Psychology’s Mara Mather to teach course in new partnership with Israeli institute

Come spring, students will have an opportunity to study gerontology subjects in the home of one of the world’s most rapidly aging populations: Israel.

Professor Mara Mather, who holds joint appointments at USC Dornsife in psychology and USC Davis School of Gerontology, will teach the program’s first course, “The Psychology of Aging.” Both undergraduate and graduate students from USC and The Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) in Herzliya, Israel, may attend the three-week course, which takes place at USC for the first week and at IDC thereafter.

During the course, students will learn about the cognitive, personality, adaptive and social processes taking place throughout the adult life span as well as current gerontology theory and research. Several guest lecturers from Israel’s gerontology, psychology and neuroscience communities will also present material throughout the course.

Engulfed by the ‘silver tsunami’

The course is part of a program stemming from a newly launched educational partnership between the USC Davis School and the IDC.

Israel provides a unique venue for the study of aging, Mather said. While its population is relatively young compared to many other developed countries, it is aging more rapidly than many of its counterparts. Thus, Israel can serve as an example for other nations working to adapt to the “silver tsunami,” or the outnumbering of young people by older adults that is projected to affect nearly every country in the coming decades. Additionally, members of Israel’s older generation have experienced the country’s founding, several waves of immigration and other major events affecting health and well-being throughout their life histories.

“Jewish tradition provides another fascinating layer to the context of aging in Israel, as it considers old age a virtue and a blessing in contrast to the negative attitudes prevalent in developed countries,” Mather said.

Helping the world’s aging population lead longer and healthier lives is one of the biggest problems of the 21st century and is a key issue, said USC Davis Dean Pinchas Cohen.

“Participation in the course will lend itself to transformational experiences not only in the classroom but in the field,” he said.

The course will take place May 16-June 3. Students interested in signing up can contact USC Davis Admission Counselor Sade Ojuola at (213) 740-1728 or ojuola@usc.edu.