Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Sarah Burgard @burgards.bsky.social · 2d

please help us understand what population scientists are experiencing in the #shutdown @popassocamerica.bsky.social

Population Association of America @popassocamerica.bsky.social · 2d

As the federal #shutdown enters week 2, GPAC is monitoring developments and working with partners (@cossa.bsky.social) to address disruptions.

If your research/funding has been affected, share impacts via our portal—your examples help strengthen advocacy for a swift resolution. buff.ly/pIO1QQw

Share Your Research Activities Negatively Affected by Shutdown

www.populationassociation.org

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Population Association of America @popassocamerica.bsky.social · 2d

As the federal #shutdown enters week 2, GPAC is monitoring developments and working with partners (@cossa.bsky.social) to address disruptions.

If your research/funding has been affected, share impacts via our portal—your examples help strengthen advocacy for a swift resolution. buff.ly/pIO1QQw

Share Your Research Activities Negatively Affected by Shutdown

www.populationassociation.org

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Sarah Burgard @burgards.bsky.social · 3d

We have propagated mini monsteras this month at coffee chat, and the snacks are fall-a-rific! Come by if you want to take one home! 🌱 Grown with love by the @um-psc.bsky.social

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Sarah Burgard @burgards.bsky.social · 3d

you won't want to miss this one @um-psc.bsky.social tomorrow - please join if you are able! 🍎🍂

UM Population Studies Center @um-psc.bsky.social · 4d

Rod Little has promised to SING at our PSC Coffee Chat **tomorrow.** Hear about his career in biostats, his recent book, "Seminal Ideas and Controversies in Statistics," plus PSC's famous treats. Join us at 10! @um-src.bsky.social
psc.isr.umich.edu/events/psc-c...

PSC Coffee Chats are monthly, Tuesdays at 10 in the PSC Director’s Bay (ISR Thompson 2116): Oct. 7, Nov. 4, Dec. 2

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UM Population Studies Center @um-psc.bsky.social · 4d

Rod Little has promised to SING at our PSC Coffee Chat **tomorrow.** Hear about his career in biostats, his recent book, "Seminal Ideas and Controversies in Statistics," plus PSC's famous treats. Join us at 10! @um-src.bsky.social
psc.isr.umich.edu/events/psc-c...

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Sarah Burgard @burgards.bsky.social · 11d

Today, friends, learn from Dr. Schechter @um-psc.bsky.social (link takes you to zoom if needed)

UM Population Studies Center @um-psc.bsky.social · 14d

We are thrilled to have Laura Schechter join us Monday to present her Dakar study investigating the extent to which collusion can explain the under-provision of clean sanitation technologies in developing countries. psc.isr.umich.edu/events/zivin... @uwcsde.bsky.social

Imperfect Competition and Sanitation: Evidence from Randomized Auctions in Senegal

Laura Schechter
University of Wisconsin
Sept. 29, 2025
PSC Brown Bag Series 2025
Join us live or on Zoom
ISR (Thompson St.) Room 1430 | Mondays at noon

Rita Hamad @ritahamad.bsky.social · 14d

Latest horrifying news on Trump administration erasing national data: they're ending data collection on food security by Census. Explanation of why this is a big deal: updates.dataindex.us/archive/fors... @npi.ucanr.edu @donmoyn.bsky.social @centeronbudget.bsky.social @popassocamerica.bsky.social

Forsaking Food Security

by Chris Dick and Beth Jarosz How often are Americans concerned that their food will run out before they have money to buy more? Or that they did not have...

updates.dataindex.us

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UM Population Studies Center @um-psc.bsky.social · 14d

We are thrilled to have Laura Schechter join us Monday to present her Dakar study investigating the extent to which collusion can explain the under-provision of clean sanitation technologies in developing countries. psc.isr.umich.edu/events/zivin... @uwcsde.bsky.social

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Population Association of America @popassocamerica.bsky.social · 15d

House Appropriations Committee Advances Key Spending Bills: Rejects Administration’s Proposed Funding Cuts and Praises Population Research buff.ly/9nu03sX

House Appropriations Committee Advances Key Spending Bills

Rejects Administration’s Proposed Funding Cuts and Praises Population Research

buff.ly

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Sarah Patterson @spattersearch.bsky.social · 17d

#PAA2026 deadline in less than two weeks

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Sarah Burgard @burgards.bsky.social · 17d

Go team and plan to join next year 💙💛 @um-psc.bsky.social

UM Population Studies Center @um-psc.bsky.social · 18d

Community is great! 💙
Thanks for coming to the PSC picnic...
@socinequality.bsky.social @joelabriola.bsky.social #PSCPicnic

Nafeesa Andrabi, Alexander Adames, Joe Labriola and Hannah Tessler at the gingham picnic table

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Population Association of America @popassocamerica.bsky.social · 17d

So many reasons to come to #PAA2026: 1) the best place to receive feedback from peers and interdisciplinary scholars 2) hearing latest research, methods, ideas from colleagues 3) the community 🫶 Attendees keep coming back year after year! Submit your work by Oct. 5. buff.ly/3KR6NRM

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UM Population Studies Center @um-psc.bsky.social · 17d

For all population scientists: Join us for open office hours on Zoom Wednesday! PDHP offers stellar mentorship: pdhp.isr.umich.edu/resources/

Resources | Population Dynamics and Health Program

pdhp.isr.umich.edu

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UM Population Studies Center @um-psc.bsky.social · 18d

