Submissions for the upcoming conference (September 15-17, 2025) “Fertility, Childlessness, and Reproductive Aging: Bio-social Perspectives” at Villa Vigoni in Menaggio, Italy, are invited. This interdisciplinary event will bring together scholars to discuss the interplay between  biological and social factors shaping reproductive outcomes for women and men, and its  implications in the context of low fertility. The conference is a joint event with the ERC Synergy 
BIOSFER project, which investigates how social, biological and psychological factors work 
together to produce the observed patterns, levels and variation in fertility among young adults.

Contributions that address the following themes are welcomed:

• Fertility Trends and Childlessness: Determinants and consequences, shifting 
  reproductive norms, and voluntary vs. involuntary childlessness.
• Reproductive Aging: The biological and social dimensions and implications of changing 
  reproductive functions across the life course, in both men and women.
• Socio-Economic Differences: How socio-demographic factors (e.g. income, education, 
  employment) and social policies shape reproductive decisions and fertility outcomes.
• Male and Female Perspectives on Fertility: The role of gender and couple dynamics in 
  fertility experiences and reproductive decision-making.
• Clinical and Epidemiological Insights: Advances in reproductive medicine, fertility 
  preservation, and medical interventions related to subfecundity, infertility, and 
  reproductive aging.

They encourage submissions for oral and poster presentations from a range of disciplines such as demography, sociology, epidemiology, public health and reproductive medicine. Empirical, theoretical, and policy-oriented papers are welcome. Please submit your work via this survey by  April 30th 2025. The final decisions on acceptance will be sent out by the end of May.  

There are no registration fees, and all meals during the stay will be covered by the event 
organizers. Please note that you will have to cover your own travel expenses to Villa Vigoni and accommodation expenses (110 EUR per night). Limited financial support for the accommodation is available for junior scientists who could otherwise not participate. A group shuttle transfer from Milan-Malpensa, Linate Airport or Como train station to Villa Vigoni and back will be offered free of charge. Detailed information on pick-up times will be provided later.  

Organizing Committee: 
Prof. Mikko Myrskylä, Prof. Alice Goisis, Dr. Susie Lee, Dr. Alessandro Di Nallo, Dr. Zafer 
Büyükkeçeci, Dr. Martin Flatø, Katja Dahl Horsfeldt, Susanne Otto  

If you have any questions about the event, please e-mail biosfer@demogr.mpg.de.