Books of Life with Steve Ruggles

In this month’s episode, Tom Emery talks to Steven Ruggles (University of Minnesota). Ruggles founded IPUMS, which gives researchers around the world free access to census and survey data. Together they discuss how linking census records, administrative data and surveys can trace lives across generations. They also cover what this means for privacy and public trust.

Affiliations: 

• Steven Ruggles – Regents Professor of History and Population Studies at the University of Minnesota, and the Director of the Institute for Social Research and Data Innovation
• Dr. Tom Emery – Executive Director of ODISSEI, the Dutch National Infrastructure for Social Science; Associate Professor, Department of Public Administration and Sociology of Erasmus University, Rotterdam

Useful links:
https://www.ipums.org/

What is ODISSEI Podcast?

ODISSEI is the National Research Infrastructure for Social Sciences in the Netherlands, providing access to data, expertise, and computational tools for researchers. With a network of 51 member organizations and key partners like CBS, DANS, eScience Center, SURF, and Centerdata, ODISSEI supports the growing field of computational social science.

In each episode, we cover topics like data access, research tools, and collaborative efforts that shape our understanding of society. Tom Emery, the Executive Director, engages experts in informal conversations, offering listeners an accessible look at how social science infrastructure supports innovative, impactful research.

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