Advanced Quantitative Methods and Analytics for Public Policy Support conference (AQMAPPS II)

Scientific Committee

• Tommaso Agasisti (Politecnico di Milano)
• Chris van Klaveren (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
• Ilja Cornelisz (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
• Alex Bowers (Teachers College – Columbia University)
• Kristof de Witte (KU Leuven)

Organizing Committee

• Marlot Griep (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
• Laurens de Croes (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)

Bart Golsteyn - Maastricht University
Bart Golsteyn is professor of economics at Maastricht University. He is currently head of the department Macro, International and Labor Economics, and affiliated to the Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market (ROA), and the Institute of Labor Economics (IZA). His main research interests are in human capital and social economics.

Anne-Marie Nussberger - Max-Planck-Institute for Human Development
Anne-Marie Nussberger is a behavioral scientist and Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for Humans and Machines of the Max-Planck-Institute for Human Development in Berlin. Her current work combines approaches from psychology, behavioral economics, and cultural evolution to understand how intelligent machines influence human beliefs, values, and behavior. During her MSc and DPhil at the University of Oxford, Anne-Marie focused on social decision-making under uncertainty, exploring topics such as ethical payment in human challenge studies, behavioral interventions for disease prevention, and trade-offs between social and risk preferences. Anne-Marie is dedicated to conducting research that informs policy-making on the role of human psychology in broader societal phenomena, including the societal impacts of AI and technology, as well as public health. Her work has been featured in journals such as Nature Human Behaviour, Nature Communications, PNAS, Psychological Science, and the Journal of Medical Ethics.

Her keynote at AQMAPPS will provide an overview of the ‘machine behaviour’ approach to understanding the influence of AI on human beliefs, values, and behaviour along with empirical insights on machines’ influence on human culture from her latest research.

Marc van der Steeg – Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science
Marc van der Steeg is a senior advisor at the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. He is the Ministry’s coordinator of applying behavioral insights for policy and member of the Behavioural Insight Network Netherlands (BIN NL). Over the past 10 years, he has carried out quite a number of behavioural insights projects on several policy challenges, ranging from teacher shortages to issues regarding student finance. Marc van der Steeg holds a PhD in Economics obtained at Erasmus School of Economics in Rotterdam while he was working at CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis, in which he focused on natural experiments and randomized controlled trials to determine effects of (policy) interventions.

His keynote will provide an overview of behavioural insights projects carried out at the Ministry in the last ten years, in which he will cover the methods used, the effects of tested behavioral interventions, and the main lessons learned. 

Call for Papers:
Join the dialogue and contribute to an inclusive and insightful discussion at the forefront of quantitative methods and analytics for public policy support. We invite scholars from diverse disciplines to share their expertise and perspectives in ongoing work on advancing statistical models, analytics, and quantitative methods as instrumental tools for decision-makers.

Topics of Interest Include (but are not limited to):

• Cutting-edge advancements in theoretical modeling and their alignment with policy and managerial challenges in education, health, and societal domains.
• Statistical innovation for generating actionable insights to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and equity in educational institutions and public services.
• Interdisciplinary approaches integrating insights from education, economics, sociology, psychology, statistics, and beyond to address complex societal challenges.

Engagement and Dialogue:
The AQMAPPS workshop fosters an environment conducive to rigorous scholarly exchange and collaboration. Accepted submissions will not only present cutting-edge research, but also stimulate discussions among peers and practitioners. We welcome interdisciplinary perspectives and encourage the exploration of synergies between various academic disciplines.

Building Towards Positive Change:
AQMAPPS overall ambition is to co-create models that address pressing societal challenges and drive meaningful change in education and public domains. Contributions to AQMAPPS further support shaping the future of policy support through quantitative methods and analytics.

Submission
We eagerly anticipate submissions and the enriching discussions they will inspire. The deadline for submitting your extended abstract is 30th June 2024. We encourage submissions that propose innovative models grounded in robust theoretical frameworks and supported by empirical evidence. Papers should address clear policy and managerial problems within educational, health, and societal public domains, offering practical insights and recommendations accessible to policymakers, managers, and practitioners.

Scholars interested in joining the Workshop are invited to submit an extended abstract of at most 1000 words in PDF format via email to: aqmapps@vu.nl. Please treat the word limit as a limit, not as a target. Deadline for submissions is 30th June 2024 . Please include the following information:

• Title of the submission
• Authors' names
• Affiliation for each author
• Institution address for each author
• Email address for each author

Submission Guidelines:
Prospective participants can propose not only single papers but also entire sessions, sharing thematic interests or methodological approaches. If submitting a session proposal, please indicate the name of the Chair responsible for organising the session.

Excellence in Quantitative Policy Analysis Award
This award recognizes outstanding research that demonstrates the most innovative and effective application of quantitative methods to address pressing policy challenges. It celebrates excellence in the use of analytics to drive positive change and inform decision-making in the public sector.

Data Dynamo Award
This award celebrates the individual who brings the most energy, creativity, and enthusiasm to the conference discussions and activities related to quantitative methods and analytics. Whether it's through insightful questions, engaging presentations, or simply spreading positive vibes, the Data Dynamo embodies the spirit of collaboration and innovation in the area of public policy.

Join us for our upcoming conference on the 24th, 25th, and 26th of October. Here's a glimpse of our preliminary program:

Thursday 24th of October:

• 09:00 Registration
• 09:30 - 10:30 Keynote 1: Marc van der Steeg
• 10:30 - 10:45 Coffee break
• 10:45 - 13:00 Session 1
• 13:00 - 14:00 Lunch break
• 14:00 - 15:30 Session 2
• 18:30 Social dinner.

 Friday 25th of October: 

• 09:30 - 10:30 Keynote 2: Bart Golsteyn
• 10:30 - 10:45 Coffee break
• 10:45 - 13:00 Session 3
• 13:00 - 14:00 Lunch break
• 14:00 - 15:30 Session 4
• Evening: (optional) social event

 Saturday 26th of October:

• 09:00 - 10:00 Keynote 3: Anne-Marie Nussberger
• 10:00 - 10:20 Coffee break
• 10:20 - 12:35 Session 5
• 12:35 Closing lunch & awards

We look forward to your participation in this enriching event.

If you wish to participate in AQMAPPS (as presenter or not), you have to register.

€ 280 PhD fee (social dinner included)
€ 340 Regular fee (social dinner included)

You can register for the conference by filling out this registration form. Submit your paper via aqmapps@vu.nl.