December 08, 2025 | News | Workshop

New Research Questions for Climate Change

Successful climate workshop at MPIDR in Rostock

In mid-November, numerous scientists from around the world gathered at the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR) in Rostock to discuss the topic of “Climate Change, Environmental Hazards and Population Dynamics” at a workshop initiated by Risto Conte Keivabu, Ebru Sanlitürk, Daniela Perrotta, Emilio Zagheni and Raya Muttarak (University of Bologna) and the IUSSP Scientific Panel on Population Dynamics under Global Conflict and Climate Change.

Aerial view of flooded area with partially destroyed houses and debris floating in the water.

The aim of the workshop was to jointly discuss how climate change and environmental hazards affect population dynamics. "We wanted to show how demographic trends and social inequalities influence vulnerability to climate risks. And to give participants the opportunity to present and discuss new methods and data for analyzing the links between climate and health, and climate and demography" explains Risto Conte Keivabu, a scientist at the MPIDR. The workshop successfully initiated interdisciplinary dialogue between researchers from the fields of demography, sociology, epidemiology, and climate science. “In a variety of discussions, new connections between the disciplines have grown and several ideas for collaboration have emerged,” reports Conte Keivabu.

There was ample opportunity for exchange and discussion of innovative analytical approaches, particularly regarding the integration of spatial, administrative, and climate data to analyze impacts on outcomes such as migration, fertility, mortality and many others. Participants also took the opportunity to discuss which areas of research in the field of climate and population should be given priority. “The combination of climate data, demographic methods, and health research opens up new joint venues of research to better understand population dynamics in the context of climate change” concludes Conte Keivabu.

Large group of people in a modern building smiling at the camera and posing for a group photo.