Community is great! 💙
Thanks for coming to the PSC picnic...
@socinequality.bsky.social @joelabriola.bsky.social #PSCPicnic

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Sarah Burgard @burgards.bsky.social · 19d

Here's the dirt cake I'm bringing, along with some other secret treats for the @um-psc.bsky.social family!

a white flower pot is filled with what looks like dirt and small worms, with a trowel for scooping, but is actually filled with homemade chocolate pudding, cream cheese whip, and gummy worms

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Sarah Burgard @burgards.bsky.social · 19d

Tomorrow!! Olsen Park, 1-4pm, @um-psc.bsky.social annual picnic! Food truck from Saucy Joes with Italian pasta and panini and gelato from 1:30-3:30 - everyone welcome, bring family, games, demography trivia 💙💛

Sarah Burgard @burgards.bsky.social · 20d

thanks so much @lhnicholas.bsky.social

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Sarah Burgard @burgards.bsky.social · 20d

All credit go to the mentors, and to one of mine, the peerless Jim House, who I was honored to honor 💙💛

UM Population Studies Center @um-psc.bsky.social · 20d

🎊 Oh, praise and congratulations to @burgards.bsky.social!! the inaugural James S. House Collegiate Professor of Sociology and Population Studies. Read all about it: myumi.ch/n1qNy

Sarah Burgard
Appointed James S. House Collegiate Professor of Sociology and Population Studies (UM Sociology and Population Studies Center)

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UM Population Studies Center @um-psc.bsky.social · 20d

🎊 Oh, praise and congratulations to @burgards.bsky.social!! the inaugural James S. House Collegiate Professor of Sociology and Population Studies. Read all about it: myumi.ch/n1qNy

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Population Association of America @popassocamerica.bsky.social · 22d

PAA, along with APC, is listed in yesterday's Wall Street Journal @wsj.com recognizing the groups that support the Rally for Medical Research. We look forward to rallying with them today and Thursday. buff.ly/VL9SJyz

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UM Population Studies Center @um-psc.bsky.social · 23d

@sashakillewald.bsky.social in @us.theconversation.com:
"The number of children Americans have affects the gender pay gap only because parenthood decreases women’s wages while increasing men’s wages." @umichstonecid.bsky.social
theconversation.com/us-women-nar...

US women narrowed the pay gap with men by having fewer kids

Two sociologists found that when the pace at which family sizes was shrinking slowed down, starting in the 1990s, progress toward closing the gender pay gap grew sluggish too.

theconversation.com

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Josh Pasek @joshpasek.com · 24d

But here is how his response was covered at the time: thehill.com/homenews/adm...

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Sarah Burgard @burgards.bsky.social · 24d

best caffeine and creative snacks out there, and fascinating guests - join if you can @um-psc.bsky.social !!

UM Population Studies Center @um-psc.bsky.social · 25d

Mark your calendar for this fall's series of coffee chats at @um-psc.bsky.social: Oct. 7, Nov. 4, and Dec. 2, featuring baked goods and brief interviews with friends in population science.
psc.isr.umich.edu/events/psc-c...

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UM Population Studies Center @um-psc.bsky.social · 25d

Mark your calendar for this fall's series of coffee chats at @um-psc.bsky.social: Oct. 7, Nov. 4, and Dec. 2, featuring baked goods and brief interviews with friends in population science.
psc.isr.umich.edu/events/psc-c...

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UM Population Studies Center @um-psc.bsky.social · 29d

New in the Journal of Health Economics: PSC's Hoyt Bleakley investigates whether education gains that result from longer lifespans make a difference in economic well-being: Living longer itself matters much more than that extra schooling. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40885078/

Longevity, Education, and Income: How large is the triangle? - PubMed

While health affects economic development and wellbeing through a variety of pathways, one commonly suggested channel is a "horizon" mechanism in which increased longevity induces additional education...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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UM Population Studies Center @um-psc.bsky.social · 29d

At the Oct. 7 PSC Coffee chat, would you rather hear biostatician Rod Little sing...

1️⃣ <a href="https://poll.blue/p/Rjm83m/1" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a Tom Lehrer cover song about imputation
2️⃣ <a href="https://poll.blue/p/Rjm83m/2" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a sea shanty

📊 Show results

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Population Association of America @popassocamerica.bsky.social · Sep 5

1 month to submit! Your submissions are welcome for the PAA 2026 Annual Meeting and we look forward to a full and rigorous scientific conference next spring in St. Louis! buff.ly/Uu9sG50

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Amy Maxmen, PhD @amymaxmen.bsky.social · Sep 4

🚨The WHO has issued an alert on a potential Ebola outbreak in the Kasai Province of Congo.

I really hope the outbreak doesn't spread bc of how difficult this will be to control without US funds -- plus the harm of travel bans, which are little more than security theatre.

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Sarah Burgard @burgards.bsky.social · Aug 20

Thank you @maggielevenstein.bsky.social and @johnkubale.bsky.social for this great summary and action call in @theconversation.com on #DisappearingData

Data that taxpayers have paid for and rely on is disappearing – here’s how it’s happening and what you can do about it

Detailed data that US government agencies collect and make available has underpinned research about people, medicine, science, crime, jobs, housing, climate and the economy.

theconversation.com

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Simon Rosenberg @simonwdc.bsky.social · Aug 19

2 bits of data from new Economist/YouGov poll.....

13% support for cutting research funding to universities. 24% among Republicans. Polling on this continues to be catastrophic for the Rs, suggests Dems should be learning far harder into standing up for science and our universities. 1/

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