On April 25, UNU will host “Bridging Care Across Cultures: Designing Sociotechnical Systems for Ageing in a Global Society”, a conversation with Dr. Elizabeth Mynatt, Dean of the Khoury College of Computer Sciences at Northeastern University. The event will start at 18:30 in the 2F Reception Hall at the UNU Headquarters in Tokyo.
Innovative solutions to support and enhance the lives of older adults are becoming increasingly essential in the context of a globally ageing population. Digital tools and technological solutions hold the potential to revolutionize elderly care, ensuring a more inclusive society where older individuals are empowered. Yet, technology alone cannot address the full complexity of care: supporting older adults takes place in sociotechnical systems, composed of networks of formal and informal caregivers, technologies, institutions, and social practices that interact with each other. Understanding the broader sociotechnical systems in which care networks operate is critical to designing and delivering dignified, personalized care.
Dr. Elizabeth Mynatt will join Ms. Kyra “Kiki” Bowman, UNU Head of Communications, to explore the evolution of assistive technologies beyond the traditional medical model that recognizes older adults within complex sociotechnical systems. Building on two decades of research in pervasive computing and human-centred design, Dr. Mynatt will discuss how we should approach technological interventions that strengthen human care relationships. How can we design technologies that enhance independence while simultaneously supporting information sharing, decision-making and emotional connections across distributed care networks? How do cultural differences frame and influence strategies for care?
The UNU Conversation Series aims to foster audience participation; you are encouraged to engage with the speakers during the conversation and at the reception that will follow, where all event attendees are invited to enjoy hors d’oeuvres and drinks while exchanging ideas and making new contacts.
Please note that this event will be in English. Advance registration (by 24 April at 15:00) is required. Please click on the REGISTER button above to access the online registration page. Please be prepared to present identification at check-in.
Please be prepared to present identification at check-in.
UNU@50
This event is part of the UNU 50th anniversary celebration. To learn more, visit: https://unu.edu/unuat50
About the speaker
Dr. Elizabeth Mynatt is the Dean of the Khoury College of Computer Sciences at Northeastern University, a position she assumed after an illustrious 23-year career at Georgia Institute of Technology where she was distinguished as a Regents' Professor of Interactive Computing and served as the Founding and Executive Director of the Institute of People and Technology.
As a visionary leader in human-centered computing, Dr. Mynatt brings her expertise to Northeastern's global network, which spans five continents with campuses across North America, Europe, and beyond. Her leadership is instrumental in advancing Northeastern's distinctive approach to experiential learning and research that transcends traditional boundaries.
With over 25 years in the field, Dr. Mynatt is internationally renowned for pioneering work in ubiquitous computing, health informatics, and assistive technologies. Her groundbreaking research in "everyday computing" has been instrumental in shifting the paradigm from task-focused applications to systems that support the informal, continuous, and social aspects of daily life. Her research consistently focuses on creating technological systems that enhance human capabilities while respecting human relationships and contexts. Currently, she serves as co-Principal Investigator for the National Science Foundation's AI Institute, AI-CARING, and Emory University's Cognitive Empowerment Program, both developing longitudinal, interactive AI technologies that empower older adults and strengthen their care networks.
In recognition of her outstanding contributions, Dr. Mynatt was inducted into the prestigious American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAA&S) in 2024. She became a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) in 2015 for her transformative work in human-centered computing and health information technologies. Her additional honors include membership in the ACM SIGCHI Academy, AAAS, Sloan Foundation, and Kavli Foundation.
As an influential scholar, Dr. Mynatt has authored more than 100 scientific publications, secured substantial research funding from the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health, and chaired CHI 2010, the premier international conference in human-computer interaction. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated exceptional ability to bridge theoretical innovation with practical applications that address complex societal challenges.
