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The University of Georgia Institute of Gerontology has adopted the Bristlecone pine tree as a symbol of its education, research, and outreach missions. The Bristlecone pine is a rare and unique tree, known for its hardiness and extreme longevity. It has an exceptionally slow growth rate and can survive in both high altitudes and the harshest environments. Owing to its incredible ability to adapt, some living specimens have been identified to be over 4,000 years old and still fertile!

Historically, a major focus of the Institute's research has been the successful adaptation and survival of the oldest members of the human species. We believe that the Bristlecone pine is an appropriate, positive emblem to represent successful aging, as well as the contributions of the Institute and its affiliated faculty and staff, to the gerontology mission of The University of Georgia.

The photograph of the Bristlecone pine tree was taken by David Lanner in 1982, and is entitled Great Basin Bristlecone Pine, Wheeler Peak, Nevada. Lanner owns the copyright to this photograph, and its use by The University of Georgia Institute of Gerontology is with his permission.