HONOLULU (Nov. 4, 2010) – Applications are being accepted through December 31 for the East-West Center’s 2011 Summer Seminar on Population. Held annually since 1970, the Summer Seminar provides a forum for learning and discussion on a wide range of population and health issues. Former participants work in government, nongovernmental (NGO), and academic institutions throughout the Asia-Pacific region and around the world.

Click here for full information on the Summer Seminar workshops, instructions for applicants, and application forms from the Summer Seminar website.

Summer Seminar participants identify emerging research, policy, and program concerns, learn and share new research methods and program approaches, and forge links between researchers, policymakers, and practitioners working in key organizations.

As in previous years, the 2011 Summer Seminar will consist of three concurrent but independent workshops. Participants are selected on the basis of their potential contribution to one of the Seminar's workshops and to future professional work.

Workshop topics for 2011 will be:

• Designing Fertility Analysis in the Context of Low Fertility
  Honolulu, 4-18 June 2011
• Effective Responses to HIV in a Funding-Constrained Environment: Asia
  Honolulu, 28 May –18 June 2011
• Communicating with Policymakers about Population and Health
  Honolulu, 28 May –18 June 2011

Estimated participant costs are US $3,220 for Workshop 1, US $4,685 for Workshop 2, and US $4,790 for Workshop 3. These costs include tuition, dormitory housing, meal allowance, and all activities in Honolulu. They do not include air travel. All prospective Summer Seminar applicants are advised to seek funding from their home organizations or from national or international agencies. The East-West Center can only provide financial assistance to a very few outstanding candidates.

Participant quotes:
“From this course, I have learnt to put myself in the shoes of policymakers while staying with values and purposes that I believe. I am now a believer of evidence-based policy advocacy, so much so that I cannot think of doing research without a plan to communicate the results. My colleagues are also very much inspired by the approach.”

–Khuat Thi Hai Oanh, MD, MSc
Social health administrator, Vietnam

“Attending the workshop has been really beneficial to me and my organization. With the new knowledge and skills on advocacy and media relations, we have been able to interact with journalists more effectively, and this has resulted in good and continued coverage of urban health issues.”

–Dr. Sambandan Kaushik
Research Specialist, India