Join us in Rotterdam for the 2026 IPDLN Conference!

Workshops

2024 IPDLN WORKSHOPS

Half-day and full-day workshops take place on September 15th, 16th, and 19th and will feature interactive programming that complements the conference themes. View the full workshop descriptions and details here.

Everyone who registers for the workshops will receive an email in July with a link to a survey for reserving preferred sessions. Please respond as soon as possible when you receive the communication so you may secure your top choices.

Sunday, September 15
    
Title
Lead presenters 
Max number participants
Time
Location
Communicating for Impact: Finding the Story in Your Research
 
Research using population data is relevant to everyone – but to people outside the sector, it can be a mystifying topic. How can researchers share their findings in a way that captures people’s attention and inspires action? This workshop will explore how researchers can communicate more effectively, to encourage engagement, demonstrate trustworthiness and achieve real-world impact. It aims to build participants’ skills and confidence in sharing their research with new audiences to maximise the benefits of their work.
Laura Mulvey
36
10am-2pm
State
Constantly Changing, Constantly Adapting: Lives and Life-course Data of Children and Childhood Social Care
 
Adverse childhood experiences, that sometimes lead to involvement of children’s social services, have a lifelong impact. This workshop aims to promote local and international population level research on childhood social care experiences and their association to outcomes across the life-course. We address the themes of data jigsaw across the family life-course, data sovereignty and engagement. Participants are invited to develop their research and international collaborations on these themes together with our international panel of experts and other workshop participants
Mirjam Allik
40
10am-2pm
Chancellor

Data Linking Practice in Selected Data Systems of USA Dept. of Homeland Security and Dept. of Justice

This workshop consists of three sessions on data resolution practices in the United State immigration system. The goal is to show how the immigration data are matched and linked in DHS and DOJ data systems, and how they can be analyzed to inform different stakeholders to better understand the USA immigration system. The sessions will be: 1) “Data Matching in Immigration Enforcement Outcome Tool,” 2) “Analyzing Linked Data from the Federal Justice Statistics Program (FJSP),” and 3) “Analyzing Linked Data from the Federal Justice Statistics Program (FJSP).”

Hongwei Zhang
60
10am-2pm
Regent

Ethics, Data Governance, Knowledge Production, and Public Engagement in Population Data Science: The Brazilian Experience

We aim to exchange experiences and insights on the management and governance of linked datasets, including designing strategies that enable ethical and inclusive data practices in the production of scientific knowledge. The workshop will be based on the experience of the Center for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS/Fiocruz Bahia-Brazil), an initiative that employs in-house infrastructure and procedures to provide linked datasets to support health research aimed at evaluating and influencing social protection and health policies in Brazil.

CIDACS
30
10am-2pm
Embassy
Exploring Data Linkage Methods Using Large-Scale Simulated Data — FULL 
 
This half-day workshop offers participants a hands-on opportunity to compare record linkage methods using large, simulated data from Pseudopeople, an open-source Python package we’ve developed. We will start with an introductory tutorial on using Splink, a record linkage tool developed at the UK Ministry of Justice, then proceed to examine other software packages. We’ll discover the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches by applying them to the same realistic linkage task.
Abie Flaxman
40
10am-2pm
Ambassador

Synthetic Data, Common Data Models and Federation: Holy Trinity or Unholy Mess?

This workshop will explore the role of synthetic data in health research, education and innovation, discussing applications and benefits, while tackling challenges like privacy and security. It will examine the relationship between synthetic data and Common Data Models. The need for federated data ecosystems, maintaining ownership and control, will be emphasised. Use cases will assess synthetic data’s feasibility and limitations, providing insights for effective utilisation. The workshop will evaluate how these components can drive innovation and foster privacy-preserving data sharing.

James Boyd
40
10am-2pm
Gold
Monday, September 16
    
Title
Lead presenters
Max number participants
Time
Location

Drifts and Shifts: Monitoring Changes in the Social License for Research Using Health Data — FULL

The workshop aims to familiarize participants with social licence concepts, current evaluation methods, and prioritize areas for research. It emphasizes the importance of continuous monitoring to maintain community trust in data usage. Expected outcomes include knowledge enhancement, priority setting, and collaboration opportunities. Targeted at consumer involvement and data linkage professionals.

