The University of Virginia is hosting a three-day international conference on social inequality issues.
Some of the world's foremost sociologists are descending on Charlottesville this week to discuss some of the toughest issues we face every day.
The International Sociological Association's conference on "Labor Market and Educational Transitions in Uncertain Times" began Monday.
This is the first time UVA has hosted the International Sociological Association's RC28 Conference on Social Stratification and Mobility.
It will include remarks from UVA President Teresa Sullivan, who has expresses special interest in conference sessions focusing on higher education.
Officials say conference sessions will discuss how social inequality issues impact labor markets, education, job security, poverty, and achievement gaps, among other topics.
"People who are here today really are from all over the world," conference organizer Josipa Roksa said.
Roksa is an associate professor of sociology and education at UVA. She says this conference helps social scientists take a step back and consider regional issues in a broader, international context.
"Sometimes we think that our problems are the biggest and only problems in the world," she said. "But once you look at other countries, you see that they're struggling with similar questions."
One of those questions concerns the best way to make education more accessible to disadvantaged groups. It's also an issue state leaders continue to grapple with. Last week, Governor Bob McDonnell announced that tuition increases at state universities are at their lowest level in 10 years.
"We've got to do more to make college more accessible, more affordable, and more innovative," said the governor. "Reforms are implemented and are working."
Roksa says affordability is just a small part of a larger problem of class and education inequality. And it's a problem she and her colleagues are working to address.
"Money plays a role, but it's not the only factor," she said. "Education is the number one predictor [of subsequent class inequality], it is the strongest factor, and it is one place where we can change."
The conference presenters come from universities including Harvard, Yale and Columbia. Almost two-thirds of the 75 conference speakers are based outside North America, including universities in Japan, China, Germany, Italy, Spain, Israel, Brazil, Chile, Suriname, Czech Republic, Finland, Denmark and England.
The RC28 conference runs from August 13 through 15. It is closed to the public.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
