"The Science and Fiction of Ageing"

Jour fixe talk by Jennifer Randerath and Jeff Kochan on 11 December 2018

This event is part of the Special Jour Fixe on the UBIAS' topic of the year "Ageing".

This Jour Fixe offered a combined look at ageing from the perspectives of science and literature. Jeff Kochan (Associated Fellow / Dept. of Philosophy) began by reading brief excerpts from his translation of Francesco Micieli’s novella, Hundert Tage mit meiner Grossmutter (One Hundred Days with my Grandmother). Jennifer Randerath (Research Fellow / Dept. of Psychology) then introduced aspects of neuropsychological research on stroke and dementia as diseases of the ageing brain. Jeff Kochan finished by reading his short story ‘Anti-Gravity,’ which explores the anxiety caused by dementia as a threat in later life. Audience participants were invited to discuss the topic, including the question of whether science and literature may be usefully combined in addressing matters of pressing public importance. Thank you to all for the fruitful discussion!