SYMPOSIUM ECHO OF GENERATIONS
Symposium
Echo Of Generations
...here's the registration
Flyer • Poster
HOW THE YOUTH PERCEIVE THE ADVANTAGES OF OLD AGE AND HOW OLD AGE IS VITALISED BY THE YOUTH
14. September 2016
10.00 – 17.00 Uhr
New University Heidelberg
Constructive to results of former studies published in the Institute of Gerontology the aim of this symposium is to show, differentiate and recognise the importance and merits of very old people for society. Numerous of them are disregarded and their number rises. But in which way can we fetch them back in the middle of our society?
Through the restoration of the symmetry of generations, so the answer. If the oldest old and the centenarians contact the youth in a mutual and supporting way the benefit is huge. Either in a talk or dialogue or in a common activity, in play or within learning, these two generations are really fascinated from another and can give a lot each other. The old are animated and become happy, for a short time they will be young, and the youth gain more interests and insights and find someone who really understand them and whose serenity is a refreshment for the young soul.
Background for this scientific event are the results of diverse projects of Echo of Generations which is financed by the Dietmar Hopp Stiftung.
Project 1 and 2: The Wiesloch und Buchen diary studies
In the diary studies we integrate the diary method of the developmental psychologist Charlotte Bühler to analyse experience and behave of young and old people in intergenerative contact and situations. Cause „more is necessary than general observation or experiments, and this we got donated from the youth directly in their literary productions, especially their diaries“ (Bühler 1967, S. 1).
We motivate 12-17 year old pupils to write diaries during their 3-month-visits in the homes of very old people, also we motivate the oldest old to do the same, and then we found strong evidence for the first generational postulat.
| We speak anthropologically from the symmetry of generations, as old and young are their respective alter ego. (Ehret 2016) |
Associated workshops:
- Conversations and activities between pupils and very old people
- Generations of war: What the youth will know and the old will tell
Project 3: The play of young and old in Lobbach
In the Lobbach townhall we established in 2014, supported by honorary citizen Doris Ebert, a public space for play of young and old, which found great admission on the part of the 6-12-year old children. Our oldest player celebrated in February 2016 her 103. birthday. We investigate the pure sphere of play as an example for basic research and found evidence for the play-bonding-postulat. If young people build up a bonding to an old person, we can expect, that they develop special competences, e.g. morality (Ehret 2016).
Associated workshop:
- The play of young and old
Project 4 : Intergenerational Seminar with the Oldest old: 18+ meets 85+
Since summer 2015 the oldest old and young students regularly meet another for studying. The lecture series are well established now and psychologically and academy didactical evaluated.
A description and recommendations for doing and reproduction you find here hier
Associated workshop
- Intergenerational studying with the oldest old
This project isn’t part of the sponsorship of Dietmar Hopp Stiftung. It is founded by Dr. Sonja Ehret and voluntary conducted until now.
Astonishment Workshop:
For more than the half of pupils grandparents belong to the very closely connected persons and they belong to a typical family for them also. The wish for gathering with grandparents is strongly existing and is clearly expressed by the young likewise the concern to lose a grandparent, „such person , which has always time for me“ (Pius, 12). In this workshop the wide field of (great)grandparent relationships is treated out of an international perspective.
- (Great)Grandparents and (Great)grandchildren – A huge asset
Conference Program
10.00 h Greetings
Political representatives
Prof. Dr. Dr. Andreas Kruse, Director, Institut of Gerontology, Heidelberg University
Katrin Tönshoff / Meike Leupold, Dietmar Hopp Stiftung
10.10 h Inaugural adress
Prof. Dr. Dr. Andreas Kruse, Institut of Gerontology, Heidelberg University
10.30 h Plenary lecture „The symmetry of generations“
Dr. Sonja Ehret, Institut of Gerontology, Heidelberg University
11.00 h Coffee break
Comments and Lectures
11.20 h Pictures of age by the youth and pictures of youth by the old in Germany
Prof. Dr. Dr. Ursula Lehr, Federal minister retired, Chair BAGSO
11.40 h The archetyp of the old wise
Prof. Dr. Ingrid Riedel, Konstanz
12.00 h Musical intergenerational interlude
12.20 h The bonding theory and their influence on society of today
Prof. Dr. Klaus Grossmann, Emeritus Regensburg University
12.40 h Generations in dialogue: A socialtheoretical perspective
Prof. Dr. Kurt Lüscher, Konstanz University
13.00 h Lunch break
14.00 h Workshops
- Conversations and activities between pupils and very old people
Leadership: Dr. Sonja Ehret, Universität Heidelberg
Assistence: Philipp Kempf M. A. / Miriam Fehmann
- Generations of war: "What the youth will know and the old will tell“
Leadership: Prof. Dr. Insa Fooken, Frankfurt University
Participation: Dr. Jörg Hinner, Heidelberg University
- The play of young and old
Leadership: Prof. Dr. Rolf Oerter, München University / Dr. Sonja Ehret, Heidelberg
Assistence: Doris Ebert, Lobbach
- Intergenerational Studying with the oldest old
Leadership: Prof. Dr. Dr. Andreas Kruse, Heidelberg University
Assistence: Inge Burck / Miriam Fehmann
- (Great)Grandparents and (Great)Grandchildren – A huge asset
Leadership: Prof. Dr. Dr. Ursula Lehr, Federal minister retired, Chair BAGSO
Participation: Dr. Anne Ramos, Luxembourg University
15.00 h Coffee break
15.30 h Panel discussion „Young search for Old“
The actual relevance of the oldest old in context of family, education and development of society and the following generations discuss:
Prof. Dr. Dr. Andreas Kruse, Prof. Dr. Dr. Ursula Lehr
Prof. Dr. Klaus Grossmann, Prof. Dr. Kurt Lüscher, Prof. Dr. Rolf Oerter
Prof. Dr. Insa Fooken, Prof. Dr. Ingrid Riedel
Dr. Sonja Ehret, Ursula von Dallwitz-Wegner and pupil representatives
16.30 Uhr Outlook and Vernissage „Tell me from your time as a child“
Overall moderation: Prof. Dr. Dr. Andreas Kruse, Dr. Sonja Ehret
Congressorganisation: Dr. Sonja Ehret, Miriam Fehmann & Marcus Jannaschk, Institut of Gerontology Heidelberg in collaboration with Dr. Jörg Kraus, Young University Heidelberg
