The conference, funded by the European Consortium for Sociological Research (ECSR), included keynote lectures by renowned researchers who offered exciting insights into their work on the impact of the pandemic on various aspects of society. Prof. Dr. Bastian Betthäuser (Science Po, Paris) presented results from his study "A systematic review and meta-analysis of the evidence on learning during the COVID-19 pandemic." His presentation provided an overview of the results published to date on the impact of the pandemic on student learning. The meta-analysis showed that during the period from May 2020 to May 2022, there was a constant decline in learning gains over time and an increase in social inequality by social background in different countries. Particularly impressive was his analysis of the quality of published studies, which showed that caution is needed when interpreting the results, as many of the publications published on the topic are highly likely to show biased results.

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c.. Anette Fasang (HU Berlin) presented in her keynote results of her research on household composition and the development of two occupational risks that have gained importance in the pandemic: working in non-system jobs, which can also not be done in a home office. Using data from the 2019 Microcensus, she was able to show that the prevalence of these risks was similar in West and East Germany, but that the risk of poverty was significantly higher in the East than in the West.

In his keynote, Dr. Thomas Skora (gesis) highlighted surveymethodological aspects of COVID-19 research, pointing to the increase in scientific surveys at the onset of the pandemic. He identified differences between established social science surveys and newly initiated studies. The subsequent panel discussion with researchers in the field of data collection and survey administration highlighted challenges faced by data collection agencies and discussed potential implications of the pandemic for survey design and implications for researchers on the topic.

In addition to the rich substantive discussions, the conference provided the platform for an intensive exchange on research methods, pitfalls and limitations of studies. Not only methodological aspects were addressed, but also theoretical considerations and cross-national comparisons were made. A particularly impressive presentation by Dr. Kathleen Anangwe highlighted the situation in Kenya and showed how pandemic measures there have exacerbated the already problematic situation of older people.

Overall, the ECSR conference at LIfBi provided a comprehensive framework for international scientists to present and discuss their research findings. The conference not only highlighted current developments, but also methodological challenges and emphasized the importance of differentiated approaches.