Adriana Galván and Lisa Lawson during a fireside chat conversation at the 2026 Adolescent Brain Development Summit hosted by the UCLA Center for the Developing Adolescent

How can we strengthen the bridge that young people cross as they become adults? 🌉
Learn more in this fireside chat w/ our co-executive director, Adriana Galván, and the President & CEO of the @annieecaseyfdn.bsky.social, Lisa Lawson: developingadolescent.semel.ucla.edu/blog/item/fi...

Spring Research Roundup: 1.) How Volunteering Affects Metabolic Health and Feelings of Purpose in Black Adolescents From Low-Income Families, January 2026 2.) Organized After-School Activity and Adolescents’ Ethnic-Racial Identity, March 2026 3.) The Effects of Daily Air Pollution On Adolescent Emotional Well-Being, June 2026

The Spring Research Roundup is out now! 🌸 Catch up on the latest adolescent development research with a curated selection of recent journal articles, summarized for our audiences.
Read more: developingadolescent.semel.ucla.edu/topics/item/...

What Does Brain Science Tell Us About Adolescence? How adolescent brain development shapes risk-taking and learning—and why relationships, exploration, and access to out-of-school-time opportunities matter

How does adolescent brain development shape risk-taking & learning, & why do relationships + opportunities to explore matter during #adolescence? Explore these questions in a new interview with our co-executive director Adriana Galvan + @wallacefdn.bsky.social!
wallacefoundation.org/resource/art...

How We Thrive It's time to start rehumaning our lives. Explore 14 essentials to counter overwhelm, reclaim humanity, and support well-being for kids and adults alik...

How We Thrive, a new book by Stephanie Malia Krauss featuring research on sleep and contribution from our co-executive directors, is now available everywhere!

Learn more: www.corwin.com/books/how-we...

Applying Developmental Science to Support Economic Opportunity - YouTube The fifth annual Adolescent Brain Development Summit brought together funders, scientists, practitioners, policymakers, and youth to examine how we can apply...

The videos from the #2026Summit are out now! 📽️
Watch scientists, practitioners, policymakers, and young people discuss how to help adolescents find purpose in career pathways, connect to benefits and programs, navigate #AI and uncertain job markets, and more: www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...

National Scientific Council on #Adolescence report, "Engaging, Safe, and Evidence-Based: What Science Tells Us Adolescents Need When Online"

As the world continues to grapple with issues around digital tech and young people, we are resharing our National Scientific Council on #Adolescence report, "Engaging, Safe, and Evidence-Based: What Science Tells Us Adolescents Need When Online": developingadolescent.semel.ucla.edu/topics/item/...

A stable sense of purpose helps teens navigate life’s challenges | Cornell Chronicle Like their emotions and self-esteem, teenagers’ sense of purpose fluctuates day to day, and those who experience it steadily – not just intensely – may benefit most.

A new article from the Cornell Chronicle highlights recent research from NSCA member Anthony Burrow on how often a sense of purpose fluctuates during #adolescence, and why it is important to provide young people with opportunities to engage in purposeful pursuits: news.cornell.edu/stories/2026...

UCLA CDA's research associate, Natalie Saragosa-Harris, at NYEC's 2026 Annual Forum

Our research associate @neuralnat.bsky.social was at #NYEC2026 this week, leading the session "From Classmate to Coworker: Insights from Neuroscience to Support Youth During the Transition to Adulthood."

Learn more about late #adolescence here: developingadolescent.semel.ucla.edu/topics/item/...

We're hiring an Academic Coordinator‼️
CDA is looking for an experienced instructional designer to serve as lead content developer for a new interdisciplinary training initiative focused on adolescent development for youth-serving professionals.
Apply now: recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF10920

Congratulations to Linda Wilbrecht on being elected a 2025 AAAS Fellow!

Congratulations to NSCA member Linda Wilbrecht on being elected a 2025 AAAS Fellow! Linda was recognized “for distinguished contributions to the neurobiology of learning and adolescent development."

Read more: neuroscience.berkeley.edu/news/three-n...

I had so much fun at @cda-adolescence.bsky.social last week speaking about socio-emotional development and the transition to adulthood along side the incredible heartoforegon.org and americasucceeds.org organizations!

Thank you to our AMAZING 2026 Adolescent Brain Development Summit attendees, moderators, and panelists!🧠💡 We heard some incredible sessions on topics ranging from navigating an uncertain future of work to decision-making in financial support and benefits access.
Stay tuned for videos and blog posts!

Next up: a panel on navigating uncertainty in the future of work for young people @cda-adolescence.bsky.social including @candiceodgers.bsky.social, Mimi Haley + Jaime Jimenez from NYEC, Vicki Phillips from NCEE. Core message here is let young people lead. 1/

Incredible opening keynote for @cda-adolescence.bsky.social summit on supporting youth and economic opportunities in the transition to adulthood! Lisa Lawson, CEO @annieecaseyfdn.bsky.social, spoke about their initiatives to help all young people thrive. 1/ www.aecf.org/series/thriv...

