The PURPOSE of the Art and Science of Aging Conference is to:

• Broaden the dialogue on aging in West Michigan
• Provide new knowledge and skills, derived from multidisciplinary research and evidence-based best practices on healthy aging to the community            
• Highlight important local resources and strategies for optimizing later life  
• Prepare individuals and professionals in our community for the coming surging growth of older adults 

The MISSION of the Art & Science of Aging Conference is to:

• Broaden the dialogue within our West Michigan region on the positive potentials of later life and holistic approaches to healthy aging
• Serve as an interdisciplinary and inter-professional forum of research on aging topics and best practices in working with and for the older adult

Each year the Art & Science of Aging Conference:

• Focuses on a timely THEME
• Features a national expert on this theme as the KEYNOTE SPEAKER
• Offers a series of 1-hour sessions by other presenters (faculty and professionals) on aging-related RESEARCH and BEST PRACTICES topics consistent with the theme
• Hosts a PLENARYSESSION to bring all participants back together in celebrating some positive role models of our selected theme
• Offers students a venue to display their research on aging in POSTER PRESENTATIONS
• Offers local VENDORS a setting where they can present aging theme-relevant services or products 
• Registered participants enjoy a BUFFET LUNCHEON
• LOW registration FEES in order to encourage wide participation 
• Allows ON-LINE REGISTRATION

The conference seeks to enrich the aging-related knowledge base of:

• Faculty and students
• Community professionals who deal with older adults in health, social service, housing and aging-network settings 
• Older adults themselves,  who are looking to learn more and share more of the aging experience
• The general public