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September 2012– Vol. 25, No. 2
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Back in New Orleans: Call for Papers Issued for PAA 2013 1
New Applied Demography Poster Session for 2013 PAA Meeting 2
2012 Southern Demographic Association Meetings Set for Colonial Williamsburg 3
2012 World Data Sheet: Future Population Growth, Effect of Chronic Diseases Among Highlights 4
New KIDS COUNT Report: Despite Economic Declines, Progress in Child Education and Health 6
Upcoming Penn State Symposium to Focus on Emerging Research Methods 7
Website of Interest: Applied Demography Toolbox 7
Katherine R. Smith Appointed Executive Director of COPAFS 8
In Jeopardy: U.S. House of Representatives Votes To Eliminate ACS 8
Announcement: Specialist Meeting on Spatial Thinking Across the College Curriculum 9
Position Openings: University of Minnesota 10
Call for Papers: Population Research and Policy Review Special Issue 11
Leaving Our Hearts in San Francisco: Highlights of PAA 2012 (Photo Essay) 12
Applied Demography Population Association of America – Committee on Applied Demography Newsletter
BACK IN NEW ORLEANS: CALL FOR PAPERS ISSUED FOR PAA 2013
February 3, 2013, will be a major date on the year’s
sporting calendar. For on that date, Super Bowl XLVII—
the annual game that determines the season’s National
Football League champion—will take place in New
Orleans. It will be the city’s 10th time as the site of the
game, tying it with Miami as the Super Bowl’s most
frequent host.
But Super Bowl XLVII—not to mention the annual
Mardi Gras festivities that follow later in February—
won’t be the only major events to hit “the Big Easy” in
2013. On April 11-13, demographers from all over the
world will gather in New Orleans for the annual
Population Association of America (PAA) meetings. (For
the record, this will be the fifth time PAA has been in
New Orleans; the city last hosted the meetings in 2008.)
With the meetings only months away, PAA has issued
its call for papers. As in previous years, there is an
applied demography track, as well as several other
sessions of potential interest to applied demographers.
All submissions need to be made online at the 2013
Annual Meeting Program website,
(http://paa2013.princeton.edu/). After logging into the
site, authors will requested to (1) enter the title, author(s),
and a short (150-word) abstract; and (2) upload an
extended (2-4 page) abstract or completed paper (either in
Adobe PDF or Microsoft Word format). Authors may
have their paper/abstract considered by two organizers,
but they must indicate their first and second choices on
the submission form. They also must indicate whether or
not they would like their paper to be considered for a
poster session. No participant may appear on the PAA
program more than twice.
The deadline for submitting papers/abstracts is 11:59
PM (Pacific Time) on September 21, 2012.
The following sessions are of special interest to
applied demographers:
Applied Demography Sessions (Topic 11)
Session 1101 – “Applied Demography Posters”
(Organizer: William O'Hare, independent consultant,
[email protected]). For more details, please see
Dr. O’Hare’s article on page 2.
Photos by Kelvin Pollard, Population Reference Bureau (PRB).
2 Population Association of America Applied Demography Newsletter (September 2012)
COMMITTEE ON APPLIED DEMOGRAPHY
2012 - 2013 OFFICERS
(Through the Conclusion of the 2013 PAA Annual Meeting)
William P. O’Hare, Independent Consultant (CHAIR)
David Egan-Robertson, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Jack Baker, University of New Mexico
Alexa K. Jones-Puthoff, U.S. Census Bureau
Session 1102 – “Population Projections” (Organizer: Jennifer M. Ortman, U.S. Census Bureau,
Session 1103 – “Small-Area Population Estimates” (Organizer: Alexa Jones-Puthoff, U.S. Census Bureau,
Session 1104 –“Social Media and Demographics” (Organizer: Tom E. Godfrey, Decision Demographics,
Other Sessions of Potential Interest Session 1003 (under Topic 10, Data and Methods) – “Small Area and Small Domain Methods in Demography”
(Organizer: Bethany DeSalvo, U.S. Census Bureau, [email protected]).
Session 1004 (under Topic 10, Data and Methods) – “Statistical, Spatial, and Network Methods” (Organizer: Scott M.
Lynch, Princeton University, [email protected]).
Session 1005 (under Topic 10, Data and Methods) – “Using Linked Data from Separate Sources” (Organizer: Victoria A.
Velkoff, U.S. Census Bureau, [email protected]).
Other Submissions (Topic 12) Session 1201 – Other Topics – please submit only if no other session is appropriate (Organizer: Christine A.
Bachrach, Duke University and University of Maryland, [email protected]).
Session 1202 – Poster Sessions (Organizer: Duncan Thomas, Duke University, [email protected]). Please use for
poster submissions that might not be appropriate for Session 1101, “Applied Demography Posters.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: There might be other sessions of interest to many applied demographers. A complete list, along with more details about the submission process, is available at the 2013 Annual Program website (http://paa2013.princeton.edu).
