A Shared Humanity

UC Santa Barbara’s Broom Center for Demography has earned global plaudits for its annual seminar series that provides a lively forum for discussing cutting-edge research related to population science.

“Inspired by the research of the center’s benefactor and namesake Leonard Broom, seminar talks are united by an overarching interest in advancing a better understanding of inequalities within and across human populations, including health disparities,” said Maria Charles, director of the center and a UC Santa Barbara professor of sociology. “This quarter alone, speakers will explore a wide range of current topics including poverty and subsistence, health disparities by race and immigration status, and gender inequalities in employment.”

The series returns for 2019-20 with distinguished speakers from the campus and around the country. The talks are held Mondays from 1 to 2:15 p.m. in North Hall 2111 (the Thormahlen Family Seminar Room). A reception with light refreshments follows the talk. The lectures are free and open to the public.

“The talks cover classic demographic concerns, such as trends in fertility, mortality and immigration, but also the social, cultural, economic, environmental and biological forces affecting these trends around the globe,” Charles said.

Brenna Henna of UC Santa Cruz will speak on “Demographic Changes During Subsistence Transitions in Eastern and Southern Africa as Inferred from Human Genomic Data” Monday, Oct. 14. Mike Gurven, a UC Santa Barbara professor of anthropology, will serve as host.

In addition to outside speakers, Charles said, the fall quarter lineup includes a great deal of local talent. Trevon Logan, UCSB’s inaugural North Hall Chair in Economics (and a Broom Center associate), will discuss the role of physician bias in racial health disparities among veterans Monday, Nov. 18.

Other fall lectures include:

• Sociologist Liana Sayer of the University of Maryland will speak on “Country and Weekday/Weekend Variation in Associations of Employment with Mothers’ Unpaid Work” Nov. 25. Charles will serve as host.

• UCSB’s Liz Ackert, a newly arrived assistant professor geography, will talk about “Health Among Latino/a Children Across Immigrant Destinations” Dec. 2.

The seminar series continues through the winter and spring quarters. Consult the center’s webpage for details.