Slide show of the forum
All the photos
View all the photos of the forum
28 March 2011...
A wrap-up in pictures captures the best moments during this day-long pluridisciplinary event. Offering a wellspring to participants, looking for ideas, a chance to share and new proposals, it was also a place to hear speakers from all horizons.
The first meetings of the AXA Global Forum for Longevity were held 28 March 2011 at the Collège des Bernardins in Paris.
The chapel of the Collège des Bernardins, a 13th century dining hall, set up for informal luncheon meetings between participants.
“The problem of longevity is at the heart of our business, every day, and at the heart of our thinking,” said Henri de Castries, Chairman and CEO of AXA, during his opening speech.
“We are set to have an opportunity to progress together and to make a modest contribution to a topic which is going to have a profound impact in the years ahead.” Henri de Castries
Pr. James W. Vaupel, Demographer, Founder and director of the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research in Rostock, Germany, Member of the Scientific Board of the AXA Research Fund, presents the state of affairs concerning the lengthening of human lifespan.
The first meetings of the Global Forum for Longevity brought together nearly 250 participants, among whom were researchers, representatives of associations and local authorities as well as journalists.
Among them, a dozen representatives of the European Youth Parliament, a Europe-wide organisation of young citizens
Youth is the group most concerned by the stakes in longevity. As explained by Pr. James W. Vaupel: “The majority of children born since 2000 in France, Germany and the US will live to celebrate their 100-year-old birthday.”
Pr. Jean-Marie Robine, Demographer and epidemiologist, Head of Research at INSERM (France), presents two possible scenarios for the extension of longevity during adulthood: the lowering of mortality or its compression.
Daniel Vasella, Chairman of Novartis.
Henri de Castries, Chairman and CEO of AXA.
At the end of each plenary session, a question & answer time fostered a high level of interactivity with the audience.
A European Youth MP from Poland addresses a question to Pr. Thomas Kirkwood about the biological limits of longevity.
According to Pr. Kirkwood, “Financing allocated to research into ageing is still insufficient even though it is a root cause of most illnesses known to modern medicine.”
Asked about the indifference shown to citizens over 75 in many European societies, Pr. Jean-Marie Robine drew a parallel with the time needed effectively to bring into force environmental legislation, passed 40 years ago.
Chairman of Novartis, Daniel Vasella takes stock of progress possible in terms of innovation in pharmaceuticals, the performance of preventive medicine and treatment.
Daniel Vasella, Chairman of Novartis (right, foreground), and Henri de Castries, AXA Chairman and CEO (centre, right).
In the wings of a plenary session, a discussion between Robert B. Zoellick, President of the World Bank, the biologist, Pr. Thomas Kirkwood, and Henri de Castries, Chairman and CEO of AXA.
During a question & answer session with the audience, Robert B. Zoellick and Henri de Castries reveal their different visions of the challenges posed by longevity.
Bruno Giussani, moderator during the meetings on 28 March 2011 and European Director of TED.
Lunch under the vaulted ceilings of the Collège des Bernardins.
Pr. L. Stephen Coles, Doctor of Medicine and Mathematics, Professor at the University of California Los Angeles (USA), is striving to understand the factors behind longevity among supercentenarians (people 110 and older).
Pr. L. Stephen Coles presents a few of the supercentenarians who he is studying.
Pascal Brosset, Director of Innovation at Schneider Electric, speaks on the topic of domotics and how it can help the elderly to remain at home.
Yseulis Costes, Chairperson and CEO of 1000mercis, a specialist in social networks and viral marketing, analyses for people over 60 the spectacular acceleration in the speed of uptake for new technologies.
The workshop, “Live 120 years”, examines the individual and social challenges of longevity.
Pr. Carol Jagger, professor of epidemiology in ageing, Institute of Ageing and Health at the University of Newcastle, evaluates factors that contribute to ageing in good health.
Pr. Françoise Forette, geriatrics, President of the International Longevity Centre (ILC) France, insists in her speech on the role of preventive medicine and on the need for physical activity at all ages of life.
During the breaks, conference goers could pose their questions to the speakers, using interactive kiosks.
Eric Chaney, Chief Economist AXA Group, Head of Research, AXA Investment Managers, explains the positive correlation between the level of life in a country and longevity in good health.
Raphael Wittenberg, Economist at the UK's Department of Health, professor at the London School of Economics and Political Science (UK), reviews the challenges posed for social coverage systems due to the risk of dependence.
Edward Whitehouse, economist, is responsible for analysing pension policies and works at the social policy division of the OECD (France).
During his closing address, Henri de Castries paid tribute to the “experts, both passionately involved and passionate about” longevity throughout the course of the day.
A European Youth MP raises the spectre of ageing among our leadership due to the extension of retirement age.
The purpose of the Global Forum for Longevity is to share the knowledge of experts with civil society. Consequently, several journalists were present during these first meetings on 28 March 2011.
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