Dr. Laura Carstensen, director of the Longevity Center at Stanford University, will discuss how perceptions of time influence happiness. As her research shows, people actually tend to grow happier when time is limited, rather than open-ended-a finding that challenges traditional notions of time and happiness.

The evening will begin with a short survey about global happiness. Then, Dr. Carstensen will compare global assessments to momentary assessments. She will explain why we grow happier as we age-an assertion that is counterintuitive to preconceived notions about aging.

Laura Carstensen is the founding director of the Stanford Center on Longevity, the Fairleigh S. Dickinson Jr. Professor in Public Policy, and a professor of psychology at Stanford University. For more than 20 years, her research has been supported by the National Institute on Aging, and has resulted in over 100 articles on life-span development. Her most current empirical research focuses on ways in which motivational changes influence cognitive processing. Dr. Carstensen chaired the National Academy of Sciences' studies, The Aging Mind and When I'm 64. She is also the author of A Long Bright Future, which seeks to dispel myths and misconceptions about aging-misconceptions that can stop individuals from adequately preparing for long, healthy, fulfilling, and financially-stable lives.

Admission to this program is $5; advance ticket purchase is recommended. For tickets, please email the Koshland Science Museum at ksm@nas.edu or call (202) 334-1201.

http://www.koshland-science-museum.org/events/upcomingevent.jsp?id=458