NEW APPLIED DEMOGRAPHY POSTER SESSION FOR 2013 PAA MEETING By William P. O’Hare Independent Consultant and Chair, PAA Committee on Applied Demography
I want to draw your attention to a new facet of the PAA program for the 2013 conference. The 2013 PAA program offers a special
session for poster submissions in applied demography. It is Session 1101, listed under the “Applied Demography” topic on page 12
of the 2013 PAA Call for Papers. The full document is available online at http://paa2013.princeton.edu/hps/CallForPapers2013.pdf.
This new initiative is the result of the Committee on Applied Demography’s work with the PAA 2013 Conference program
committee in an attempt to provide new opportunities to increase involvement in the PAA program for two groups of researchers.
The first group consists of applied demographers who work in organizations that generally do not produce the kind of academic
papers that typically get accepted into regular PAA conference sessions. We believe a poster session may be more appropriate for
presenting the kind of work being done in many non-academic environments. The second group is made up of graduate students or
newly-minted PhDs who have an interest in applied demography.
We hope this special poster session for people in applied demography will provide an opportunity for such researchers to get more
involved in the PAA conference. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me ([email protected]).
Bill O’Hare
Chair, PAA Committee on Applied Demography
3 Population Association of America Applied Demography Newsletter (September 2012)
Applied Demography – Call for Submissions
APPLIED DEMOGRAPHERS… Do you have some earth-shattering research? Have you got a groundbreaking publication that’s just been released? Are you looking to hire a cracker-jack research assistant?
HOW ABOUT SHARING THIS INFORMATION WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES? Short articles, book reviews, blurbs of upcoming (or recently released) publications, job announcements…they’re all welcome. We also request contact information (in case we need to reach you to clarify something). Please send all submissions to:
Kelvin Pollard, Editor, Applied Demography, Population Reference Bureau (PRB), 1875 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 520, Washington, DC 20009-5728 (phone: 202-939-5424; fax: 202-328-3937; e-mail: [email protected])
Remember, Applied Demography is YOUR newsletter! Help make it great!
2012 SOUTHERN DEMOGRAPHIC ASSOCIATION MEETINGS SET FOR COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG
Founded a quarter century after the 1607 settlement of nearby Jamestown, Williamsburg, Va., is considered among
America’s most historic cities. It served as Virginia’s colonial capital from 1699 through 1780, making it one of the centers of
political activity in the years leading to the American Revolution. The College of William and Mary, established in 1693, is
the country’s second oldest higher-education institution in the United States (only Harvard, founded in 1636, is older). The
restored historical area of the city, Colonial Williamsburg, is a popular tourist destination.
Williamsburg will have a different set
of tourists this fall, when it hosts the
2012 annual Southern Demographic
Association meeting October 10-12.
The SDA is a national scientific and
educational organization of
professionals and students with
interests in demography and
population studies. Topics of interest
cover the world, as well as any
region, country, or subnational area.
The preliminary program (as of
August 28) is now available online at
http://sda-demography.org/SDA%20Preliminary%20Program%202012%20-%2028%20Aug.pdf.
Pre-registration for the meetings is US$205; full-time students may register for US$105. Included in the registration are: (1)
attendance and participation at all sessions; (2) one luncheon event; (3) a no-host reception and group dinner; and (4) SDA
membership for 2013, including Volume 32 of the SDA’s professional journal Population Research and Policy Review.
Participants can register for the meetings (or join SDA for 2013 if they are unable to attend) by visiting the SDA meeting
registration page at http://sda-demography.org/join/JoinSDA.php. Members register for the meeting via a web form, and they
will have the option of paying by credit card via the online service PayPal (which involves an additional US$2.50 handling
fee), or mailing the SDA a check. (Members choosing the “web/credit card” option will be taken to PayPal’s website to
complete the payment.) The SDA requests that participants use the web payment option only if they intend to use their credit
card to make an immediate payment. SDA urges that persons interested in attending the meetings please pre-register.
HOTEL INFORMATION: The Williamsburg Hospitality House (located just two blocks from Colonial Williamsburg and
across the street from the College of William and Mary) is the official hotel for this year’s conference. Participants can make
their reservations by either (1) booking their rooms online by going to the 2012 SDA meeting web page
(http://sda-demography.org/sda_2012_meeting.php) and clicking on the “Hotel Registration” link, or (2) calling the hotel
directly at 1-800-932-9192. The room rates are US$96 (plus local taxes) per night for single or double occupancy. SDA urges
all participants to make their reservations as early as possible.
EDITOR’S NOTE: For further information about the meetings or the hotel, interest persons can visit the 2012 SDA meeting web page (http://sda-demography.org/sda_2012_meeting.php).
4 Population Association of America Applied Demography Newsletter (September 2012)
2012 WORLD DATA SHEET: FUTURE POPULATION GROWTH, EFFECT OF CHRONIC DISEASES AMONG HIGHLIGHTS
Taken from Population Reference Bureau webinar and press release
Nearly all future population growth will be in the world’s less developed
countries, and the poorest of these countries will see the greatest percentage
increase, according to Carl Haub, senior demographer at the Washington,
D.C.-based Population Reference Bureau (PRB) and co-author of PRB’s
2012 World Population Data Sheet.
Even though declines in birth rates have been virtually universal across
countries, some of the poorest countries have shown little if any decline.
