Conference brings together population experts in banner year for demographers
As of April 1, 2010 the population of the United States stood at 308,745,538, the U.S. Census Bureau revealed last year.
April 2nd, 2011
10:37 PM ET

Conference brings together population experts in banner year for demographers

Check out CNN.com's complete coverage of the 2010 U.S. Census

There are some conferences you look forward to for the opportunity to absorb the latest trends in your field, share your own findings and immerse yourself in spirited discussion with like-minded colleagues.

For thousands of demographers, sociologists, economists and public health professionals, the annual meeting of the Population Association of America this week in Washington was that kind of event.

The conference brought together academics and professionals in population research and education to share information on topics you'd expect to be of interest to that group: fertility, sexual behavior, race, ethnicity, mortality, race, ethnicity, gender, urbanization, inequality, development and applied demography, to name a few.

The conference comes during a banner year for such experts, whose expertise is in high demand from scholars, analysts and reporters, for help deciphering 2010 census data. Several sessions hit upon prominent themes to come out of the 2010 analysis so far, among them, "Immigrant Integration and Assimilation," "The Context of Cohabiting Unions" and "Baby Boomers Turn 65."

U.S. Hispanic population hits milestone

"The conference is going well - record attendance, interesting sessions and special events," Mary Jo Hoeksema, PAA's director of government and public affairs, said in an enthusiastic e-mail from the conference Saturday. "Congresswoman [Carolyn] Maloney addressed the conferees last night and pledged her support for federal statistical agencies and the importance of collecting accurate data! Our president, Dr. David Lam, gave his address analyzing myths and realities surrounding the post-war world population boom."

A scan of the event's website exhibited the thorough and exacting nature population experts are known for: a list of the conference's 198 sessions organized by topic, program summary or participants, complete with a short bio, contact information and links to the papers for nearly all of the 2,452 registered attendees.

Miss a session? Don't worry, there's an app for your smartphone which lets you view the complete program online.

But the main draw, it seemed, for most was the opportunity to learn from each other.

"I think the conference is an exciting opportunity to meet the scholars whose work I read and admire. I'm also both thrilled and flattered by the opportunity to present my own research," said Ryan Finnegan, a Ph.D. sociology student at Duke University and author of "Racial and Ethnic Inequality in Home Value and Homeownership Dynamics."

"Aside from meeting big name scholars, I enjoy the energy and passion surrounding others' work and new developments in the field," Finnegan said in an e-mail from the conference.

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Filed under: Census
soundoff (32 Responses)
  1. Jeff Frank - Ohio

    Don't buy gas on Fridays....EVER.

    April 2, 2011 at 11:51 pm | Report abuse |
  2. JAZZ

    Two very interesting articles I read: The first being "Baby Boomers turn 65"
    Point 1: With out the baby boomers we would have had a harder time supporting "Social Security"
    Point2: Those baby boomers had many more hundreds of thousands of additional births who made the labor force larger, yet the fertility rate slowed after the baby boomers, meaning less populas to support these boomers in old age
    Point.3:As Medicare/medicaid and the generosity of SS increases the working sector with have a heavier burden to support these programs.

    April 2, 2011 at 11:55 pm | Report abuse |
  3. JAZZ

    Hello testing

    April 3, 2011 at 12:45 am | Report abuse |
  4. JAZZ

    You'll let the FINGER go through, but not me? CNN u really stink sometimes ðŸ™

    April 3, 2011 at 12:50 am | Report abuse |
    • JAZZ

      Good morning MY KITTIES, hope u have fun with this one. I had to break up my second post "Two very interesting articles I read " Continued. Be gentle.

      April 3, 2011 at 2:10 am | Report abuse |
  5. JAZZ

    Two very interesting articles I read continued: "U.S. Hispanic population hits milesto

    April 3, 2011 at 1:25 am | Report abuse |
  6. JAZZ

    Two very interesting articles I read continued: "U.S. "Hispanic population hits milestones"

    April 3, 2011 at 1:26 am | Report abuse |
    • JAZZ

      Point 1: Since 2000 the Hispanic population has grown to finally take 2nd place in the over all national growth in the 2010 census.

      April 3, 2011 at 1:38 am | Report abuse |
  7. JAZZ

    Point 2: Latinos would be the largest of the Hispanic's thus becoming a increased voting bloc, which would translate to voter importance. Note I do remember a spot CNN did at the time of the 2008 Pres. election making that very point on their importance.

    April 3, 2011 at 1:28 am | Report abuse |
  8. JAZZ

    Point .3: Hispanic populations are expected to surpass non-Hispanic populations with in the next decade.
    example: San Antonio TX, Spanish advertisements, TV shows Newspapers, Restaurants, Retailers and Annual Festivals are every where.

    April 3, 2011 at 1:28 am | Report abuse |
    • JAZZ

      Sorry, another point I was going to make on point was that TX is expected to become a Hispanic TX as the population is growing there.

      April 3, 2011 at 2:14 am | Report abuse |
    • JAZZ

      another point I was going to make on point 1 , dam!t I am such a loser. 🙂

      April 3, 2011 at 2:22 am | Report abuse |
  9. JAZZ

    Sorry folks, but don't know what I had in "point 1that " CNN moderators" didn't like but I had to re-type it. The first version was much better, but NOOOOOOOO, I had to stay up for an hour and a half cause I was sooooooo mad they wouldn't let it go through. NA NA NA NA NA NA , got it through u BOOGERS. LOLO, REMEMBER George Carlin "The 8 dirty words" funny stuff , I miss him much. Anyways I digress.

    Note: I asked some one the STUPIDEST question I have ever asked in my life, I was nervous. So sorry buddy.

    April 3, 2011 at 2:04 am | Report abuse |
  10. JAZZ

    I am so tired I give up for the night , good thing I have Monday off too. NIGHT

    April 3, 2011 at 2:15 am | Report abuse |
  11. JAZZ

    Just noticed as of 2:17 am I have 12 out of the 1 responses , "IT'S ALL ABOUT ME" sorry just having some fun, I promise I'll go to sleep now.

    April 3, 2011 at 2:18 am | Report abuse |
  12. JAZZ

    12 out of the 13 responses , GOOD NIGHT ALL

    April 3, 2011 at 2:19 am | Report abuse |
  13. JAZZ

    I am such a loser , I wanted it to be PERFECT CNN , but I will get u next time. POWER TO THE PPL 🙂

    April 3, 2011 at 2:25 am | Report abuse |
  14. ThomasD

    You're a kick in the a$$, Jazz. 🙂

    April 3, 2011 at 8:02 am | Report abuse |
  15. ole lady

    Sounds like you need sleep jazz. Good night. I'm sure it will be better tomorrow.

    April 3, 2011 at 8:28 am | Report abuse |
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