Coming from China, Qiyuan (Grace) Miao is a third-year and senior student majoring in
Communication, with a specialization in computing and departmental Honors. She
believes that teenagers and older adults are the two most vulnerable and overlooked
demographic groups. She also believes that these two groups can be effectively
connected and mobilized to effect great social change. Last summer, she was invited to teach Chinese high school students on the aging issue, including biological causes of aging, common age-associated diseases such as Alzheimer’s, and ways to age successfully. The lecture was one way to help high school students understand elders on a deeper level. In this Undergraduate Research Scholars Program, she uses conversation analysis methodology to understand the communication between older adults with dementia and caregivers at nursing homes. Through this project, she wants to discover patterns of communication and help elders with dementia to better connect with the rest of the world. To fulfill the vision of bridging two age groups, Grace plans to pursue a PhD degree after graduation. Ultimately, she hopes to be a professor and an influencer, bringing
positive changes to the society.