“What we are left with is rapid population growth in countries that can least
afford it,” said Haub during a July 19 webinar to mark the release of the
annual report, which marks its 50th anniversary this year.
In contrast, developed countries as a whole will experience little or no
population growth in this century, and much of that growth will be from
immigration from less developed countries. Europe is likely to be the first
world region in history to see long-term population decline by 2050, largely
as a result of low fertility. But this slight size change hides a dramatic shift
toward countries with unprecedented shares of elderly people, Haub noted.
He compared Tanzania and Spain to show the clear contrasts between less developed and more developed countries,
known as “the demographic divide.” The two countries have almost the same population size today: Tanzania’s
population is 48 million and Spain’s is 46 million. But Tanzania has a youthful population, with 45 percent of
Tanzanians under age 15. In contrast, Spain has only 15 percent of its population under age 15.
Projections to 2050 for the population ages 65 and older show an even larger divide, according to Haub. Tanzania’s older
population will change only slightly, from 3 percent now to 4 percent in 2050. But Spain’s 65-and-over population will
nearly double, from 17 percent in 2012 to 33 percent in 2050. The elderly share of Tanzania’s population “will barely
grow while in Spain one-third of the population will be elderly by 2050,” he pointed out.
Differences in each country’s age structure and fertility level have enormous implications for each country’s future size.
Tanzania has 1.5 million more births each year than Spain. By 2050, Tanzania’s population is projected to nearly triple
to reach 138 million, while “any growth in Spain is likely to come mainly from immigration,” he said. In Europe births
and deaths are “just about in balance,” while in less developed countries births far outnumber deaths, reflecting a large
share of young people in their childbearing years and much higher birth rates.
The population in the United States also is beginning to age rapidly and grow more slowly. “The U.S. non-Hispanic
white population looks like a European country, with dwindling numbers of youth,” said Haub. With a higher birth rate
and more youth, Hispanics and other minorities “keep the U.S. population young.” Women in the United States now
average 1.9 children, down from 2.1 children several years ago. In Haub’s opinion this decline reflects the recent
economic recession and “will probably turn around when the economy improves.”
Chronic Diseases Like Cancer and Diabetes Taking Growing Toll Worldwide
This year’s Data Sheet has a special focus on chronic or noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular
disease, cancers, diabetes, and respiratory diseases. While developing countries are typically still battling infectious
diseases like tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and malaria, NCDs are now the leading cause of death in all world regions except
sub-Saharan Africa, reported Wendy Baldwin, PRB’s president and CEO.
While the number of people suffering and dying from NCDs will continue to increase around the world over the next
several decades, the greatest increases are expected in low-income countries. Even in sub-Saharan Africa, NCDs will
account for almost half of all deaths by 2030.
Because NCDs in developing countries “strike earlier in life than in wealthier countries,” they may affect breadwinners,
putting “a greater burden on families,” said Baldwin. In South Asia the mean age of first heart attack is six years earlier
than the rest of the world. The prolonged nature of NCD-related illnesses also “creates massive burdens on health care
systems,” she said.
(Continued on next page)
5 Population Association of America Applied Demography Newsletter (September 2012)
YOU DON’T NEED TO WAIT FOR THE NEXT NEWSLETTER TO COME OUT!
LEARN MORE ABOUT APPLIED DEMOGRAPHY ACTIVITIES IN
REAL TIME!
JOIN THE
APPLIED DEMOGRAPHY YAHOO GROUP
For Details, Contact Shelley Lapkoff
Four behavioral risk factors account for most NCDs: tobacco use, unhealthy diet, insufficient physical activity, and
harmful use of alcohol. These behaviors “are often exacerbated by urban living and the developing world is the
urbanizing world,” noted Baldwin.
But these are behaviors that can be changed. “There are many examples of effective programs but programs need to be
tailored to specific settings,” she said. Targeting youth and adolescence when behaviors such as alcohol and tobacco use
begin is one of the most cost-effective approaches and “reaps benefits for decades.” In Baldwin’s view, it is “preferable
to support positive behaviors early in life rather than wait a few decades and try to change entrenched habits.”
From 7 Billion to 8 Billion in 12 Years?
World population reached 7 billion in 2011, and now totals almost 7.1 billion. The Data Sheet clearly illustrates a
continuing rapid expansion in world population. Sub-Saharan Africa will grow at the fastest rate and is projected to add a
“truly astounding” 1.2 billion people by 2050, according to Haub. With a current population of 4.3 billion, Asia will
likely experience a much smaller proportional increase than Africa, but will still add about 1 billion people by 2050—
determined in large part by what happens in China and India. Latin America and the Caribbean is the developing region
with the smallest proportional growth expected by 2050, from 599 million today to 740 million, largely due to fertility
declines in several of its largest countries such as Brazil and Mexico.
When will world population reach 8 billion? “Quite likely within 12 years” of reaching 7 billion, said Haub. The timing
depends on what happens to birth rates in developing countries and the availability of family planning, he explained.
While there is a strong desire for more than two children in many countries, there are many women—particularly women
in the poorest share of their country’s population—who want to limit or space their children but do not have access to
family planning.
