Southeast Exchange of Development Studies (SEEDS) Conference

5th Annual SEEDS Conference | April 24–25, 2025

The Southeast Exchange of Development Studies (SEEDS) is an interdisciplinary research group of scholars conducting research in the broad area of development. We are delighted to announce the 5th Annual SEEDS Conference which will be held at Georgia Institute of Technology on April 24-25, 2025. The conference will bring together social scientists from a variety of fields, including economics, international affairs, political science, public policy, and sociology.  

The conference will begin in the afternoon on April 24 and end in the afternoon on April 25. We expect participants to attend both days of the conference. The host institution will host dinner on April 24, and breakfast and lunch on April 25; participants will be reimbursed for parking. Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, we will have limited funds to support lodging for one night for presenters from outside the Metro Atlanta area. Preference for this funding will be given to junior scholars and to those who do not have alternative sources of support.

Please contact Shatakshee Dhongde or Anjali Thomas with any questions. 

2025 Conference Program (PDF)

2025 Keynote: "Development and Economic Measurement of Income Distribution Across Space, Groups, and Generations"

Le Wang headshot

Le Wang is the David M. Kohl Chair and Professor at Virginia Tech, where he also serves as Director of the Kohl Centre. His research agenda is grounded in applied microeconomics, with a particular emphasis on causal inference and distributional analysis. Wang's work addresses fundamental questions concerning the measurement and evolution of income distribution, social mobility, and economic inequality, often advancing the field through the development and application of innovative econometric techniques.

 

 

Parking & Directions

Location: Exhibition Hall, 460 Fourth Street NW, Atlanta GA, 30313 
Parking Location: Visitor Area 3 - W02 Deck Visitor Lot, 355 Ferst Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30313  
 
Attendees can receive validated parking in the Visitor Area 3 - W02 Deck Visitor Lot, 355 Ferst Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30313. Please bring the parking ticket with you to check in so we can provide the validation. A new ticket/validation will be required each time you enter/exit the garage. 


Driving south on I-75/85 into Atlanta: 
Take Exit #249D (North Avenue). At the top of the exit ramp, turn right onto North Avenue. Cross Techwood Drive (the 1st light) and turn right onto Cherry Street (right before the second light). Continue down Cherry Street and turn left onto Ferst Drive. Continue down Ferst, past the construction, until you see Visitor Area 3 - W02 Deck Visitor Lot, on the right. Validation will be provided at check-in. Exit the parking deck and follow signs to the Exhibition Hall, an approximately 3-minute walk. 

 
Driving north on I-75/85 into Atlanta: 
Take Exit #249D (Spring Street). Turn left onto West Peachtree Street (2nd red light). Turn left again onto North Avenue (1st red light). Drive through the next two red lights (the second intersection is Techwood Drive) and turn right on to Cherry Street (right before the third intersection). Continue down Cherry Street and turn left on to Ferst Drive. Continue down Ferst, past the construction, until you see the Georgia Tech Student Visitor Area 3 - W02 Deck Visitor Lot on the right. Validation will be provided at check-in. Exit the parking deck and follow signs to the Exhibition Hall, an approximately 3-minute walk. 
 
Arriving at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport:       
Cab/Ride Share: Take a cab/rideshare to the Exhibition Hall, 460 Fourth Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30313. Ride fare will cost ~$35.  You will likely be dropped off in front of the Campus Recreation Center; follow signs south along the pathway to the Exhibition Hall, which will be on your right. Check-in is located on the second floor. 
 
MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority): 
Please be aware that there are train closures impacting service from the airport; alternative bus routes are provided at no additional cost; follow signs in the airport to MARTA for further instruction. Take the MARTA to the North Avenue MARTA Station and exit via the North Avenue exit door and walk towards the Varsity Restaurant and Tech campus. Continue on North Avenue and cross over I-75/85. Walk past student housing, the Wardlaw Center, and Bobby Dodd Stadium on the right. Shortly after walking past Tech Tower, take a right on Cherry St. NW. Walk down this street for about a block, then turn left onto Ferst Drive. Continue down this sidewalk until you see the Exhibition Hall on your right, approximately 20 minutes.

Previous Conferences