2026 Adolescent Brain Development Summit

The 2026 Adolescent Brain Development Summit has begun! Thank you to all the attendees and panelists for being here to discuss 'Applying Developmental Science to Support Economic Opportunity.'
#2026Summit

2026 Adolescent Brain Development Summit hosted by the UCLA Center for the Developing Adolescent

We are excited to convene researchers, policymakers, practitioners, youth-serving orgs, funders & young people on Thursday for our 2026 Adolescent Brain Development Summit titled Applying Developmental Science to Support Economic Opportunity!✨
Stay tuned for social from the event! 💙
#2026Summit

Adaptivity: The Science of Adolescence Podcast: Adolescence, AI, & Authentic Human Connection SXSW EDU 2026 Schedule | What does it take to become good humans in a rapidly changing world? This panel brings together experts in adolescent development, relationships, and education to explore the ...

Are you at #SXSWEDU? Join us at 2:00 pm at the Austin Marriott Downtown - Waterloo Ballroom 3 for a live #Adaptivity podcast episode titled #Adolescence, AI, and Authentic Human Connection.
This session counts for CPE credit.
Learn more: schedule.sxswedu.com/events/PP116...

ICYMI: Want to learn more about CDA's work & impact in 2025? Check out our Annual Report!

Highlights include:
🔷 40+ state & federal legislators briefed
🔷 1.3M+ views on CDA & CDA-supported videos
🔷 5,400+ Adaptivity podcast downloads

Read more: developingadolescent.semel.ucla.edu/topics/item/...

SXSW EDU 2026 Schedule Browse events, build your schedule, and get personalized recommendations for the 2026 SXSW EDU Conference & Festivals from March 9–12, 2026 in Austin, Texas.

Join us at @sxswedu.com in one week, Monday, March 9, at 2:00 pm CT, for a live #Adaptivity: The Science of #Adolescence podcast episode titled, 'Adolescence, #AI, and Authentic Human Connection.

Learn more: schedule.sxswedu.com/events/PP116...

#SXSW2026 #SXSWEDU

A teen girl with her mentor filling out paperwork

Some of the most impactful relationships we have during adolescence are with the caring adults around us.
But what makes these relationships effective at supporting young people?
Read more in a blog post discussing the importance of caring adults: developingadolescent.semel.ucla.edu/blog/item/lo...

Q&A with Karen Pittman, 2026 recipient of the NEA Foundation’s Outstanding Service to Public Education Award | Youth Today Youth Today's Karen Pittman, often referred to as the godmother of positive youth development, received the award on February 13.

Congrats to CDA Advisory Board Member Karen Pittman on receiving @theneafoundation.bsky.social's Outstanding Service to Public Education Award! Previous recipients include Kent McGuire, Linda Darling-Hammond, Sesame Street, Mister Rogers & President Clinton.
Read more: youthtoday.org/2026/02/qa-k...

The NEA Foundation is honored to announce Karen J. Pittman as the 2026 recipient of our Award for Outstanding Service to Public Education. Often called the "godmother" of positive youth development, Pittman has transformed how we support all young people to thrive. #PublicEducation #Education

In this post-pandemic era, it is more important than ever to apply research-based knowledge about brain and social development to support our young people.
Learn more about supporting this emerging generation with our recent Science Spotlight: developingadolescent.semel.ucla.edu/steps-for-yo...

In this post-pandemic era, it is more important than ever to apply research-based knowledge about brain and social development to support our young people.
Learn more about supporting this emerging generation with our recent Science Spotlight: developingadolescent.semel.ucla.edu/steps-for-yo...

Love in Adolescence 5: The Need for Love and Support from Caring Adults YouTube video by UCLA Center for the Developing Adolescent

Interested in how adults can support positive development during adolescence?
Check out our video of last week's Love in #Adolescence webinar discussing why love & support from caring adults is important and the characteristics of successful relationships: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TUf...

Congratulations to Ron Dahl, CDA's founding director, on receiving the 2026 Huttenlocher Award! ✨

The Huttenlocher Award reflects transformative contributions to the field of developmental cognitive neuroscience that inspire future generations of researchers through unique insights.

The CDA was featured in a new @uclacollege.bsky.social Magazine article highlighting researchers and centers at the university studying human connection.

“Adolescents seek out bonding with other people,” said Adriana Galván, our co-executive director.

Read more: newsroom.ucla.edu/magazine/res...

Love in Adolescence webinar: TOMORROW, Thursday, February 12, at 10:00 am PT

Join us TOMORROW, Thursday, February 12, at 10:00 am PT for our Love in #Adolescence webinar focusing on the importance of love and support from caring adults for adolescent development & future well-being!
Register now: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Love in Adolescence: The Need for Love and Support from Caring Adults. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. Adolescence is a critical period of development when we learn more about the social world around us and the complexities of relationships and love. Between 10 and 25, we form new types of relationship...

Join us in ONE WEEK, on Thursday, February 12, at 10:00 am PT for our annual Love in #Adolescence webinar!
Hear from experts, researchers, and young people about how loving & supportive relationships with caring adults can support positive development:
us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

UCLA Center for the Developing Adolescents 2025 Annual Report

Announcing our 2025 Annual Report! ✨
This report highlights CDA’s projects, growth, and impact in 2025 as we worked to integrate developmental science into research, policies, programs, and public discourse to better support adolescents.
Read more: developingadolescent.semel.ucla.edu/topics/item/...