Page 7 - 5th APA Conference Program Book Final

Messages from APA President

First of all, we would like to convey our appreciation to

all participants, both presenters and non-presenters, for

th
their contribution to the success of the 5 Asian
Population Conference, held virtually during 3 – 5 August

2021. We also would like to express our gratitude to the

two co-hosts of the conference: BKKBN (National

Population and Family Planning Board, Republic of

Indonesia) and Center for Population and Policy Studies, Universitas Gadjah Mada,

Indonesia. A special gratefulness goes to the technical team who has worked hard and

smartly in preparing the conference. The technical team consists of APA Secretariat,

technical persons in BKKBN, and EGO-Global consultant. We are also indebted to

UNFPA APRO and Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Republic of Indonesia,

for helping us with funding for the conference.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed almost all aspects of our life. COVID-19

pandemic has also changed demographic behavior and demographic methods. The

most obvious drastic change is seen in population mobility, including migration.

Population immobility and virtual mobility emerge. By embracing digital technology

sooner than expected, people start having a new mobility pattern “going nowhere, but

being everywhere”. Pattern of fertility and family planning may have changed too.

Mortality and health are certainly different from before the pandemic. Big data, and
digital technology, has enriched the demographic analysis and will change how we

analyze demographic data, though the traditional data and methods remain useful.

The pandemic has moreover created may new important demographic topics and new

opportunities for research on population issues.

The pandemic has likewise changed how we conduct the conference. The

conference was supposed to be held as an in-person conference in Yogyakarta, one

of the most beautiful tourist destinations in Indonesia. The pandemic forced us to

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