The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) — the nation's largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to the field of aging — has chosen Helene Fung, PhD, of the Chinese University of Hong Kong as the 2010 recipient of the Margret M. and Paul B. Baltes Foundation Award in Behavioral and Social Gerontology.
This distinguished honor, given annually, recognizes outstanding early career contributions in behavioral and social gerontology.
The award presentation will take place at GSA's 63rd Annual Scientific Meeting, which will be held from November 19 to 23, 2010, in New Orleans, LA. This conference is organized to foster interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers, educators, and practitioners who specialize in the study of the aging process. Visit www.geron.org/2010 for further details.
Fung is an associate professor in the Department of Psychology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Her primary research interest is the study of how goals change across adulthood and their impacts on social relationships, emotional regulation, and cognition.
Since receiving her PhD from Stanford University, she has promoted the study of psychology and aging in Hong Kong and throughout the rest of China. Due to her efforts, a chapter on aging will be included in the second edition of "The Handbook of Chinese Psychology." As a member of GSA's Behavioral and Social Sciences Section Membership Committee, she also successfully worked to increase the presence of members from China.
Fung currently is developing new tools and research designs for cross-cultural comparisons on the regulation of social relation and time perspective across the life span between China, Europe, and the U.S.
The Baltes Award is given to a person from any discipline in the social sciences. Only individuals who have received their doctorate within the last ten years are eligible. The winner traditionally presents a lecture at the Annual Scientific Meeting the following year. The award is given by GSA in conjunction with the Margret M. and Paul B. Baltes Foundation.
The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) is the nation's oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to research, education, and practice in the field of aging. The principal mission of the Society — and its 5,200+ members — is to advance the study of aging and disseminate information among scientists, decision makers, and the general public. GSA's structure also includes a policy institute, the National Academy on an Aging Society, and an educational branch, the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education.