CDU launches population journal

A free online academic journal that discusses research into Australia’s population has been launched at Charles Darwin University today.

Northern Institute demographer and journal editor Dr Tom Wilson said the CDU-based Australian Population Studies journal was the only journal dedicated specifically to population research in Australia.

“It is also the first online open-access journal hosted by the CDU Library,” Dr Wilson said.

“And it is a bit different from most journals.”

Dr Wilson said the journal invited three types of contribution, including regular research papers, introductory guides that explained demographic methods and theories, and the use of visualisation to present data in interesting and innovative ways.

“We expect it will be of interest to students, researchers, practitioners, teachers and others wishing to learn about demography,” he said.

“The contents will be available to anyone with internet access anywhere in the world.”

Dr Wilson said the journal’s origins could be traced back to last year’s Australian Population Association conference where a group of demographers lamented the lack of such a journal since the closure of People and Place seven years ago.

“So I suggested we create an open-access journal dedicated to Australian population issues, and with the help of a couple of former university colleagues, we now have this new journal.”

CDU Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Sue Carthew formally launched the journal at the Casuarina campus library’s Beagle Deck this afternoon.

“The creation of Australian Population Studies is a sign of the strength of the demography team in the Northern Institute, and the innovative practices of CDU Library,” Professor Carthew said.

“I particularly like the journal’s emphasis on policy-relevant population issues, including issues affecting Northern Australia.”

The Australian Population Studies journal is online here: W: australianpopulationstudies.org