Other highlights from the 2012 World Population Data Sheet:
Worldwide, the total fertility rate (TFR, or average number of children per woman) is 2.4., and 4.4 in the poorest
countries. TFRs range from a low of 1.1 in countries such as Latvia and Taiwan, to a high of 7.1 in Niger.
To further illustrate the slower growth and rapid aging in the U.S. population: Between 2010 and 2011, the number of
people under age 18 declined by 190,000, while the number of people ages 65 and older increased by 917,000.
American women now average 1.9 children, down from 2.1. children several years ago.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The 2012 World Population Data Sheet and related materials—including the July 19 webinar, an interactive map, a video, and a series of fact sheets and graphics—are available at www.prb.org/Publications/Datasheets/2012/world-population-data-sheet.aspx.
6 Population Association of America Applied Demography Newsletter (September 2012)
NEW KIDS COUNT REPORT: DESPITE ECONOMIC DECLINES, PROGRESS IN CHILD EDUCATION AND HEALTH Taken from Annie E. Casey Foundation press release
The past several years have been ones of both promising progress for the nation’s children, according to data released
by the Baltimore-based Annie E. Casey Foundation in its 2012 KIDS COUNT Data Book: While children’s academic
achievement and health improved in most states, their economic well-being continued to decline.
Over the period of roughly 2005 to 2011, the improvements in
children’s health and education include a 20 percent decrease in
the number of kids without health insurance; a 16 percent drop
in the child and teen death rate; an 11 percent reduction in the
rate of high school students not graduating in four years; and an
8 percent reduction in the proportion of eighth-graders scoring
less than proficient in math.
Yet the Data Book indicates kids and families nationwide are
still struggling economically in the wake of the recession. In
2010, one-third of youths had parents without secure
employment — an increase of 22 percent, or about 4 million
children, in just two years. From 2005 to 2010, the number of
children living in poverty rose by 2.4 million.
“This year’s findings reveal signs of hope in the midst of tough economic times for millions of families across the
country,” said Patrick McCarthy, the Casey Foundation’s president and CEO. “While we’ve made progress in some
important areas, we must work together to make sure every child, not just a select few, has the opportunity to succeed.
We can help children reach their full potential by ensuring they stay on track in school and grow up healthy in strong
financially stable families surrounded by supportive communities.”
The Casey Foundation revamped the Data Book this year with a broader index of 16 indicators of child well-being,
organized into four categories: Economic Well-Being, Education, Health, and Family and Community. Previous annual
rankings were based on just 10 indicators; the new index reflects the tremendous advances in child development research
since the first KIDS COUNT Data Book in 1990. The report also ranks states in each of the four categories.
“The data reveal that there is still much to be done to improve the prospects for the next generation,” said Laura
Speer, the Casey Foundation’s associate director for policy reform and data. “They also show that a child’s success
depends not only on individual, family and community resources, but also on the state where he or she grows up.”
Among the findings, the three most populous states ranked in the bottom half in terms of overall child well-being:
California, the most populous state, is ranked at number 41, Texas at number 44, and New York at number 29.
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Vermont rank highest in overall child well-being, while Nevada, New Mexico,
and Mississippi rank lowest in this year’s Data Book. A few other noteworthy state developments:
Eight of the 10 most populous states are in the bottom half of the overall rankings.
In 36 states and the District of Columbia, at least one in three children lived in households that pay more than
30 percent of their income on housing costs.
The number of fourth-graders scoring less than proficient in reading dropped in 35 states and the District of
Columbia, with Maryland and Alabama seeing the greatest improvement.
Child poverty rates rose in 43 states, ranging from New Hampshire’s 10 percent rise to Mississippi’s 33
percent.
Vermont and Virginia led among 47 states that saw their child and teen death rates decline, with decreases of
46 percent and 30 percent, respectively. The District of Columbia saw a 36 percent drop.
(Continued on next page)
7 Population Association of America Applied Demography Newsletter (September 2012)
The Data Book also highlights major disparities among American children along racial and ethnic lines. Even as
children of color grow in numbers, representing the majority of U.S. births, they continue to lag behind their white
counterparts by almost every measure:
In 2010, American Indian (49 percent) and black (49 percent) children were nearly twice as likely as their
white counterparts (25 percent) to have no parent with secure employment.
While 58 percent of white fourth-graders had yet to achieve reading proficiency in 2011, more than 80
percent of their Latino, African-American, and American Indian classmates lagged in this area.
While only 6 percent of white children had no health insurance in 2010, more than twice as many American
Indian and Latinos shared the same plight (18 percent and 14 percent, respectively).
In 2010, 66 percent of black youths lived in single-parent families, exceeding their American Indian (52
percent), Latino (41 percent), white (24 percent), and Asian (16 percent) peers.
The KIDS COUNT Data Book includes the latest data on child well-being for every state, the District of Columbia and
the nation. This information is available in the KIDS COUNT Data Center, which also contains the most recent national,
state and local data on hundreds of other measures of child well-being. The Data Center allows users to create rankings,
maps and graphs for use in publications and on websites, and to view real-time information on mobile devices.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Through the KIDS COUNT Data Center, users can download the 2012 KIDS COUNT Data Book, access hundreds of other measures of child well-being, and view real-time information on portable devices. Users can visit the Data Center at http://datacenter.kidscount.org.
