Inspired by the decades-long struggle to collect consistent data on international migration globally, this podcast episode explores recent data innovation efforts made by the International Organization for Migration’s Global Migration Data Analysis Center (IOM’s GMDAC) in Berlin, Germany.  

In this episode, MSc student in International Migration and Public Policy Sarah Phillips spoke with two LSE alumni: Niklas Sievers, a former student in the MSc in International Migration and Public Policy program, and now a Data Innovation Analyst at GMDAC; and Marzia Rango, a former student in the MSc in Development Studies program, and now the Data Innovation and Capacity-Building Officer at GMDAC. Their work at GMDAC centers around their mission to improve the data on migration globally while emphasizing the statistics are more than just numbers: they represent real people in need of protection, rights, and help.  

In addition to discussing the role of GMDAC in the field of migration studies, this episode highlights a few of the key issues, as identified by our guests, present in the field that affect forced migrants and refugees. Other topics covered include: Trusting Big Data and Policy-making; Ethical Concerns and Responsible Use of Data; and the Impact of Big Data on Migration.