The New Map of Life
The inaugural brainstorm from 2018.
While luck always plays a part, intentionality and planning are highly likely to lead to better outcomes.
How it Started
Based on this initial brainstorm, the following areas of focus or domains emerged, which then formed the focus areas of further study by postdoctoral fellows and faculty supervisors from the relevant subject areas.
The areas covered, together with their more descriptive titles, are listed here:
| Area of Focus | Domain Title |
|---|---|
| Education | Learn Throughout Life |
| Early Childhood | Invest in Future Centenarians to Deliver Big Returns |
| Intergenerational Relationships | Age Diversity Is a Net Positive for Society and the Bottom Line |
| Personal Finances | Build Financial Security from the Start |
| Employment | Work More Years, with More Flexibility |
| Lifestyle & Fitness | Align Healthspans to Lifespans |
| Living Environments | Build Longevity-Ready Communities |
| Health & Technology | Prepare to Be Amazed by the Future of Aging |
| Purpose | Life Transitions Are a Feature Not a Bug |
| Demographics | Make the Most of the 100-Year Opportunity |
The combined results became what is now known as the New Map of Life (NMOL). The detailed reports for each domain plus a summary report may be downloaded here.
Enter the Stanford Center on Longevity
The Stanford Center on Longevity (SCL) is a Center of Excellence at Stanford University, meaning that multiple academic departments are involved. It consists of about 150 faculty members. The mission of SCL is to help people arrive at retirement age "mentally sharp, physically fit, and financially secure.”
So far, the efforts of the SCL have been focused on understanding the implications of longevity for business and government leaders. In 2018, SCL convened a group of about fifty contributors to better understand what would need to change to address the challenges and grasp the opportunities of longer lifespans.