UPCOMING PENN STATE SYMPOSIUM TO FOCUS ON EMERGING RESEARCH METHODS
“Emerging Methods in Family Issues” will be the focus of Penn State’s 20th Annual Symposium on Family Issues, to be
held October 8-9, 2012, on the University Park campus. The Symposium is known for an interdisciplinary approach to
topics of interest to family scholars as well as a focus on policies.
Advances in research on families will rely on innovations in design, measurement, data collection, and data analysis that
allow researchers to capture the multi-level complexities of family systems. Methods for studying families are often drawn
from research focused on individuals. A theme throughout the symposium will be whether and to what extent the same
kinds of methods can be applied across levels of analysis—from individuals, to pairs of family members (dyads), to larger
family groups. In considering this issue, speakers will address the question of whether new and/or alternative approaches
are needed to address the complexities of family phenomena.
The symposium will focus on four methodological issues: strategies for quantitative analysis of family development and
change; approaches to analyzing families as systems; approaches to measuring family dynamics; and new directions in the
implementation and evaluation of family-focused social policies and preventive interventions.
The Symposium is supported annually by a grant from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and
Human Development, as well as departments and centers at Penn State. For more information and to register, visit the
symposium website (www.pop.psu.edu/events/national-symposium-on-family-issues), or contact Carolyn Scott
WEBSITE OF INTEREST: APPLIED DEMOGRAPHY TOOLBOX
Applied demographers may be interested in a website developed by Eddie Hunsinger, currently Alaska’s state
demographer. The site, “Applied Demography Toolbox” (www.demog.berkeley.edu/~eddieh/toolbox.html) is a
collection of applied demography programs, scripts, spreadsheets, databases, and texts that data users can use (and re-
use) to carry out demographic research and modeling. The site also links to related articles, largely to describe methods.
Persons interested in using, sharing, or reproducing information or ideas from the linked files should make sure that they
cite the respective source. Anyone with questions, recommendations, or additions to the site (or those who find the site
useful) can contact Dr. Hunsinger at [email protected].
8 Population Association of America Applied Demography Newsletter (September 2012)
KATHERINE R. SMITH APPOINTED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COPAFS Taken from COPAFS press release
On August 17, the board of directors of the Washington, D.C.-based Council of Professional Associations on Federal
Statistics (COPAFS) announced the appointment of Katherine R. Smith as executive director, to take effect October 1.
Smith comes to COPAFS from the American Farmland Trust (AFT) where she is the chief economist and vice president
for programs. Prior to her position at AFT, she worked for 20 years in progressively responsible positions at the
Economic Research Service (ERS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including as administrator for her last five
years. ERS is one of the 14 principal statistical agencies of the United States Government.
In announcing the appointment, Dr. Felice Levine, chair of the COPAFS board, indicated that the “board is pleased that
Dr. Smith will lead COPAFS as the next executive director. As COPAFS continues to work to advance federal statistics,
a vibrant federal statistical system, high quality data, and robust data use, we will benefit immeasurably from the
expertise and experience that Kitty will provide.”
Smith is an active member of the American Agricultural Economics Association (AAEA) and the Northeastern
Agricultural and Resource Economics Association (NAREA). A Fellow of AAEA, she served as an elected member of
the board of directors and an elected member of the AAEA Foundation. She has also served as co‐editor of the Review of
Agricultural Economics. In June 2012, she received the Outstanding Public Service through Economics Award from the
NAREA. She obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, College Park in agricultural and resource economics.
Smith succeeds Edward Spar, who has served as executive director since 1992. Spar retires at the end of December,
allowing for an effective transition for COPAFS.
EDITOR’S NOTE: More information about COPAFS, its mission, and its activities is available at www.copafs.org.
IN JEOPARDY: U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VOTES TO ELIMINATE ACS Taken from “Government and Public Affairs Update,” PAA Affairs (Spring/Summer 2012)
On May 10, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill, H.R. 5326, to fund the Census Bureau and other federal
agencies in Fiscal Year 2013 (FY13). During the debate, Rep. Daniel Webster (R-Fla.) offered an amendment to
ELIMINATE funding for the American Community Survey (ACS). The House passed the Webster amendment by a
vote of 232-190. In addition, the House accepted an amendment by voice vote offered by Rep. James Lankford (R-
Okla.), making participation in the ACS voluntary.
In response to this action, PAA joined more than 500 national, state, and local organizations, including the U.S.
Conference of Mayors, International Council of Shopping Centers, and National Education Association, in signing a
letter to the U.S. Senate, expressing alarm about the House actions and urging that chamber to support the ACS when it
considers S.2323, its version of the FY13 Commerce, Justice, Science appropriations bill. The letter is posted at:
www.thecensusproject.org/letters/2012-05-18_Senate_Census_Budget_Ltr-SenateAppropriations-Final-Signed.pdf.
