Author: David Madden

Forthcoming Conference on The Developmental Origins of Health

The Developmental Origins of Health Conference

Keynote Address by Professor James J Heckman


9.00 am-3.30 pm Thursday 10th October 2013

Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, No 6, Kildare St, Dublin 2

On Thursday October 10th, 2013, UCD Geary Institute will host a conference entitledThe Developmental Origins of Health. This conference presents the mid-term results emerging from a major European Research Council Advanced Investigator project led by Professor James Heckman at the University College Dublin, in partnership with the University of Bristol and the University of Essex.

Understanding the origins and the evolution of health inequalities is key to developing policies to promote human development. The conference highlights the work of aninterdisciplinary team of researchers who are active at the frontier of their disciplines ineconomics and epidemiology. This team is working together to create an integrated developmental approach to health which will allow us to understand the socio-biological determinants of health.  The conference presents innovative findings on the role of cognition, personality, genes, and the environment on health across the life course and across generations. Speakers will include Professor Frank Windmeijer(University of Bristol), Dr. Neil Davies (University of Bristol), Professor Steve Pudney (University of Essex), Dr. Orla Doyle (University College Dublin). The keynote address will be given by Professor James Heckman (University College Dublin & University of Chicago).

To register for the conference, please email: Carol Ellis at geary@ucd.ie. Advance registration is essential for attendance at the conference, as numbers are strictly limited. There is no charge for the conference. Tea/Coffee and lunch will be provided.The deadline for registration is Friday 20 September 2013. For further details see UCD Geary Institute Website

Long Run Income Inequality in Ireland

Those of you interested in long run trends in income inequality in Ireland might like to take a look at this piece from the magazine “Significance”.  It uses the difference between incomes of the top 10% less the incomes of the top 1% as its summary measure for inequality.  It takes a pure time series approach and suggests that for the last 40 years or so there is a  12 year cycle in inequality with a very slight upward trend.

Warning: As John McHale might put it, it is “wonkish”!

http://www.significancemagazine.org/details/webexclusive/4386781/Income-inequality-in-Ireland-from-1922-to-2009.html

School of Economics Research Bulletin

UCD School of Economics has launched an Economics Research Bulletin, edited by Kevin Denny, to be published three times a year.  The first edition is here (pdf).

Cormac O Grada awarded RIA Gold Medal

Congratulations to Cormac O Grada who has been awarded 2010 Royal Irish Academy Gold Medal.  This is the premier Irish academic award and in Cormac’s case it is richly deserved.

PS: I released this yesterday but then quickly withdrew it as I thought it was embargoed!  But I think its OK to release the news now – just tell one person at a time!

Karl Whelan elected to Royal Irish Academy

Last week Karl Whelan was elected as a member of the Royal irish Academy.  This is one of the highest honours which can be conferred on an Irish academic and I think all readers of this blog will agree that it is richly deserved.  Well done, Karl.