026: From the local to the global Ageing in an interconnected world, at the Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom
Conference Theme
By 2050, more than one in four people around the world will be over the age of 60, and 80% of older people will be living in low and middle income countries that until recently, had been considered relatively young. The shifting distribution of the world's older population brings both challenges and opportunities: will gerontological insights developed in the global north translate to the south? Will local variations in understandings of aging originating outside the global north be actively integrated into mainstream gerontology, or will they remain limited to the periphery? How might attention to diverse local gerontologies enhance or complicate approaches that concentrate on aging as a universal and shared experience?
The future of gerontology hinges on the ways the local and global interact and shape each other. Global initiatives like the Network of Global Age-Friendly Communities provide models for balancing local and global through the sharing of best practices that are flexible and adaptable to local conditions while providing a foundation for international solidarity. Local grassroots movements and advocacy groups of and for older people are challenging governments to address inequalities affecting health, wellbeing, and belonging, and to recognize diversity within and between aging cohorts.
This conference invites critical examination of how local knowledge systems, cultural practices, and community-based innovations in aging interact with global frameworks, policies, and research paradigms. We seek contributions that bridge theoretical insights with empirical evidence, policy analysis with lived experience, and disciplinary boundaries with transdisciplinary collaboration.
Key Topics and Themes
We welcome submissions that address, but are not limited to, the following areas:
Global-Local Intersections
- Translation and adaptation of aging interventions across cultural contexts
- Indigenous and traditional knowledge systems in aging research and practice
- Comparative studies of aging policies and their local implementations
- Digital technologies and their varied impacts on older adults globally
- Impacts of global warming and ecological destruction on older people
Methodological Innovations
- Participatory and community-based research approaches
- Cross-cultural methodologies in aging research
- Decolonizing gerontological research practices
- Mixed-methods approaches to understanding local-global dynamics
- Creative, sensory, and arts-based research
Health, Care, and Wellbeing
- Community-based models of care and support
- Traditional healing practices and modern healthcare integration
- Mental health and psychosocial wellbeing across cultures
- Age-friendly environments and homes in diverse geographical contexts
Social Justice and Equity
- Addressing ageism and inequalities in aging experiences
- Migration, displacement, and aging in diaspora communities
- Gender, sexuality, and intersectionality in global aging
- Economic security, livelihoods and social protection systems
Innovation and Knowledge Exchange
- Grassroots innovations in aging support
- South-South knowledge transfer and collaboration
- Technology adoption and digital divides
- Intergenerational knowledge transmission
Review Process
All submissions will undergo review by members of the local scientific committee. Selection criteria include:
- Relevance to conference theme and/or significance to the field
- Methodological rigor and innovation
- Clarity of presentation and contribution to knowledge
- Potential for fostering dialogue between perspectives
Special Considerations
We particularly encourage submissions from:
- Early career researchers and students
- Scholars and practitioners from low and middle income countries
- Indigenous researchers and community partners
- Interdisciplinary collaborations
- Practice-based researchers and community organizations
Limited travel support will be available through conference bursaries.
Contact Information
For questions regarding submissions or registratin: bsgconference2026@britishgerontology.org, or +44 (0)1865 534931
Thank you to our Conference Organising Committee
Sue Chilton, Senior Lecturer in Nursing, Oxford Brookes University
Young-ha Cho, Associate Professor, Oxford Brookes University
Shelly Coe, Associate Professor of Nutrition Science, Chair of the Healthy Ageing and Care Research Network, Oxford Brookes University
Jason Danely, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Oxford Brookes University, Chair, Conference Organising Committee
Kuo (Echo) Feng, Lecturer in Marketing, Henley Business School, University of Reading
Ka Yan Hess, Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy, Oxford Brookes University
Sarah Matthews, BSG2026 Conference Manager, Faculty Administrator, Oxford Brookes University
Sarah Quinton, Dean for Research and Knowledge Exchange, Professor of Digital Society (retired), Oxford Brookes University
Aparna Rao, Lecturer in Occupational Therapy, Oxford Brookes University
Rhonda Riachi, Senior Lecturer and Lead in Service Users and Caregiver involvement, Oxford Brookes University
Sally Richards, Honorary Research Fellow (retired), Oxford Brookes University
Wendy Twist, PhD student, Oxford Brookes University
Karla Zimpel-Leal, Associate Professor Innovation & Enterprise, Healthy Ageing and Care (HAC) Network Co-Lead, Oxford Brookes University