Carolina Population Center

The 2026 J. Richard Udry Distinguished Lecture Series will be held on April 9 from 3:30-5:00 p.m., in Toy Lounge (238 Dey Hall). Eileen Crimmins, Ph.D., will deliver this year's lecture.

The Carolina Center for Population Aging and Health (CCPAH) and the USC | UCLA Center on Biodemography and Population Health (CBPH) will host "Weathinar: Hazards, Exposures and Health" on Friday, Feb. 27 from 1:30-3:30 p.m. EST. Register now at unc.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Sea Level Rise and Sunny Day Flooding, with Miyuki Hino Miyuki Hino details the complexities of researching coastal flooding and the importance of context-dependent data collection and community engagement to capture accurate data and help communities comb...

Although not as catastrophic as a hurricane, frequent "sunny-day flooding" in coastal communities is becoming more of an issue as sea-levels continue to rise everywhere, says CPC Fellow Miyuki Hino.
www.resources.org/resources-ra...

Alcohol warning labels may not be reaching US adults, new research suggests - UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health February 12, 2026 Only about one in four adult alcohol consumers in the United States has read the federal alcohol health warning in the past month — and even fewer remember what it says, according to...

Only about one in four adult alcohol consumers in the U.S. has read the federal alcohol health warning in the past month — and even fewer remember what it says, according to new research led by CPC Fellow Marissa Hall.
sph.unc.edu/sph-news/alc...

Rather than looking for quick fixes to boost the U.S. birth rate, we should be doing more to make parenthood easier for people who already want to have children, says CPC Director Karen Guzzo.
thehill.com/opinion/heal...

North Carolina's population continues to grow, leading the nation in domestic migration While North Carolina leads the nation in net domestic migration, Orange County has a lower rate of population growth compared to more metropolitan areas.

Carolina Demography Director Nathan Dollar says migration to North Carolina can reflect economic strength. "If they’re moving here, that means there’s something for them to move to, and that’s a good thing,” Dollar said.
www.dailytarheel.com/article/city...

U.S. births dropped last year, suggesting the 2024 uptick was short-lived Experts say people are marrying later and also worry about their ability to have the money, health insurance and other resources needed to raise children in a stable environment.

CPC Director Karen Guzzo says that uncertainty and economic conditions in the U.S. are likely to drive down the birth rate for 2025.
www.pbs.org/newshour/hea...

New Census data: NC population is among fastest-growing, despite drop in international migration This week, the Census Bureau's released two key sets of data: the 2025 population estimates and American Community Survey 5-year estimates, which paint a unique picture of the state.

Increase in number of adults age 25 with a bachelor's degree or higher a result of "educated people moving in and also homegrown talent development," says Carolina Demography Director Nathan Dollar.
www.wunc.org/race-class-c...

A Predictor of a Good Social Life? Your Parents.

A decades-long study suggests that close relationships with family members during teenage years could lead to a rich network of friendships in adulthood.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/31/h...

The Common Social Bonds That Could Help You Live Longer - PsyBlog Study found reduced risk of cancer, stroke and heart disease.

New study co-authored by CPC Fellow Kathleen Mullan Harris found that social ties at a younger age are linked to lower risk of long-term health problems later on in life.
www.spring.org.uk/2026/01/the-...

A decade after lifting one-child policy, China struggles to boost population Despite Beijing’s campaign to encourage couples to have more children, new data shows China’s population decline is accelerating.

Monetary incentives won't be enough to reverse China's record low birth rate, says CPC Fellow Yong Cai. "People are not going to have kids for the sake of a few extra hundred dollars," he says.
www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-P...

Group behind Project 2025 pushes ‘marriage bootcamps’ in effort to focus on family The group behind Project 2025 is pushing potential "marriage bootcamps" run by the government in an effort to boost the U.S. population, without immigration. NBC News’ Jonathan Allen explains Democrat...

Long-term support for working mothers and early childhood education are just as important as encouraging people to have more babies to increase the U.S. birth rate, says CPC Director Karen Guzzo.
www.nbcnews.com/video/group-...

CPC Fellow Kerilyn Schewel Publishes New Book on Development and Migration in Ethiopia.
global.oup.com/academic/pro...

2026 trends according to 10 Gillings School experts - UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health January 15, 2026 Gillings School faculty members tapped into their areas of expertise and shared insights on what they’re paying attention to in 2026.

"2026 will be a critical test of whether federal momentum translates into meaningful policy shifts" related to nutrition, CPC Fellow Lindsey Smith Taillie.
sph.unc.edu/sph-news/202...

What we — and AI — can learn from nature's intelligence : TED Radio Hour Artificial intelligence is powerful, but what about natural intelligence? This hour, TED speakers explore the intrinsic genius in animal language, insect behavior, plant anatomy and our immune system....

Cytokines, proteins that trigger the human immune response to fight infection and inflammation, can also cause changes to a person's mood and social behavior when sick, says CPC Fellow Keely Muscatell.
www.npr.org/2026/01/16/n...

