Share the thoughts of our Masterminds

On April 18 Dr. Elaine Gallagher, professor emeritus in nursing, will discuss her work supporting municipalities in British Columbia in their efforts to make their communities more age-friendly. Her lecture is part of the University of Victoria Retirees Association’s (UVRA) Masterminds public lecture series.

A lead researcher on a number of studies over the past decade, Gallagher will discuss what makes a community age-friendly and how urban planners and community leaders can think about making communities more livable for seniors.

“We look at a number of criteria when assessing how age-friendly a community is,” says Gallagher. “It isn’t just the infrastructure, though that is an obvious one, it’s also about the health care options and whether the community is respectful and inclusive, targeting things like ageism.”

At the outset of the BC project, Gallagher participated in an international study led by the World Health Organization that explored this issue in 33 cities around the world.

On Wednesday April 25 Larry Yore, professor emeritus in education, will provide a sweeping overview of the history of science literacy in Canada.

Yore’s career has been dominated by a desire to make science more understandable to the public. This year the Virginia-based National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST) gave Yore its 2012 Distinguished Contributions to Science Education through Research Award, which will allow him to continue his research in the field.

“Language plays an important role in how science is constructed and reported,” he says. “Persuading others about science and making science accessible for all citizens is a major mainstream concern.”

In his lecture, Yore will discuss successes in promoting reading, mathematics and science literacy in Canada, including British Columbia.

The Mastermind Series is a co-presentation of UVRA and UVic’s Centre on Aging. The lectures begin at 7 p.m. in UVic’s Hickman Building, room 105 and are free and open to the public. Seating is limited and preregistration is required. Call 250-721-6369 for info and to register. Parking is $2.25 for the evening.