December 20, 2021 | News | Season’s Greetings

Let’s Take a Break and Look Positively into the Future

© MPIDR

The end of the year always comes much quicker than one thinks – this is especially true for 2021 with a still ongoing pandemic.

COVID-19 continued to have a strong impact on our research agenda: We investigated how the pandemic influences mortality and fertility around the world. Do physical distancing strategies help to prevent the spread of the virus? Are women having harder times than men during the pandemic? These and more questions are addressed in our Corona Blog. The three datasets – one on short term mortality fluctuations, one on short term fertility fluctuations, and one with information on cases, deaths, tests and vaccinations by age and sex – maintained by researchers at our Institute and colleagues worldwide, have also been extended. In December, an MPIDR conference brought together over 100 international researchers to present and discuss recent research on the impact and consequences of the pandemic for family and fertility.

Despite the current situation, we were able to celebrate some highlights: new colleagues arrived, including our Head of Administration, several research scientists, and PhD students. Three researchers associated with our Institute obtained a doctorate, one of them even her second one. We celebrated the Institute’s 25th Anniversary. And the many babies born to our colleagues and friends truly add a joyful note.

Now, during the last month of the year, it is time to take stock but also to relax, time to gather strength for all the new and exciting opportunities 2022 might bring, and time to get together with loved ones to celebrate the Season, to eat, drink and be merry.

With this in mind, we wish you, all our employees, alumni, and friends of the Institute and Demography overall, a very happy holiday season and a Happy New Year.

Best wishes,

Emilio Zagheni and Mikko Myrskylä