Symposium
Demographic and Health Consequences of Violence and Armed Conflict
Organizer: Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR), the Population, Health and Armed Conflict (PHAC) Research Network, International Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP) Scientific Panel on Population Dynamics under Global Conflict and Climate Change
Location: Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR, July 01–02, 2025
Scope
Armed conflict and organized violence profoundly disrupt population structures, health trends, and mobility patterns. Moreover, the tumultuous events of war can make data collection prohibitive, presenting critical challenges for demographic research. Understanding the population and health consequences of violence and armed conflict requires nuanced theoretical frameworks, robust methodological approaches, and benefits greatly from multidisciplinary collaborations and novel statistical methods.
This two-day symposium invites scholars across disciplines, including demography, public health, sociology, political science, and economics, to submit original research examining the short- and long-term impacts of armed conflict and violence on mortality, migration, fertility, the environment, and population health. By fostering dialogue among global experts, this event symposium aims to advance research and provide insights into populations at risk.
We invite contributions that address topics including:
- Health and demographic impacts of violence and displacement
- Short-term disruptions and long-term population consequences
- Methodological innovations for studying populations in conflict settings
- Migration and forced displacement trends and their demographic implications
- Population and health consequences of conflict-related environmental damage
- Intersectional approaches to understanding vulnerable populations in conflict zones
Submission Guidelines
Please use the submission website to submit extended abstracts (2–4 pages) or full papers and a short abstract (250 words) by March 14, 2025 (23:59 CET). Include the paper title, author(s) name(s), affiliation(s), and the contact information of the presenting author. Selected papers will be invited for an oral or poster presentation at the conference.
There are no fees to attend, but participants are expected to cover their travel costs and accommodations. Financial support may be available for presenting students or early career scientists with high-quality submissions and no funding available. Please indicate your request for funding on the submission website.
For inquiries and further information, please contact COVACconference2025@demogr.mpg.de
Important Dates
- Call for Papers Opens: January 29, 2025
- Submission Deadline: March 14, 2025 (23:59 CET)
- Notification of Paper Acceptance: mid-April, 2025
- Symposium Dates: July 1–2, 2025
Organizing Committee
The organizing committee includes the following individuals from the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR), the Population, Health and Armed Conflict (PHAC) Network, and the IUSSP Panel on Population Dynamics under Global Conflict and Climate Change: Diego Alburez-Gutierrez (MPIDR and PHAC), Stephanie Koning (PHAC), Kim Korinek (PHAC), Ebru Sanlitürk (MPIDR), Nathalie Williams (PHAC), Yvette Young (MPIDR and PHAC), Emilio Zagheni (MPIDR and IUSSP).