Looking Back on the 2020 APDU Annual Conference

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With the 2020 APDU Annual Conference in the rearview mirror, now is a good time to reflect on the week and look ahead to what’s next.

This year’s conference, as so many things in 2020, was disrupted but not diminished. While we didn’t have the opportunity to meet with each other in person, the virtual format enabled some of our friends from around the country to participate who might not have been able to otherwise.

Speakers like danah boyd of Microsoft Research and Data & Society Research Institute (excerpted above) brought a unique perspective to the conference, challenging our thinking about from issues ranging from how we approach issues of privacy and accuracy to the impacts misinformation and data voids can have on our understanding of data quality and reliability.

Federal agency leaders such as Deborah Stempowski, Brian Moyer, Bill Beach, and Mary Bohman provided insider insights into their organizations.

Speakers from universities and research organizations across the country covered hot topics such as data on COVID-19, evictions, policing, and more.

Speakers from the Census Bureau, universities, and nonprofits discussed how the Disclosure Avoidance System will affect the quality of Census data.

Attendees met with APDU board members in a series of town hall conversations on a variety of topics – offering a promising way for APDU members to connect with one another.

This year’s conference was a success for a variety of reasons – but the biggest reason was the engagement of our attendees and speakers. Stay tuned for continued quality programming in Fall 2020!