PAA has issued several related action alerts on this issue and is participating in meetings with key members of the
House and Senate to help ensure the final funding bill does not include these ACS-related provisions. In addition,
editorials in several prominent newspapers—including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, and
USA Today—have criticized the House’s action. Other columns, op-ed pieces, and blogs have been written in support of
the ACS. (The Census Project, an initiative representing stakeholder organizations, has posted these articles and links
online at: www.thecensusproject.org/Web%20site/06-11-2012%20Major-News-Links-on-House-Cutting-ACS1.pdf).
EDITOR’S NOTE: Stakeholders can keep up with developments on this and related issues through PAA’s Government and Public Affairs Committee (www.populationassociation.org/government-affairs), and can get on the list to receive news and action alerts by sending an e-mail with their contact information to PAA’s Member Services ([email protected]). Additional information on developments is available through The Census Project (www.censusproject.org), an initiative sponsored by the Communications Consortium Media Center in Washington, D.C.
9 Population Association of America Applied Demography Newsletter (September 2012)
ANNOUNCEMENT: SPECIALIST MEETING ON SPATIAL THINKING ACROSS THE COLLEGE CURRICULUM
The Center for Spatial Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) (http://spatial.ucsb.edu) and the
Spatial Intelligence and Learning Center (www.spatiallearning.org) will co-sponsor a specialist meeting, “Spatial
Thinking Across the College Curriculum,” December 10-11, 2012, at the Upham Hotel in Santa Barbara, Calif.
There is now convincing evidence that spatial abilities are related to both success and participation in STEM disciplines.
More generally, there is an increasing recognition of the importance of spatiality as a unifier of academic disciplines,
including the social sciences, arts, and humanities, sometimes referred to as a “spatial turn.” But it is also widely
acknowledged that spatial thinking is not fostered in our educational system and that current practice depends more on
selection of the most able students for spatially demanding disciplines than on fostering the spatial intelligence of all
students. This meeting will bring together cognitive scientists, disciplinary experts, and college administrators to
examine how to best educate spatial thinking at the college level. An overarching goal will be to prioritize a research
agenda to evaluate current approaches to spatial education, fill gaps in our knowledge, and consider how a curriculum in
spatial thinking can best be implemented at the college level.
The two-day meeting will include invited plenary presentations by experts on challenges of spatial thinking in different
disciplines; cognitive analyses of spatial thinking processes; and current best practices in educating spatial thinking. In
smaller breakout sessions, disciplinary experts, cognitive scientists, and college administrators will work together to
identify the current state of our understanding of spatial thinking; identify gaps in our knowledge; and identify priorities
for both research and practice in educating spatial thinkers at the college level.
Specific questions to be addressed include:
What are the best current practices in spatial education at the college level?
What is the role of technologies, such as geographic information systems and virtual environment technologies, in
developing spatial thinking skills?
Can we identify a set of general spatial skills that are relevant to spatial thinking across several disciplines?
Are spatial skills best trained in the context of a discipline or in a more general context? For example, if a student is
taught to imagine cross sections in the context of a geology course, does this skill transfer to imagining sections in
engineering or biology?
What are the connections between “spatial thinking” courses and curricula organized for disciplines? For example,
do all geography or geometry courses naturally or automatically support spatial thinking processes?
What are learning outcomes for spatial thinking curricula, and what form should assessment take?
What are the administrative challenges and opportunities for implementing spatial thinking courses and programs at
the college level?
Thus far, confirmed plenary speakers include: Peter Bol (Harvard University); David DiBiase (ESRI, Inc.); Roger
Downs and Lynn Liben (Pennsylvania State University); Sheryl Sorby (Ohio State University); John Wilson (University
of Southern California); and the organizers: Michael Goodchild, Mary Hegarty, and Donald Janelle (UCSB); Nora
Newcombe and Thomas Shipley (Temple University); and Diana Sinton (University of Redlands). The organizers
anticipate hosting 30 scholars and academic leaders from a broad range of disciplines and from different traditions in
research and teaching to share their perspectives on the integration of spatial thinking into undergraduate education.
Call for Applications
To respond to this announcement, please send a two-page résumé and a two-page position paper discussing your interest
in these issues to Mary Hegarty ([email protected]) by September 24, 2012. Participants will be selected by the
organizing committee and notified by October 12. Subject to approval, limited funding for travel and accommodation
costs will be available to invited participants.
EDITOR’S NOTE: For more information, interested persons should visit the conference website at www.spatial.ucsb.edu/events/meetings.php.
10 Population Association of America Applied Demography Newsletter (September 2012)
POSITION OPENINGS: UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA Assistant or Associate or Full Professor, Population Studies/Demography Tenure-Track or Tenured Faculty Positions (Requisition Number 179661)
The University of Minnesota invites applications for two or more open-rank, full-time, tenure-track or tenured
faculty positions. We seek demographers or population researchers who can actively contribute to the research and
training missions of the University, the Minnesota Population Center (MPC), and its affiliated colleges and academic
units. For each position, the tenure home will be in Applied Economics, Geography, History, Public Affairs, Public
Health (Epidemiology and Community Health and Health Policy and Management), Sociology or another unit affiliated
with the MPC.