Felicity Flack
30
8am-12pm
State
(UPDATED)

Live Research Dialogue on the Benefits, Costs, and Utility of Synthetic Data for Researchers

Join us to explore how the availability of synthetic data can affect researchers.  Hear the perspectives of data owners and processors, and the public. Breakout groups will unpack what characteristics of synthetic data make it useful (or not), and delve into the challenges of ethics, governance and pure practicalities of the routine provision of synthetic data for secure datasets. Be part of a live, international research project to influence opinion and practice on this fast-evolving complex topic.

Emily Oliver
60
8am-12pm
Gold
Opportunities for Cross-Country Comparisons of Linked Administrative Education and Health Data — FULL
 
How can we better initiate and run international collaborations using linked health and education data? Experts linking health and education data from 14 countries (America, Australia, Canada, Chile, Denmark, England, Finland, Germany, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, Wales) will showcase the data linkages available in their country and outline their scope for collaboration.
Erin Early,
Michael Fleming,
Rob French, Katie Harron
50
8am-12pm
Regent

Turning Research Ideas into Reality: A Guide to Developing a Simulated Research Protocol using Administrative Data

Participants will be guided through a plausible real-world research project using administrative data and explore what is possible to measure and analyze.  The objectives are: 1) demonstrate how to translate a research idea into an analytic protocol appropriate for administrative data research; and 2) foster discussion on practices for conducting administrative data research across jurisdictions.  The workshop will have three distinct parts: 1) group completion of analytic plan; 2) critically evaluate project feasibility; and 3) discussion on research governance.

Heather Prior
40
8am-12pm
Ambassador
Thursday, September 19
    
Title
Lead presenters
Max number participants
Time
Location

The ARC Life Course Center International Data for Policy Workshop

This Workshop seeks to identify key factors that support development of socially acceptable next generation linked data ecosystems that deliver higher standards in research, evaluation, and policy. Distinguished international guests will give short presentations designed to promote audience discussion around strategically identified themes pertinent to linked life course data ecosystems around the world, and how these systems can support health and social policy. Concepts will include social licence; cross-jurisdictional data harmonisation; infrastructure investment; civil society data; and resourcing for analysis.

Francis Mitrou
80
8am-5pm
Hale

Developing Public Engagement Strategies for Administrative Data Research Studies

This workshop will introduce public engagement/involvement (PE/I) in the context of administrative data research studies. It is designed for researchers, project managers, and knowledge translation specialists. PE/I has become a valuable way to close the gap between the administrative data collected in health and social systems and the people whose lives and lived experiences are represented in the data. This workshop will help participants assess collaboration readiness, levels of engagement, and ways to tailor PE/I approaches to administrative data research.

Amy Freier
60
1pm-5pm
Trienens

Estimating Correlations and Causal Relationships with Linked Data Sources

This workshop consists of two key parts. The first delves into various record linkage algorithms, demonstrated through their implementation in statistical software. The second part focuses on addressing linkage errors in downstream analyses, covering methods, assumptions, and implementations. The downstream analyses would include exploratory analysis and estimation of causal and non-causal relationships. Adjustment methods will include statistical methods that are implemented during the linkage process (primary analysis) and those implemented when only the linked dataset is available (secondary analysis).

Roee Gutman
45
8am-12pm
Gray

An Introduction to Data Visualization: Communicating Data with Efficacy and Elegance

Adapting to a changing world requires effective communication to realise the full potential of data to create meaningful societal impacts.  This workshop will introduce the principles of data visualisation and will focus on key aspects of the design process, drawing on expertise from a community of experts, and provide an overview of best practices and industry standards. Participants will gain knowledge to enable objective evaluations of data visualisation and have an opportunity to experience of typically unfamiliar artistic practises.

