Objectives et Missions

The Institute of Longevity, old ages and ageing (ILVV) is a multi-organisation structure whose objectives are to encourage and support interdisciplinary scientific work within the Humanities and Social Sciences. The investigations require a multidisciplinary perspective, which is essential to grasp the intertwined issues they raise and to answer the fundamental questions they entail. Today, the challenge of our research field is to develop interdisciplinarity and dialogue with related fields and institutional parties.

OBJECTIVES

Longevity, old ages and ageing constitute an urging field of research, which is widely covered by the various disciplines of the humanities and social sciences (SHS). The ILVV aims to promote interdisciplinarity; to foster and support the joint development of approaches and methods around key issues; to collectively improve knowledge while anchoring it at the very core of public debate.

In order to identify the research work and questions that fall under this heading, the ILVV relies on a pluralistic and broad definition of ageing: it is considered both at the individual level, with the various implications of advancing age (physiological, social, work-related, relational, etc.), and at the population level, with the (demographic, social, political, organisational, etc.) implications of the changing age structures and the increased longevity.  As an extension of the activities of the GDR Longévité et Vieillissement, the objectives of the ILVV are :

  • To support the structuring process and the highlighting of French research on key issues (living conditions; economic and social contribution; environment and housing); education and training; social participation; new labour markets; inclusion and equity, social protection; technologies; data).
  • To promote interdisciplinarity through thematic scientific events and workshops for PhD and post-doctoral students.
  • To enable the exchange of knowledge between the academic community, public institutions, field workers, stakeholder in charge of age-related and welfare policies.

THE FOUR MISSIONS OF THE ILVV

The activities carried out by the ILVV are structured around the objectives (1) of promoting the research of the field, the interdisciplinary approaches, the articulation with the activities of other structures and scientific groups, (2) of opening up to international research and (3) of supporting young researchers. To this end, the ILVV has set itself 4 missions: to know, to make known, to support events and to foster dialogue. The Scientific Board, the Steering Committee and the ILVV team draw up an annual roadmap in spring in order to pursue the Institute's four missions and respond to the needs of actors in the field.

to know the field...

by identifying forces at work, promoting networking
and bringing to light issues that are still not sufficiently visible

A directory of researchers has been developed to make the community of the field more accessible and to encourage multidisciplinarity and collaborations. A database by key words and themes allows analysing the work in the field and bringing out emerging topics and challenges.

MAKE KNOW...

research projects and the community by developing
communication resources that promote inter-knowledge of forces

Three axes are developed:

  • The dissemination of a newsletter "Research on Ageing" produced by the Cnav with the ILVV, three times a year,
  • The Internet gateway, offering structuring tools (directory of researchers, inventory of research project, a database of teams in the field, tracking of calls for projects and symposiums, information on major datasources in France, etc.),
  • A e-space dedicated to young research "the seedhouse": announcement of PhD defences, "the Figures of the month", training courses, etc.

SUPPORTING SCIENTIFIC EVENTS...

by organising or supporting their organisation
multidisciplinary scientific events

At the incentive of the colleagues of the field, the ILVV supports the organisation of regional and national multidisciplinary scientific meetings and organises conferences and seminars. A Autumn school is offered to PhD students and early career researchers to familiarise themselves with various approaches, methods and data and to discuss their own work. The Institute also aims to facilitate for them access to scientific events and national and international networks.

TO FOSTER DIALOGUE AROUND KEY ISSUES...

to shed light on the resources and needs
of the academic and institutional spheres

The aim is to confront the work carried out at the crossroads of research and social policy issues. The DIALOGUE seminars could also be extended to dialogue with other ageing Sciences.