Join us in Washington, D.C. for the inaugural Administrative Data Research Conference (ADRCon) where together we will unlock the power of administrative data to serve the public good.
Whether you’re an established researcher or evaluator, or just embarking on your career, ADRCon offers a dynamic opportunity to connect with your peers, gain valuable insights for working with administrative data, and spark innovative ideas you can apply to your work.
Why ADRCon?
Government agencies and businesses collect vast amounts of everyday data as part of their ongoing operations—ranging from transaction histories, tax filings, employment and school records, program enrollment information, and more. While they use this data to make decisions about how to run their programs and deliver services, it can also fuel research for the public good.
With access to the treasure trove that is administrative data, researchers are able to more accurately, quickly, and cost-effectively produce real-time insights into health, housing, justice, education, transportation, and environment trends and evaluate policies and programs that seek to improve population and community health.
ADRCon aims to accelerate administrative data research that serves the public good by providing a forum for discussion and idea exchange.
ADRCon brings together researchers, practitioners, and students to share the latest research findings, discuss cutting-edge methodologies and emerging technologies for using administrative data, and showcase real-world applications.
We’ve lined up experts, thought leaders, and professionals from academia, government, and industry for a series of presentations, panels, and keynotes to explore the opportunities and challenges for using administrative data in research, and reflect on how we can unleash the full potential of administrative data for public good.
ADRCon 2025 will include sessions on these topics:
Data Linkage Methods: Administrative data can be messy, with inconsistencies or missing information. We’ll explore methods to assess, clean, and link administrative data.
Data Governance and Infrastructure : Administrative data often contains sensitive personal information; privacy and security are crucial considerations for using and sharing data and analyses. We’ll discuss infrastructure challenges and solutions when managing access to restricted, sensitive data, and the use of privacy enhancing technologies.
Ethics, Legal, and Social Implications: From AI to public engagement, there are numerous considerations for responsible use of administrative data. We’ll review topics including social license, transparency, incentives, legal and regulatory issues, and participatory engagement models.
Real-World Data Applications: We’ll hear about projects using integrated data systems, administrative records, and private sector data.
In addition to the conference, you can get hands-on training to sharpen your skills and expand your toolset with one of our two workshops, offered from 1:00pm-4:00pm ET on June 23.
Collaborators: Jon Mills, Coleridge Initiative and John Kubale, ICPSR
Workshop Overview:
Join us for an enlightening workshop where we delve deep into the realm of administrative data discovery. This workshop is designed to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the various data inventories and enclaves that house invaluable administrative data. We will also discuss where to find previously public data, including surveys, reports, and indicators.
Topics of Discussion:
We will explore the holdings and access policies of a variety of enclaves, highlighting the wealth of data available at different levels of government and across multiple institutions. Our discussions will cover:
Federal, State, and Local Administrative Data: Learn about the extensive arrays of administrative data within the Federal Statistical Research Data Center (FSRDC) network.
Multi-State Projects at the Coleridge Initiative: Discover how the Coleridge Initiative facilitates multi-state data projects to drive policy-relevant research and innovations.
Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) at the University of Michigan: Explore the specific offerings and collaborative opportunities available at ICPSR.
In addition to data holdings, this workshop will address the challenges and barriers to accessing certain data sources – including public data series and websites that have been removed this year. We will discuss the data sources currently unavailable within these enclaves and other repositories, and the obstacles that researchers and practitioners face when attempting to access these critical datasets.
Learning Objectives:
Greater Awareness of Available Data: Enhance your knowledge of the administrative data available in various enclaves and how to navigate their access procedures.
Insight into Access Policies: Understand the policies governing data access at federal, state, and local levels, and within specific initiatives like the Coleridge Initiative and ICPSR.
Identification of Access Barriers: Identify the key barriers to accessing certain data sources and discuss potential solutions and strategies to overcome these challenges.
Who Should Attend?
This workshop is ideal for researchers, policymakers, data scientists, and anyone interested in utilizing administrative data for their work. Whether you are a seasoned researcher or new to the field, the insights and knowledge gained from this workshop will be invaluable in navigating the complex landscape of administrative data inventories and enclaves.
This workshop offers an interactive experience in record linkage, catering to various expertise levels. It starts with real-world anecdotes and a sandbox environment where participants link 10 variants, simulating real-world challenges.
Topics of Discussion:
Introduction to Record Linkage: Understanding the evolving concept of identity and the history of record linkage challenges in the U.S.
Current Landscape: Industry solutions and open source tools for record linkage.
Novel Applications: Innovative uses of record linkage across diverse domains.
Global Context: Insights into record linkage practices worldwide (Speaker: Shaun*).
Grand Challenges: Blocking strategies, benchmarking datasets, and “The Golden Record” debate.
Incremental Record Linkage: Linking records in stages to enhance accuracy and efficiency.
Learning Objectives:
Gain a foundational understanding of record linkage.
Explore advanced techniques and latest industry solutions.
Apply hands-on skills in a sandbox environment.
Understand global perspectives and challenges in record linkage.
Engage in discussions about innovative applications and future directions.
Who Should Attend:
This workshop is designed for a diverse audience, catering to various levels of expertise. It welcomes neophytes who are new to the field and eager to learn the basics of record linkage. Additionally, it is ideal for practitioners with moderate experience who wish to expand their knowledge and delve deeper into the subject. Finally, seasoned professionals will find the workshop valuable as it explores cutting-edge techniques and the latest innovations in the field.
All workshops will take place at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy located at 125 E St. NW, Washington, DC 20001. Standard fees for workshops are $50 and offered free for students. Workshop fees are separate from the ADRCon 2025 registration fee. ADRCon 2025 registration is not required to enroll in a workshop.
A: Entry is free for federal employees. Employees of state, tribal, or local government and those in academia, are eligible for the non-profit rate of $200 for the conference. Please contact us at adcron-info@georgetown.edu if you have extenuating circumstances.
UPDATE: Unfortunately funding for student travel stipends has been exhausted. Should more funding become available, we will reach out to those who have requested stipends.
A: Registration will begin at 8:00am ET on Tuesday, June 24 with the opening plenary starting at 9:00am ET. The closing plenary will conclude at 1:00pm ET on Wednesday, June 25.
A: Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy is primarily located on our Capitol Campus (downtown) and is accessible via car or Metro. Check out our interactive map to find the best route for you. (FYI some maps may display 125 East St. NW)
A: The conference committee is co-chaired by Amy O’Hara, Research Professor in Georgetown University’s Massive Data Institute and Ngan MacDonald, Director of Data Innovations at Mathematica.
A: ADRCon is committed to making our event accessible to everyone. If you require an accommodation or service to fully participate, please contact adrcon-info@georgetown.edu at least 14 days prior to the event.
A: Registrations cancelled before April 1, 2025 receive a 100% refund. Registrations cancelled before May 1, 2025 receive a 50% refund. Registrations cannot be cancelled or refunded after June 1, 2025. Refunds will be issued to your credit card and may take up to 10 business days to appear on your statement. Please contact adrcon-info@georgetown.edu to begin the cancellation process.