The US is on the verge of losing its measles elimination status. Here's why that matters. There is little room for error in trying to stop measles. The virus is one of the most contagious, infecting 9 out of every 10 unvaccinated people exposed.

Measles doesn't change genetically as often as the flu, which makes case tracking more difficult. “Within an outbreak, everybody is going to look the same,” says CPC Fellow Justin Lessler.
www.wcnc.com/article/news...

Poverty Linked to Worse Colorectal Cancer Survival Two new studies report worse colorectal cancer survival among patients with lower socioeconomic status, adding weight to a growing body of similar evidence.

Recent studies show poverty is linked to worse survival outcomes for colorectal cancer. “At the national level, recent policy changes may make [these disparities] harder to address,” says CPC Fellow Caroline Thompson.
www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...

How Donald Trump should tackle America's population crisis Since the start of his second term as president, Donald Trump has made it clear he's concerned about America's low birth rates.

Unpredictability is felt especially by young adults, who weigh a significant number of risks when deciding to have kids, says CPC Director Karen Guzzo.
www.newsweek.com/how-donald-t...

Could Mamdani’s Child Care Plan Encourage a Baby Boomlet in New York?

Expansion of free child care could cause a "modest increase" in NYC's birth rate, as well as giving kids more opportunities to learn while taking the stress off parent, says CPC Director Karen Guzzo.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/19/n...

Panthers, smanthers: The Triangle is home for Western NY food and football Garbage Plates in the Tar Heel State. A group of non-native NC residents from the north have made their new state look (and taste) familiar.

North Carolina's population is growing and New York is “by far” the top sending state for new N.C. residents says Nathan Dollar, director of Carolina Demography.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...

Flu numbers are rising — and so are hospitalizations, fatalities and restrictions A new strain of the influenza virus known as "super flu" has overwhelmed hospitals statewide and caused many to fall ill.

As flu numbers rise across N.C., the vaccine has been found to be 70-80 percent effective in preventing hospitalization in children and 40-60 percent effective for adults, says CPC Fellow Justin Lessler.
www.dailytarheel.com/article/4d0e...

Why experts are divided over the new federal dietary guidelines The Trump administration released new dietary guidelines that will shape everything from school lunches to medical advice. The guidance puts a bigger emphasis on eating more protein and dairy, somethi...

Scientists behind recently-updated government dietary guidelines have financial ties to the beef and dairy industries, says CPC Fellow Lindsey Smith Taillie.
www.pbs.org/newshour/sho...

Chantel Martin and Arianna Planey

Congratulations to CPC fellows Chantel Martin and Arianna Planey for receiving Research Excellence Awards from Gillings School of Global Public Health.
sph.unc.edu/sph-news/8-g...

Meet the Mayors: Canton’s Zeb Smathers says Helene relief is taking too long Canton, NC Mayor Zeb Smathers shares his hopes for 2026. And a conversation about family formation with a sociology professor.

CPC Director Karen Guzzo on National Public Radio's Due South podcast: "Are people able to have the families they themselves say want to have? All evidence right now points to 'no.'"
www.wunc.org/show/due-sou...

Trump Wants Women To Have More Babies. Just 1 Problem. The Trump administration is using declining fertility rates to embrace unabashedly pronatalist rhetoric.

Worries about a decline in the U.S. fertility rate are overblown, says CPC Director Karen Guzzo. "This is like the world’s slowest-moving train. We can adjust. We see this coming. Other countries have dealt with this."
www.huffpost.com/entry/should...

4 faculty receive inaugural Joan Heckler Gillings Endowed Professorship - UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health January 5, 2026 This endowed professorship, funded through an estate gift from the late Joan Heckler Gillings, will provide Drs. Jess Edwards, Leah Frerichs, Anna Kahkoska and Musa Manga with the reso...

Congratulations to CPC Fellow and Associate Professor of Epidemiology Jess Edwards on receiving an inaugural Joan Heckler Gillings Endowed Professorship from UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health.
sph.unc.edu/sph-news/4-f...

Why Americans Are Delaying Parenthood Four studies offer new insights on the decision to have kids in a low birth rate era.

Uncertainty in the world may lead to uncertainty in fertility plans, says CPC Director Karen Guzzo.
www.prb.org/articles/why-americans-are-delaying-parenthood/

Older Americans Quit Weight-Loss Drugs in Droves

While many people are giving up weight-loss drugs because of the side effects, restarting treatment can lead to other health hazards, says CPC Fellow John Batsis.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/h...

With Rights and Resources Uncertain, They’re Seeking Sterilization

CPC Fellow Kavita Arora says that while interest in sterilization is growing, women face bias and increased scrutiny from physicians when requesting the procedures.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/w...

“My bigger fear really is that we’re going to move to the right in terms of access to reproductive medicine," says CPC Director Karen Guzzo regarding coming challenges to U.S. laws governing in vitro fertilization.
www.cpc.unc.edu/news/trump-i...