Gerontology International Synthesis Conference 2009 was held at Andhra University on March12-14. This conference was organized by AU-NCSA Center for Gerontology which was established between the Andhra University and Nippon Care-Fit Service Association. Moreover, this conference was supported by Association of Gerontology in Higher Education(AGHE) and International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities (IASSID). The theme of the conference was Youth is a gift and Age is an Art.


Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, Former President of India was Chief guest as the key note speaker. Dr. Kalam gave talk on the title Ageless Heroes. Dr. Kalam made the following statement to the audiences, " I am sure, the gerontologists assembled here will create a socio-psychological model for making the aged and experience people as an asset for the community. The intervention could be design based on the circumstances and the situation in which the individuals are placed. Preparing for such a situation needs tackling of the problem right from the young age. The parents have to provide a conducive atmosphere for the growth of the children. This also will need training of the parents on good parenting. Simultaneously, there is a need for training the teachers to make the students as enlightened citizens apart from providing them with professional knowledge. Also, the corporates and the government would also need training packages for preparing the citizens for the old age. A combined effect of all these actions can lead to generate ageless heroes in our society".

Dr. Edward F. Ansello greeted as AGHE representative in behalf of Dr. Marilyn R. Gugliucci as President of gave address entitled the Gerontology Curriculum Palette as an Aid to Understanding as a part of project, which is called the Da Vinci Kigatsuku Cafeteria curriculum 2012.

As special guests from Tokyo, Japan Mr.& Mrs. Kei Iguchi participated with his paint, Evening Prayer, which was use as our conference art. The paint was donated to the Visakhapatnam Museum. 18 members of the Echu Yatsuko Owara Dojo from Toyama, Japan performed special traditional dance, which express thank to God for fruitful harvest. All members came to Visakhapatnam for this conference with their own cost willingly for express their love and charity to people in India as representatives from Toyama, Japan.

During second day of cultural exchange program, Dr.Chilukuri Santamma, Retired professor in Physics at the Andhra University was awarded as the first Golden Age in Visakhapatnam. Dr. Santamma is a daughter of Vangala Vanajakshamma 101 years old with good health and wife of Chilukuri Subramanya Satri ( Former professor in Telgu at Andhra University).

During valedictory session Prof. Beela Satyanarayana, Vice Chancellor, Andhra University made special announcement that there will be the first Center for Gerontology program with originated programs will be established as model program not only in India, but also universal setting with YOGA concept. And the most important result was coming from parents and family of persons with Intellectual Disabilities will be establishing Parents and Family Association for Aging and Disabilities through learning of concept of Aging and Disabilities from first workshop, which was given lectures by Dr. Matthew P. Janicki and Ronald Lucchino(IASSID). Rutsuko Aizawa provided many art therapy workshops not only conference time at Lebenshilfe, but also at a different school even after conference.