Rowena Bailey
40
8am-5pm
Kellerman

Leveraging Full Count Census Data through Record Linkage

Academic researchers in the U.S. and Canada have partnered with genealogical organizations and statistical agencies to create massive new data collections from census enumerations. By linking individuals and families across censuses, analysts can create national longitudinal panels linking individuals over their lives and families over multiple generations. The workshop will introduce the IPUMS and The Canadian Peoples data collections, explain how to access them, discuss challenges and opportunities of census linkage, and provide opportunities to consult with data experts.

Catherine Fitch
30
8am-12pm
Trienens
Half-day and full-day workshops take place on September 15th, 16th, and 19th and will feature interactive programming that complements the conference themes. The Schedule will be shared as soon as it’s available.
 
The ARC Life Course Center International Data for Policy Workshop
Communicating for Impact: Finding the Story in Your Research
Constantly Changing, Constantly Adapting: Lives and Life-course Data of Children and Childhood Social Care
Data Linking Practice in Selected Data Systems of USA DHS and DOJ
Developing Public Engagement Strategies for Administrative Data Research Studies
Drifts and Shifts: Monitoring Changes in the Social License for Research Using Health Data
Estimating Correlations and Causal Relationships with Linked Data Sources
Ethics, Data Governance, Knowledge Production, and Public Engagement in Population Data Science: The Brazilian Experience
Exploring Data Linkage Methods Using Large-Scale Simulated Data
An Introduction to Data Visualization: Communicating Data with Efficacy and Elegance
Leveraging Full Count Census Data through Record Linkage
Live Research Dialogue on the Benefits, Costs, and Utility of Synthetic Data for Researchers
Opportunities for Cross-Country Comparisons of Linked Administrative Education and Health Data
Synthetic Data, Common Data Models and Federation: Holy Trinity or unholy mess?
Turning Research Ideas into Reality: A Guide to Developing a Simulated Research Protocol using Administrative Data
Sunday, September 15
    
Title
Lead Presenter
Length
Time
Location
Communicating for Impact: Finding the Story in Your Research
Laura Mulvey
Half day
10am-2pm
TBD
Constantly Changing, Constantly Adapting: Lives and Life-course Data of Children and Childhood Social Care
Mirjam Allik
Half day
10am-2pm
TBD
Data Linking Practice in Selected Data Systems of USA DHS and DOJ
Hongwei Zhang
Half day
10am-2pm
TBD
Ethics, Data Governance, Knowledge Production, and Public Engagement in Population Data Science: The Brazilian Experience
CIDACS
Half day
10am-2pm
TBD
Exploring Data Linkage Methods Using Large-Scale Simulated Data
Abie Flaxman
Half day
10am-2pm
TBD
Synthetic Data, Common Data Models and Federation: Holy Trinity or Unholy Mess?
James Boyd
Half day
10am-2pm
TBD

 

Monday, September 16
    
Title
Lead Presenter
Length
Time
Location
Drifts and Shifts: Monitoring Changes in the Social License for Research Using Health Data
Felicity Flack
Half Day
8am-12pm
TBD
Live Research Dialogue on the Benefits, Costs, and Utility of Synthetic Data for Researchers
Emily Oliver
Half Day
8am-12pm
TBD
Opportunities for Cross-Country Comparisons of Linked Administrative Education and Health Data
Nick Bowden
Half Day
8am-12pm
TBD
Turning Research Ideas into Reality: A Guide to Developing a Simulated Research Protocol using Administrative Data
Heather Prior
Half Day
8am-12pm
TBD

 

Thursday, September 19
    
Title
Lead Presenter
Length
Time
Location
The ARC Life Course Center International Data for Policy Workshop
Francis Mitrou
Full Day
8am-5pm
TBD
Developing Public Engagement Strategies for Administrative Data Research Studies
Amy Freier
Half Day
1pm-5pm
TBD
Estimating Correlations and Causal Relationships with Linked Data Sources
Roee Gutman
Half Day
8am-12pm
TBD
An Introduction to Data Visualization: Communicating Data with Efficacy and Elegance
Rowena Bailey
Full Day
8am-5pm
TBD
Leveraging Full Count Census Data through Record Linkage
Catherine Fitch
Half Day
8am-12pm
TBD