Participants
230 German and international participants – politicians, scientists, diplomats, economists, representatives of civil society, and the media – attended the 2012 Berlin Demography Forum. This gathering of high-ranking guests is absolutely unique.
The Federal Minister of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth,
Dr. Kristina Schroeder, the Federal Minister of the Interior,
Dr. Hans-Peter Friedrich, Allianz CEO
Michael Diekmann, the Director of the Allensbach Institute
Prof. Renate Koecher, and
Prof. Ursula Lehr, Head of the German National Association of Senior Citizens‘ Organisations, took part as keynote speakers.
Among the other participants were:
Prof Jutta Allmendinger, President Science Center for Social Research Berlin
Sabine Baetzing-Lichtenthaeler, MoP and member SPD Working Group Demographic Change
Prof. Joshua Goldstein, Executive Director Max-Planck-Institute for Demographic Research
Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, Prime Minister Saarland
Timothy Ma Kam Wah, Senior Citizen Home Safety Association Hong Kong
Prof. Tilman Mayer, President German Society for Demography
Simon McDonald, British Ambassador to Germany
Franz Müntefering, MoP and Speaker SPD Working Group on Demographic Change
Dr. Monika Queisser, Head Department Social Policies OECD Paris
Prof. Bert Rürup, Head of the Board of Trustees German Institute for Economic Research
Prof. Norbert Schneider, Director Federal Institute for Population Research
Prof. Ursula M. Staudinger, Vice-President of the Jacobs University Bremen.
As an important multidisciplinary issue, demography requires a range of different perspectives and the commitment of all participants. International participants brought their experiences and perspectives on the global challenges posed by demographic change to the table. Representatives of our civil society, such as social and environmental interest groups, contributed their points of view and made their own suggestions as regards to possible solutions.
The Berlin Demography Forum draws on the latest insights from academic research on demography; international academic networks are promoted as well.
The media plays an essential role as a multiplier of knowledge and supporter of the public discussion that is going on in the print media, on television, and on the Internet.