Responsibilities We seek demographers with established or emerging lines of high-quality population research. That research may be on
any number of substantive areas within demography including (but not limited to) fertility, mortality, migration,
historical demography, labor force dynamics, household and family dynamics, education and human capital, population
and the environment, neighborhoods and urbanization, aging, and population approaches to health disparities and health
policy. Successful applicants will be expected to continue and expand their own independent research initiatives and to
work with others to cultivate new interdisciplinary collaborations. Regardless of their substantive research focus, we
anticipate that successful applicants will show potential for obtaining external funding (e.g., from NIH or NSF) to
support their independent and collaborative research projects. Applicants should be prepared to advise doctoral and post-
doctoral students and to teach courses on (a) formal demographic methods and (b) some of the following topics: fertility,
mortality, migration, world population issues and problems, demography and public policy, economic demography, and
advanced quantitative methods. Appointments will be made at the appropriate rank depending upon qualifications and
experience and consistent with collegiate and University policy.
Required/Preferred Qualifications Requirements include: (1) a doctoral degree in demography or a discipline closely aligned with population research (e.g.,
economics, geography, public health, sociology); (2) demographic research and training experiences; (3) a strong
publication record in relevant peer-reviewed journals; (4) evidence of potential for obtaining independent external
research funding; and (5) evidence of potential for teaching graduate and undergraduate courses on substantive areas
within demography including (but not limited to) fertility, mortality, migration, historical demography, labor force
dynamics, household and family dynamics, education and human capital, population and the environment,
neighborhoods and urbanization, aging, and population approaches to health disparities and health policy.
Program/Unit Description
MPC is a University-wide Center that provides a vibrant and highly collaborative interdisciplinary environment for
population researchers from many disciplinary backgrounds (www.pop.umn.edu). With core support from NICHD, the
center provides shared infrastructure for demographic research and training and coordinates collaborative research across
the University. MPC researchers (who come from 26 academic units across 10 colleges in the University) have long
worked to improve the shared data infrastructure that underlies all demographic research. The methods we pioneered for
recovering, integrating, documenting, and disseminating census and survey data are transforming cross-national and
cross-temporal demographic analysis: MPC data infrastructure is shifting the landscape of population research by
opening new opportunities for dynamic, comparative, and multilevel analyses. Although best known for its large-scale
demographic data infrastructure projects, MPC houses numerous substantive, interdisciplinary research projects on
population, health, education, the environment, the labor market, and related issues. The University of Minnesota
features several very strong social science units and has one of the top public health schools in the country. As a result, in
the past decade MPC’s substantive research portfolio has expanded to rival those of larger and longer-established
population research centers.
The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its program, facilities, and employment without
regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status,
veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. MPC and its affiliated units support the work-
life balance of their faculty and staff, have a history of accommodating dual academic career couples, and encourage
applications from women and members of under-represented groups.
(Continued on next page)
11 Population Association of America Applied Demography Newsletter (September 2012)
Application Instructions
Applications received by October 15, 2012 will receive full consideration. However, candidates are encouraged to apply
before this deadline; applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning in early September and continuing at least
through the middle of January 2013. These positions are available beginning August 2013; they will remain open until
they are filled. The salaries for these positions are competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications.
Please apply online via the University’s Employment System at
http://employment.umn.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=105011. Applications must be submitted online. To be
considered for one of these positions, please click on “APPLY FOR THIS POSTING” and follow the instructions. You
will have an opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach materials related to your candidacy,
including 1) a cover letter; 2) curriculum vitae; and 3) two samples of written research.
In addition to the material submitted via the employment system, applicants must submit the following depending on the
position sought:
TENURE-TRACK Position: Arrange for THREE letters of recommendation to be sent directly to MPC. Letters of
recommendation may be sent by e-mail to [email protected] or mailed to:
Faculty Search
Minnesota Population Center
50 Willey Hall
225 19th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55455
TENURED Position: E-mail a list of THREE referees and their contact information to [email protected].
If you have any questions about the positions or the application process, please contact us via e-mail at
[email protected] or phone the MPC office at 612-624-5818.
CALL FOR PAPERS: POPULATION RESEARCH AND POLICY REVIEW SPECIAL ISSUE Population Perspectives on Sexual Minority Status
Call for Papers: Population Research and Policy Review, special issue
Topic: Population Perspectives on Sexual Minority Status
Editors: Bridget Gorman, along with Guest Editor Justin Denney (of Rice University)
Population Research and Policy Review (PRPR), the journal of the Southern Demographic Association, is seeking
papers for a special issue that explores population issues relating to sexual minority status. Although population-related
scholarship on LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) groups has been growing in recent years, information to
date is still quite limited. Our intent with this special issue is to highlight empirical and theoretical manuscripts that
make a novel contribution to scholarship in this area of study. In particular, we are interested in papers that describe and
investigate the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of LGBT populations, as well as papers that explore how
sexual minority status relates to health status, behaviors, mortality, and medical care use; family structure and
interpersonal relationships; stigma, discrimination, and violence; and other population-related issues that readers of
PRPR would find of interest.
