Miami University

History

The Scripps Foundation for Research in Population Problems was established in 1922 through an endowment from noted newspaper publisher E.W. Scripps. For more than forty years, the Scripps Foundation remained in the forefront of the scientific study of population and fertility in the U.S. and the world.

In the mid-1960s, the research emphasis turned toward population aging and related social issues. By 1967, Scripps developed and offered the University’s first course in social gerontology.

Miami University formally established a Gerontology Center within the Scripps Foundation in 1972. Four years later, Scripps Gerontology Center was one of the first seven multidisciplinary centers for the study of aging in the nation to be funded by the U.S. Administration on Aging.

Scripps emphasizes research and the support of multidisciplinary education in gerontology, and provides leadership in the profession, technical assistance, and service to the community, planners, providers, policy makers, and other professionals. Through a combination of endowment, and University as well as grant support, Scripps Gerontology Center will continue to generate excellence in research, education and service.

Full History (pdf 19 pages)

Our Mission

The mission of Scripps Gerontology Center is to understand the evolving issues of an aging society, provide leadership to enhance lives across the life course, and to meet the needs of an aging society. We accomplish this mission through research, education, and service.

Our Work

Research efforts include generating, organizing, and disseminating high quality multidisciplinary aging related knowledge that will make a difference in the lives of older adults. Our education efforts focus on supporting undergraduate and graduate gerontology education at Miami University and promoting public awareness of aging issues. Scripps Gerontology Center service activities include, but are not limited to, leadership in the profession, technical assistance and service to the community, planners, providers, policy makers, and other professionals.

Scripps Gerontology Center promotes the interests of older adults, families and an aging society and serves students, faculty, professionals, agencies, and professional organizations in the field of aging. We accomplish our goal with support from public and private financial resources.