STANFORD UNIVERSITY
‘BIODEMOGRAPHY WORKSHOP’
May 6—8, 2013
FINAL REPORT
on Subcontract from University of California, Berkeley
Submitted August 15, 2013
by
Shripad Tuljapurkar
The Dean and Virginia Morrison Professor of Population Studies
Professor of Biology
Director, Center on Population Research
Stanford UniversityThis is the final report required by the NOA issued to PI Shripad Tuljapurkar
of Stanford University for subcontract 00008178 titled “Biodemography Workshop in May 2013”
related to NIH Prime Award Number 5P30AG01283 awarded to PI Ron Lee of the University of
California, Berkeley.
Overview
On May 6, 7, and 8, 2013, Professor Shripad Tuljapurkar organized a workshop to introduce
demographers and evolutionary biologists to research in human and non-human
biodemography, with a focus on aging and live histories. This report documents the work
related to the subcontract funds received from the Center on Economics and Demographics of
Aging (CEDA) at the University of California, Berkeley.
To start, the workshop was announced early in 2013 (see attached ‘Announcement’ flyer)
with a serious effort to attract people in ecology and evolution as well as women scientists
and young scientists (see attached ‘Roster’). Over 3 days, there were 5-7 sessions presented
per day by 14eminent scientists (see attached ‘Agenda’).
The program consisted of:
First, a detailed discussion of various longitudinal data;
second, case studies of evolutionary change and/or variation in nature;
third, a detailed set of background readings available for download in advance;
fourth, two poster sessions with a total of 10 posters to promote discussion of research by
students
fifth, a mailing list to continue conversations and develop networking; and
finally, videotaped lectures.
Lastly, we conducted a survey of students at the end of the workshop.
Workshop Themes, Lecturers, Videotaping
The workshop lectures covered a range of topics including mortality change,
biodemographic analysis and models, and proximate (ecological, physiological,
phenotypic) and ultimate (evolutionary) causes and patterns of aging. The emphasis was
on quantitative methods and models. Lectures were supplemented by readings and, where
possible, problem sets including computational examples.
Listed below are the four major themes and the lecturers all of whom have participated in
past workshops. For details, see the attached ‘Agenda.’
1. Mortality Dynamics, Variance, Forecasts
Carl Boe, Mark Cullen
FINAL REPORT on Stanford’s “BIODEMOGRAPHY WORKSHOP” in MAY, 2013
2. Gene Expression: GWAS, SNPS, BLUPS, EWAS
David Rehkopf, David Steinsaltz, Ken Wachter, Anatoli Yashin
3. Quantitative Trait Dynamics and Genotypic Variation: Natural and Lab Populations
andHuman Longitudinal Studies
Dylan Childs, James Holland Jones, Patrick Phillips, Uli Steiner, Shripad Tuljapurkar
4. Evolutionary Data and Theory: Animals, Plants, and Humans
Hal Caswell, Carol Horvitz, Ron Lee, C. Jessica Metcalf
Most of the presentations were videotaped using Camtasia software and will be made
available to the attendees via the web once final editing is complete.
Participants, Poster Sessions, Survey
We advertised beginning in February 2013 to an extensive mailing list (population programs,
graduate programs) and posted announcements at PAA and elsewhere aiming at graduate
students, postdocs and young faculty in two areas --demography/biodemography and
ecology/evolution -with special emphasis on participation by women scientists and by young
scientists. Applicants were asked to provide a 1-paragraph statement of why they wished to
attend and a 1-page CV, and if they applied for support, a supporting letter from a faculty
member. We provided support for local transportation, breakfast and lunch at the meetings,
and travel and lodging (shared rooms).
We received 32 applications and admitted 29 participants: 14 are graduate students with
strong representation from the major population studies programs around the US; 8 are
postdocs; and the remainder are young faculty and foreign applicants. Of the 29, 17 are women.
Some participants received partial support and some paid their own costs (many of these are
Stanford and Berkeley students). More detail is available on the attached ‘Roster.’
A poster session each of the first two days was offered in order to showcase the research
of 10participants. Applicants who wished to participate submitted an abstract. The ten
spots filled quickly and a short waiting list was developed. See attached ‘Poster Sessions’
for titles. Faculty engaged in these sessions to offer feedback, to generate cross-talk, and to
promote networks.
We conducted a survey at workshop-end which provided useful feedback (see
attached ‘Questionnaire – Form and Results’) and will be used in planning the next
workshop.
As can be seen from the information contained in this report, the workshop met its stated
aims which were:
1
to introduce demographers and evolutionary biologists to research in human and nonhuman biodemography, with a focus on aging and life histories;
2
to introduce concepts, quantitative formulations and data analytic approaches to
genetic studies of human and natural populations;
3
to acquaint students with current research questions, directions, and contributions in
biodemography; and
4
to promote crosstalk and networks among young and established researchers with a
wide range of backgrounds.