Congress by the numbers

This is a guest post by Natalie Samson, digital journalist at University Affairs.

This year, the annual Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences ran from May 30 to June 5 at the University of Ottawa. The event offers a unique opportunity for scholars in these disciplines to share their work, compare notes, collaborate and rub shoulders with old friends and new acquaintances. While the research presented at Congress rightfully takes centre stage, it’s worth recognizing the work that goes on behind the scenes by the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences and the host institution.

CONGRESS BY THE NUMBERS*

Expected participants : 8,900
Academic associations hosting their annual conferences under the Congress umbrella : 70
Volunteers : 300
Residence rooms booked from Friday, May 29 to Friday, June 5 : 3,522
Booths booked in the expo centre : 77
Big Thinking lectures : 7
Career Corner sessions : 10
Governors General in attendance : 1
Registrants at the conference for the Canadian Society for the Study of Education : 1,104
Registrants at the conference for the Canadian Disability Studies Association : 153
Children aged 5 years to 12 years for day camp : 80
Busiest day at Congress : Tuesday, June 2
Number of years Congress (formerly the Learned Societies Congress) has met : 84
Number of cups of coffee ordered through U of Ottawa’s catering department : 36,000
Number of steamed pork buns (bao) made by hand for the beer tent : 1,225
Pounds of halal chicken breast ordered by catering for jerk chicken sandwiches : 336
Kegs of beer ordered from Dominion City Brewing Co. : 38

*The original post had incomplete information; the numbers have now been updated, courtesy of the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences.