Through our Summer and Fall Leadership Institutes in Radnor, Pennsylvania, and Saint Paul, Minnesota, we welcomed over 60 new trainers, expanding our volunteer network to more than 700 educators! These weekend events equipped educators to facilitate PopEd lessons, lead PopEd workshops, and connect with a passionate community committed to Population Education. Most of our teacher-training workshops are presented by volunteers, making the Leadership Institutes indispensable for building our volunteer base.
In September, our PopEd team hosted a special webinar showcasing these volunteer trainers who bring our resources to classrooms across the country! The event spotlighted this incredible network of trainers and the invaluable role they play in expanding the program’s reach. During the event, we heard from long-time PopEd trainer, Helen de la Maza, about her personal experiences with the program. We also enjoyed a demonstration of one of PopEd’s most popular activities, “Mining for Chocolate,” led by Senior Education Associate Laura Short.
Meanwhile, the winners of the 2025-2026 World of 8 Billion student video contest have been announced! Students in grades 6-12 were tasked to submit their creative solutions to address this year’s global challenge topics: Energy, Wetlands, & Economics. This contest encourages students to make the population connection, show off their filmmaking skills, and win prizes. We received submissions from students from over 60 countries! View the winning entries here.
This Spring, PopEd returned to the National Science Teaching Association‘s annual conference. Held in Anaheim, the PopEd team hosted a booth in the exhibit hall, engaging more than 300 educators who were interested in learning more about PopEd’s resources. PopEd staff and trainers presented three workshops for elementary, middle, and high school educators.
Additionally, we shared resources at NSTA’s Share-a-Thon for Informal Educators who teach at non-school locations like nature centers, science museums, and more!
PopEd staff showcasing teacher resources and classroom materials at the conference’s Share-a-Thon
Explore PopEd Resources
Every year, Population Education attends the National Council for the Social Studies national conference, and 2025 was no different! The PopEd team attended the annual event in December to meet with social studies educators from across the country and provide them with free teaching resources.
At PopEd’s booth in the exhibit hall, more than 150 educators stopped by to pick up posters like our World Population map, gain access to our lesson plan libraries, explore the World Population “dot” video, and chat with our energetic team about professional development opportunities. PopEd team members also facilitated three interactive sessions, attended by 73 teachers, that showcased the many ways PopEd materials can be incorporated into social studies classes at all grade levels.
PopEd Trainers at the National Council for the Social Studies national conference in December 2025
Learn About PopEd's Teacher Workshops
Last year marked an incredible milestone: 50 years of Population Education (PopEd)! Over the decades, PopEd has refined its program, earning a reputation for educational excellence. As the only national program dedicated to helping teachers address human population issues, PopEd fills an important need within K-12 educational settings. Learn more about PopEd’s 50 years of educating K-12 students, with our commemorative December 2025 issue of Population Connection!
Our Population Studies for Higher Education Program continues to engage college students through dynamic presentations and academic resources, including contributions to The Encyclopedia of Biodiversity. We’ve had a strong year, with our team presenting to more than 70 college classes across this semester, exploring the links between population, health, environment, and sustainable development.
In addition to giving presentations, we offered a five-week summer course at the University of North Carolina – Greensboro. The course, “World Population Problems,” is open to both undergraduate and graduate students who are eager to learn about the connections between demography, health, and human rights.
“Thank you for your guest lecture. I speak on behalf of the students and myself that we enjoyed your talk deeply and appreciate the insights you shared connecting population, climate change, health, and women’s rights. This is an important issue that deserves attention both locally and internationally. Many thanks also to Population Connection for supporting this advocacy and educational program.” Dr. Idowu "Jola" Ajibade, Professor of Geography, Portland State University
It’s no secret that last year was a challenging one for the global advancement of reproductive health and rights, and 2026 has begun with continued obstacles. The Trump administration announced the expansion of the Global Gag Rule, adding provisions that target DEI and gender inclusion programs.
In response, our Field Team has strengthened the next phase of our joint #Fight4HER campaign with Population Connection Action Fund. We’re mobilizing activists in key battleground states while maintaining a strong presence in Washington, D.C.
Out in the field this summer, our #Fight4HER organizers have been loud and proud in their support for global reproductive rights. We mobilized activists in North Carolina, Nevada, and New Hampshire to reach out to their reps and share their thanks for their representatives’ strong commitment to global reproductive rights. In Vegas, we had the opportunity to thank the Nevada Congresswoman, Rep. Dina Titus, personally! In Arizona, state representatives continue to vote against reproductive freedom for people in their home state and abroad. Field organizers hosted a community roundtable discussion with a local organization to talk about reproductive freedom, housing, and other issues important to the Tucson community.
As summer ends and students head back to school, we are excited to keep connecting with our grassroots communities to discuss what is currently at stake in the fight for global reproductive rights.
For the first time, Population Connection sent a representative to the Commission on the Status of Women, the leading annual international conference aimed at advancing women’s empowerment. Our Director of International Research and Policy, Melvine Ouyo, attended this year’s event, held from March 9-19 at the UN Headquarters in New York City. The theme focused on “Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers.”
Melvine with the CSW70 banner
Read Melvine's Recap Report
From International Women’s Day rallies to nationwide “No Kings” protests, our community continues to show up, speak out, and demand comprehensive reproductive health care for all. Your support fuels this movement, and we are deeply grateful for your unwavering commitment to health, dignity, and human rights.
Population Connection continues to monitor news coverage and swiftly responds to misleading articles through op-eds, letters to the editor (LTEs), and press releases. In fall 2025, we were featured on NPR’s Weekend Edition as part of its Population Shift series and quoted in a CNN article on pronatalism. So far this year, we have published two LTEs and contributed one additional media quote:
Population Connection has special consultative status with the United Nations (UN) through the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). This status allows us to attend UN conferences, deliver written and oral statements, and comment on drafts of important publications.
From April 13 to 17, Florence Blondel, our Digital Media Manager, attended the UN’s 59th Session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD59). Florence made PopConnect’s presence known by delivering a fantastic oral statement, which Population Institute signed on to as well. Additionally, we hosted an official side event and submitted a written statement, which was included in the official conference program.
Florence Blondel at UNCPD in NYC
Read Florence's Recap Report
Much of the recent news coverage has responded to the passing of our co-founder, Paul Ehrlich, this past March. Paul and his wife, Anne, authored The Population Bomb in 1968, which raised global awareness of the impacts of rapid population growth and the significance of voluntary family planning services. We send our condolences to Paul Ehrlich’s family, friends, and countless colleagues, as well as Population Connection supporters like you, who have tirelessly carried on the movement Paul sparked nearly 60 years ago.
In 2025, our virtual events brought together nearly 1,000 supporters who remain curious about the solutions to global population growth! Your support has also boosted the reach our Global Partners initiative.
At the same time, our Global Partners initiative expanded from 19 to 24 organizations across Latin America, Africa, and Asia, supporting critical work in education, health, and sustainability. I hope you feel good knowing what a difference your investments in our efforts make and I encourage you to tune in as we feature these new partner organizations in future events!
We are overwhelmed by the incredible turnout for our fifth annual Summer Photo Contest! This year’s contest featured seven categories: Amazing Avians, Botanical Bliss, Candid Culture, Charming Creatures, Gorgeous Geology, Scenic Skies, and Wondrous Water. We are thrilled to announce the first-place winners in each category! We received over 170 submissions from supporters sharing photographs that inspire them to protect our planet and all its inhabitants. Entries capture moments from across the US and abroad, featuring epic shots taken in locations from national parks to supporters’ own backyards. We extend our thanks to participants for sharing the natural spaces, diverse cultures, and wildlife that motivate them to be good stewards of our planet. Congratulations to our winners! Find all of the incredible photo entries our members and supporters submitted here.
Photo submitted by Leslie Anderson, member since 2004
Explore All 2026 Submissions
We celebrated “Earth Month” with a slew of activities supported by members and supporters like YOU!
Members tabled at Earth Day events in New York City, Pensacola, Florida, and Galena, Illinois — reaching hundreds of people in their local communities with materials and information, making the links between population growth, climate change, resource depletion, and other environmental challenges.
Lead volunteer, Paula G., at NYC’s Earth Day event in Union Square
Get Involved
This year got off to a strong and inspiring start:
8,000+ Activists
10,000+ Educators
900+ Supporters
As we reflect on the past year, we would like to highlight the remarkable achievements of Population Connection and Population Connection Action Fund. Your support has had a significant impact, enabling us to raise awareness about population issues and advocate for policies that protect the family planning programs that will help us achieve zero population growth once and for all.
Explore Our 2025 HighlightsFor further exploration, watch our annual Year in Review event, where senior staff share our collective achievements in 2025!
Watch the Recording!
