BLOG - A recap of our experience at the IPDLN 2024 conference

As part of the team of SCADR researchers, we travelled over to Chicago for the 2024 International Population Data Linkage Network Conference. We were looking forward to meeting fellow researchers, practitioners, and students to hear about their latest research & advances in population data linkage, and to present our current research. Adding to our excitement, it was hosted in Chicago - so farewell to rainy Scotland and hello to the sunshine in Chicago! 

Arriving on Sunday 15 September, it became clear that with so much on offer, including keynote speakers, 256 oral presentations & panel discussions and 96 posters, the problem was how we would see all the presentations or workshops we wanted to attend!

Keynote Speakers

Allison: I was particularly inspired by keynote speaker Dr Jeanine Abrams McLean, who presented on her non-profit organization Fair Count. Fair Count uses the census and data linkage to provide localised information about voting patterns and disparities to communities in the American South. Focusing on historically under-represented Black communities and working in collaboration with faith-based organisations, the non-profit aims to foster civic engagement by bringing relevant data to those who most benefit from it. Dr Abrams McLean and colleagues engage in public outreach, to communicate what their data mean, transparently, and in a nonpartisan manner. Such work is critical to promoting civic equality. Further details are available here.

Workshops

Ana: One of my highlights was the workshop "Communicating for Impact: Finding the Story in Your Research," led by the ADR UK team. The session made me rethink how I present our research to the people we are researching about and to policymakers. Our findings are more than just data points; they're stories that, when shared effectively, can make a real difference. I left the session with practical tools and a commitment to making my research more accessible to broader audiences. 

Allison: I was delighted to see my worlds collide when I discovered that a friend from graduate school (at Pennsylvania State University) was also attending the IPDLN conference. She now works for IPUMS, a non-profit organisation that links census and survey information across time and space based out of the University of Minnesota. To my surprise, she was already acquainted with SCADR and our director Professor Chris Dibben. I discovered that he was going on to visit the IPUMS and meet with their members following the IPDLN conference.

Allison said:

It was great to see SCADR engaging in important international exchange revolving around data linkage, especially with a former colleague! 

Presentations 

All three of our researchers from our 'Community safety, equality and welfare strand' presented at the conference, with their abstracts listed within Vol. 9 No. 5 (2024): Conference Proceedings for International Population Data Linkage Conference 2024. 

Allison was supported by Professor Susan McVie, delivering their presentation on Mental Health Crisis and Policing Demand. (DOI: https://doi.org/10.23889/ijpds.v9i5.2504)

Ana presented her research on the link between alcohol availability and assault-related incidents in Scotland (DOI https://doi.org/10.23889/ijpds.v9i5.2918). Whilst she admitted that presenting to an international audience was nerve-wracking, seeing their positive response made it all worth it.

Ana said:

Their feedback was very encouraging and validated the relevance of our work. It felt rewarding to see how our research in Scotland resonated beyond its borders. 

Other highlights

Both Ana and Allison agreed that another memorable experience was their visit to the Chicago Crime Lab. Seeing the amazing work they do and learning about how they work together with communities and the police was inspiring. It reinforced the importance of fostering partnerships to address complex societal challenges, and further discussions are planned with Susan, to investigate doing some collaborative international work.

Ana said:

I believe this conference was an eye-opener about the importance of connecting to people and communities to make a big impact with our work.   

We both  Chicago!  

For Ana, she felt that Chicago’s vibrant atmosphere was an incredible experience, from seeing first-hand beloved film locations to feeling the warmth of the people. As a Chilean, she was thrilled to immerse herself in the city's Hispanic community. It felt like a home away from home. Chicago’s weather was a pleasant surprise too (although she did end up as a mosquito buffet during our walks to the park!). 

Allison was surprised and delighted that her trip coincided with celebrations for Mexican Independence Day, which were energetic, loud, and delicious. Beyond oversized Mexican flags parading through the streets, vendors sold chili-topped mango cups and sweet, milky horchata. Yum! 

We all enjoyed IPDLN 2024 and found the presentations very inspiring, in addition to forming new collaborative partnerships with international contacts. We look forward to attending the next IPDLN conference in Rotterdam in 2026.