Only completed papers will be considered, and all submitted papers will go through the standard peer review process for
PRPR submissions. Submitted papers may be either empirical or theoretical in nature. The call for papers will close on
November 1, 2012; no papers received after that date will be considered for the special issue, although they will be
received for possible publication in a regular issue. For all inquiries on this special issue, please contact Bridget Gorman
([email protected]) and Justin Denney ([email protected]).
12 Population Association of America Applied Demography Newsletter (September 2012)
LEAVING OUR HEARTS IN SAN FRANCISCO HIGHLIGHTS OF PAA 2012
Activity at the Population Reference Bureau display
(top photo) and during one of the poster sessions
(bottom photo).
.
THE EXHIBIT AREA As always, the exhibit area
buzzed with activity during the meetings.
APPLIED DEMOGRAPHY RECEPTION
PAA’s Committee on Applied Demography held a reception on Thursday evening, May 3. As seems to be the case every year, participants had a very good time. The committee extends a hearty thank you to the Annie
E. Casey Foundation, the Population Reference Bureau, and PAA’s Committee on Government Affairs
for co-sponsoring the event.
Laura Speer (Annie E. Casey Foundation), Wendy Baldwin (Population Reference
Bureau), and CAD chair Bill O’Hare all welcomed the participants.
WELCOME BACK TO THE “CITY BY THE BAY”
…as nicknamed in Tony Bennett’s immortal 1962 standard (which marks its 50-year anniversary in 2012!)
Participants at the reception enjoying themselves.
AT THE PAA MIXER Held the night before the formal PAA sessions, PAA’s Annual Mixer provides a time for getting
together with old friends…and possibly meeting some new ones!
13 Population Association of America Applied Demography Newsletter (September 2012)
This year’s keynote speakers, from left to right: Warren Brown
(Cornell University), Ken Hodges (Nielsen), and Clarissa Ozuna
(University of Texas at San Antonio).
San Francisco’s Embarcadero. (Like many
streets in the city, its name is carved on the
sidewalk.)
Union Square downtown—near the PAA hotel.
One of San Francisco’s top upscale clothiers, Wilkes Bashford (whose regular customers include
former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown). Lorrin Mullins and Jeff Garelick (L-R, center photo)
provided impeccable service to visitors John McHenry (Demographic Data for Decision Making,
Inc.) and Kelvin Pollard (Population Reference Bureau) (L-R, right photo).
Passing through two of the city’s best-known sections—Chinatown (left photo) and
North Beach (right photo).
All photos courtesy of Kelvin Pollard, Population Reference Bureau.
AROUND THE CITY Even with its many hills, San Francisco is considered one of America’s most walkable cities, and it certainly
was the case in these photos… all accessed via shoe leather (smile)!
THAT’S ALL, FOLKS! Until 2013 in New Orleans!
PAA President Daniel Lichter (left), President-Elect Christine
Bachrach (center) and CAD Chair Bill O’Hare (right) addressed
the participants.
APPLIED DEMOGRAPHY BREAKFAST Held on Friday morning, May 4, this year’s Applied Demography Breakfast
had three keynote speakers: Warren Brown of Cornell University, Ken Hodges of Nielsen, and Clarissa Ozuna, then a Ph.D. student at the University of
Texas at San Antonio. The presenters discussed the history, current activities, and future of applied demography, all in an effort to give younger
demographers a better sense of the field and to learn of ways that CAD can assist them over the next several years.
Ms. Ozuna in particular suggested three possible means of assistance to younger demographers: (1) by providing a forum for graduate students to present at PAA (such as a graduate applied demography section); (2) by
continuing to support other "student-friendly" conferences such as the Southern Demographic Association and the Applied Demography Conference; and (3) by creating more opportunities to collaborate with senior researchers.
The famed Fisherman’s Wharf and one of its best known restaurants,
Alioto’s. Both were referenced in a song titled “Fisherman’s Wharf,”
featured on Peggy Lee’s 1962 album Blues Cross Country.
A trio of San Francisco landmarks: The Transamerica Pyramid, Alcatraz Island (aka “The
Rock”), and the Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill.
An iconic San Francisco sight—a cable car.
(I couldn’t leave out such a photo, could I?)
EDITORIAL INFORMATION Readers are encouraged to suggest topics and to respond to articles in Applied Demography with letters to the editor. Please address all
correspondence to:
Kelvin M. Pollard
Population Reference Bureau (PRB)
1875 Connecticut Avenue NW Suite 520
Washington, DC 20009-5728
202.939.5424 [email protected]
HOW TO SUBSCRIBE
PAA members who wish to subscribe to Applied Demography will
automatically become members of the Applied Demography subgroup until their current subscription expires. To continue membership in the
Applied Demography subgroup (and continue receiving Applied
Demography), please check the “AD Membership” option when renewing your PAA membership online. The newsletter will be available online
to all subscribers; no printed version will be mailed. Those who do not belong to PAA (including librarians, organizations,
and corporations) are requested to fill out the subscription form and return
it to the PAA business office with a check for $10 for each annual subscription. Checks should be payable to the PAA.
Applied Demography is published by the Committee on Applied Demography.
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