The Dean at Davos: Examining an Aging, Urbanizing World

January 26, 2012

At this week's World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Dean Linda P. Fried will lead off a multi-part presentation titled "Future Demographics, Future Cities."

Along with fellow Columbia University deans and faculty from the fields of architecture, arts, and engineering, Dr. Fried will examine the opportunities presented by two powerful demographic trends: global urbanization and global aging. The prestigious IdeasLab forum will be introduced by University President Lee Bollinger.

The presenters at the January 29 Ideas Lab session are:


Read introduction to book.

All four speakers will examine the future urban landscape from the perspective of their own fields of research.

Also at Davos, the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council on Ageing Society is releasing a new book on the aging of global populations. Dean Fried is among the authors of this collection of essays titled Global Population Ageing: Peril or Promise.

Greater longevity and the aging of populations around the globe is arguably the greatest demographic shift the world has ever seen. By 2050, nearly a third of people in industrialized countries will be over age 60. In developing countries, the percentage is expected to jump from 9% today to 20% in 2050.

The new WEF book is aimed at a broad audience and intended to stimulate discourse and frame a forward-looking vision for adapting to an aging world.