K. Warner Schaie, PhD recently received the 2016 International Society for Intelligence Research (ISIR) Lifetime Achievement Award for his extensive research in and contributions to the field of Geropsychology. He received both his MS and PhD from the University of Washington and continues to be an affiliate professor with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.

Dr. Schaie is best known for his role as founding Director of the Seattle Longitudinal Study (SLS). SLS is considered by many to be one of the most extensive psychological research studies of how adults cognitively develop and change through adulthood. Started in 1956, this study tests and adds participates every seven years and to date, has had over 6,000 adults, ages 20 – 100+, participate.

In addition to his significant contributions to science, Dr. Schaie is very proud of the mentoring he has done over the years. “From time to time, we have a social hour where ⅓ to ½ [of my mentees] show up,” says Dr. Schaie. He has mentored many people over the years and looks forward to finding out what they’ve done and how far they have come.

Dr. Schaie’s research over the past 50+ years has not only shown a relationship between age and cognitive ability, but also has influenced policy. Results from the SLS helped change the mandatory retirement age from 65 to 70 in many fields. Thanks to this research, many people are able to continue working into their 60s and 70s.

Dr. Schaie will accept the award at the 2016 ISIR Annual meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia in mid-July.