Day of the 7 Billion

On the 31st October the UN predicted that World population would reach 7 billion. To mark this, as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science, in collaboration with the Centre for Global Health, Population and Policy, the University of Southampton and the University of Aberdeen, CPC undertook a number of activities;

In order to engage policy makers and practitioners with the most up to date research on World population patterns and processes, a seminar on 'Understanding population Change in the context of 7 billion' was held at the Department for International Development (DFID), London. Speakers included Prof. Paul Boyle, Chief Executive ESRC, Chris Whitty, Director of Research & Evidence and Chief Scientific Adviser DFID, as well as the most highly esteemed academics in the fields of Demography, Geography, Epidemiology and Social Policy. Attendee's included; Health specialists from HLSP, personnel from the Office for National Statistics, Members of the Local Government Association, representatives from Marie Stopes International, the International Planned Parenthood Foundation, Population Matters, The White Ribbon Alliance and Options.

To view the presentations given at the daytime event click here.

Staff from CPC presented on global population growth at Tauntons College, Southampton Open Day, and held workshop's with students just embarking on A levels in various disciplines. The workshops were developed to show the relevance of demography to many different disciplines, to enhance student knowledge in the area of population growth, to showcase the facilities available at the college, to build on CPC's links with students and staff and to gain some material to display at the debate in Westminster. CPC staff convened workshops in which students undertook web based research then, based on this research, staff worked with the students to produce photographs (later entered into the CPC 7 billion photography competition), posters (displayed at the 7 billion events) and a radio play.

An evening debate was held at Abbey Community Centre in Westminster, aimed at improving demographic literacy in the area of population growth among the general public and School pupils. Chosen to encourage debate, speakers Ian Diamond, Jane Falkingham, Roger Martin (Chairman, Population Matters), 2 students studying A'level Geography and Chair Paul Boyle, gave an overview of the key issues surrounding population growth then opened to the floor for questions. Feed back from the audience that included 20 school students, MP's and the general public was overwhelmingly positive. The sessions were recorded by 'Silverbirch films' who are using the footage in a forthcoming documentary on the issues of population growth and sustainability.

To watch a short video of the evening debate click here.

To view the presentations click here.

To hear the question and answer sessions, click here.

Further interdisciplinary work on 7 Billion is planned for 2012.

Posted 25/11/2011 10:13