Upcoming Events

This talk explores the securitization of American public health andthe transformation of the political foundations of public health over the past twenty-five years. Despite notable successes in areas such as smoking cessation, public health institutions did a poor job of expanding beyond traditional threats such as acute andinfectious diseases to combat the challenge of chronic disease. The 9/11 attacks, 2001 anthrax mailings, and apparent threat of biological weapons opened a window of opportunity that allowedentrepreneurial bureaucrats and political leaders to frame public health as a matter of national security. The resulting infusion of resources and shift in priorities reoriented local level public health infrastructure towards specific challenges such as emergency preparedness and bioterrorism. In the model of public health that emerged, key aspects of local capacity were underfunded, institutions were designed around a narrow set of problems, andcore challenges such as chronic disease and the social drivers of health were often left unaddressed. Although public health officials were well aware of the threat of pandemic disease, the emphasis on security-framed threats came at the expense of the basic infrastructure needed to address a prolonged crisis such as COVID-19. Lecture - 5:30 - 6:30pm (Hammer 401) Reception- 6:30 - 8pm (Riverview Lounge, ARB)

WELCOME TO THE ROBERT N. BUTLER COLUMBIA AGING CENTER VIRTUAL SERIES | AI + HEALTHY LONGEVITY Click here for full listing of the Columbia Aging Center "AI + Healthy Longevity" Seminar Series Our current series is dedicated to "AI + Healthy Longevity." The rise of artificial intelligence is set to transform health research, offering unprecedented opportunities for innovation, accuracy, and efficiency. As AI becomes more deeply integrated into research and healthcare, its applications hold the power to unlock new ways of improving health outcomes across the life course – particularly in later life. From predicting risks to preventing disease and preserving function, the use of AI to promote healthy longevity is only just beginning.  Yet alongside these opportunities come important challenges: ensuring data quality, promoting transparency, and addressing ethical concerns.  The Columbia Aging Center’s 2025–2026 virtual seminar series, AI + Healthy Longevity, will spotlight these critical issues. Through cutting-edge talks by leading experts – from population health to medical sciences –this series will explore how AI is shaping the future of aging research and advancing the quest for healthier, longer lives. Join us ONLINE on October 30 at noon, for the next in a series focusing on the applications of AI in aging. Details and registration link below. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2025, 12:00-1:00 PM ET Title: Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence and Technology for Aging Abstract: Aging research is at a turning point, where advances in artificial intelligence and technology are transforming our ability to detect, predict, and intervene in age-related decline. This talk will highlight the work of the Johns Hopkins Artificial Intelligence & Technology Collaboratory for Aging Research (AITC) and the Gerotech Incubator Program in accelerating translation from lab to life, developing and validating human-centered AI solutions that promote independence, resilience, and healthspan in older adults. Examples from AITC supported pilots will be share and will include multimodal frailty models, digital biomarkers, and interdisciplinary frameworks connecting engineering, medicine, and community engagement. Speaker: Peter M. Abadir, MD Associate Professor of Medicine and of Electrical & Computer Engineering Co-PI, Johns Hopkins AI & Technology Collaboratory for Aging Research; Co-PI, Johns Hopkins Older Americans Independence Center Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine & Whiting School of Engineering VIA ZOOM | REGISTER HERE: https://tinyurl.com/Oct30CAC

A Talk with the Editor of Science, Dr. Holden Thorp (George Washington University) With cuts to federal funding agencies still looming, what should researchers and students know about what comes next? Dr. Holden Thorp, editor of Science, has been analyzing the terrain ahead – and avoiding fatalism while doing so – on a regular basis, since the crisis began earlier this year. Join us as he outlines his latest thinking on how to restore public confidence in science, navigate thorny political territory, and forge a path forward. Lunch Served The Alex and Sophie Rosner Seminar Series / Center for the History & Ethics of Public Health / Sociomedical Sciences

WELCOME TO THE ROBERT N. BUTLER COLUMBIA AGING CENTER VIRTUAL SERIES | AI + HEALTHY LONGEVITY Click here for full listing of the Columbia Aging Center "AI + Healthy Longevity" Seminar Series Our current series is dedicated to "AI + Healthy Longevity." The rise of artificial intelligence is set to transform health research, offering unprecedented opportunities for innovation, accuracy, and efficiency. As AI becomes more deeply integrated into research and healthcare, its applications hold the power to unlock new ways of improving health outcomes across the life course – particularly in later life. From predicting risks to preventing disease and preserving function, the use of AI to promote healthy longevity is only just beginning.  Yet alongside these opportunities come important challenges: ensuring data quality, promoting transparency, and addressing ethical concerns.  The Columbia Aging Center’s 2025–2026 virtual seminar series, AI + Healthy Longevity, will spotlight these critical issues. Through cutting-edge talks by leading experts – from population health to medical sciences –this series will explore how AI is shaping the future of aging research and advancing the quest for healthier, longer lives. Join us ONLINE on January 29 at noon, for the next in a series focusing on the applications of AI in aging. Details and registration link below. THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2026, 12:00-1:00 PM ET SpeechCARE: Advancing Early Detection of Cognitive Impairment through Multimodal Speech Processing Maryam Zolnoori, PhD Assistant Professor of Health Sciences (in Nursing) Columbia School of Nursing VIA ZOOM | REGISTER HERE: https://tinyurl.com/Jan29CAC