WITTGENSTEIN CENTRE CONFERENCE 2024

21 - 22 NOVEMBER 2024, VIENNA, AUSTRIA

Family formation is occurring at ever later ages around the world. Delayed reproduction brings new challenges for individuals and couples. They are confronted with higher risks of infertility and other constraints as they navigate their parenthood plans. The trend to later reproduction is likely to continue and to have far-reaching societal consequences in the future, potentially contributing to lower fertility rates and higher prevalence of infertility in societies already experiencing low fertility.

This conference will focus on shifting trends, drivers and consequences of delayed reproduction, paying special attention to biological constraints as well as to the impact of assisted reproduction technologies and their potential role in shaping future fertility trends. We especially invite contributions on the following themes:

• Adapting to new parenthood timing: Fertility plans in contexts of delayed fertility, intentions and their (non)realisation at higher reproductive ages
• Changing reproductive trajectories: Individual factors of childbearing associated with later birth schedules, shifting family paths
• Social inequalities: Socio-economic disparities in late fertility, access to assisted reproduction
• Societal consequences: Impact on childlessness and family size, changing norms related to reproduction and parenthood at later ages
• Broken age limits to fertility? Biological limits and constraints to late reproduction, infertility
• Reproductive techno-futures: Contribution of assisted reproductive technologies to late fertility, their potential and limits for the future
• Policy responses: which policies can prevent or adapt to shifts to later reproduction
   

We are pleased to announce our keynote speakers:

Jacky Boivin (Cardiff University)
Anna Rotkirch (Population Research Institute)
Lucy van de Wiel (King’s College)