UCLA Center for the Developing Adolescent

Mid-Year Recap Newsletter from the UCLA Center for the Developing Adolescent

The first half of 2025 has been busy at the UCLA Center for the Developing Adolescent! 💫
Catch up on our top resources, news, and podcasts from the last six months in our Mid-Year Recap newsletter: mailchi.mp/developingad...

Congratulations to National Scientific Council on #Adolescence member @stephen-t-russell.bsky.social on being appointed the new director of the T. Denny Sanford School of Social & Family Dynamics at Arizona State University!
Read more: news.asu.edu/b/20250729-s...

Can Virginia Really Ban Kids From Social Media? - Washingtonian Last week, Governor Glenn Youngkin signed a bill prohibiting cellphones in the state's public schools. (DC Public Schools just announced that it will implement its own cellphone ban starting in the 20...

UVA professor and CDA friend Nancy Deutsch was quoted in a @washprobs.bsky.social article about the Virginia law restricting social media during #adolescence.
“If teens are doing something, they’re doing it to meet a developmental need,” says Deutsch.
Read more: www.washingtonian.com/2025/06/09/c...

Summer 2025 Research Roundup from the UCLA Center for the Developing Adolescent

Interested in the latest research on adolescent development?💡🧠
Check out our Summer Research Roundup, a curated list of new research from the field of #adolescence. This season's issue highlights sleep, prosocial behavior, adversity, and more:
developingadolescent.semel.ucla.edu/topics/item/...

July 14 from 10:00 – 11:00 am PT: Spring Point Partners' webinar on 'The Science of Contribution,' featuring the UCLA Center for the Developing Adolescent's co-executive director, Andrew Fuligni

One week away from the 'The Science of Contribution' webinar featuring CDA's co-executive director, Andrew Fuligni! 🧠
Join Spring Point Partners on July 14, from 10–11:00 am PT, to learn how contribution is important for adolescent development.
Register now: www.ticketleap.events/tickets/spri...

'What the Research Says About Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth' post feature photo showing two young people at a pride parade

This month, in honor of Pride, we spoke with NSCA member @stephen-t-russell.bsky.social about research on supporting the well-being of LGBTQ+ youth.
Learn how we can use scientific insights to create environments for LGBTQ+ youth to thrive: developingadolescent.semel.ucla.edu/blog/item/wh...

Framing Guidance: How to Communicate about Transgender Youth

We know from research how to support transgender youth, and we need to use this knowledge to inform the policies that affect them.
This guidance offers ways to effectively communicate about transgender youth in a way that prioritizes their needs: developingadolescent.semel.ucla.edu/topics/item/...

Interested in a monthly topical newsletter about supporting healthy development during #adolescence?💡 Sign up today for emails from the CDA highlighting new research, resources, podcasts, and blog posts about adolescent development: ucla.us20.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=...

The CDA is on LinkedIn, Instagram, and X/Twitter! Follow us today.

Did you know that the Center for the Developing Adolescent is on LinkedIn, Instagram, and X? Follow us today @develadolescent! 🖇️ 📸 ✖️

🔷LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/cent...
🔷Instagram: www.instagram.com/develadolesc...
🔷X/Twitter: x.com/develadolesc...

Late adolescents smiling and laughing at a Pride parade.

All young people deserve a safe environment to grow in where they feel a sense of belonging. Research suggests this is especially true for youth who identify as LGBTQ+. 🏳️‍🌈
This #PrideMonth, we are sharing resources about how to support LGBTQ+ youth: developingadolescent.semel.ucla.edu/topics/item/...

Would you eat a ghost pepper for a prize? - Dan Kwartler Welcome to Risky Business, the game where we find out how far people will go to win a prize! Today’s contestants are a 21 year-old, a 16 year-old, and a 12 year-old. They'll compete in a series of thr...

Would you eat a ghost pepper or swim in honey for a prize?🌶️🍯
Research suggests that adolescents are more likely than adults to try new things and take risks, which are ways they learn about and explore the world!
Watch the new TED-Ed video about risk-taking now: ed.ted.com/lessons/woul...

Adaptivity Podcast miniseries "Our Youth's Perspective" episode on AI and public policy

A new episode of our youth-led #Adaptivity podcast miniseries explores how AI is likely to shape education for young people, and why it can be something we embrace instead of fear.

Listen now: developingadolescent.semel.ucla.edu/podcasts/ite...

Adaptivity Podcast "Our Youth's Perspective" miniseries episode on Nature vs. Nurture

Today on the youth-led #Adaptivity podcast miniseries, YSCA members talk with UCLA professor of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences, @lhernandez.bsky.social, about “nature v. nurture,” or how genetics + environment interact to affect development: developingadolescent.semel.ucla.edu/podcasts/ite...

A new UCLA Blueprint article highlights the importance of purpose in #adolescence and features the NSCA report, Cultivating Purpose in Adolescence, while interviewing NSCA members and our co-executive director, Andrew Fuligni.
Read more: blueprint.ucla.edu/feature/a-se...

Adaptivity Podcast: The Science of Adolescence, Episode: "Mind-Body Loop"

In a new episode of our youth-led #Adaptivity podcast miniseries, Youth Scientific Council on #Adolescence members talk to UCLA professor Ted Robles about the "mind-body connection"!
Listen now on Spotify, iTunes, or Libsyn: developingadolescent.semel.ucla.edu/podcasts/ite...

Supporting Entrepreneurship and Economic Innovation during Adolescence

Research shows that adolescents are exceptional innovators and are more willing than adults to explore situations with uncertain outcomes.
Hear from researchers & young people as they discuss the importance of #entrepreneurship during #adolescence: developingadolescent.semel.ucla.edu/blog/item/su...

Economic Support for the Transition to Adulthood

Without support, transitioning from #adolescence to adulthood can be difficult.
Hear from researchers, policymakers, & youth advocates as they discuss how we could use financial assistance to help young people navigate the transition to adulthood: developingadolescent.semel.ucla.edu/blog/item/ec...

We're hiring a remote Policy and Practice Associate! Apply now.

We are #hiring a Policy & Practice Associate‼️
Join our team as we work to improve adolescent health, education, and well-being through developmental science.
Experience with processes and procedures for influencing policy is required. This position is remote.
Apply now: jobs.ucla.edu/jobs/6456?la...

Building a Thriving Workforce: Career Preparation During Adolescence

How do we create career preparation programs that effectively support young people?
Hear from researchers, practitioners, and apprentices about the key factors they think make a program successful, including social supports and mentor training:
developingadolescent.semel.ucla.edu/blog/item/bu...

YouTube video by TED-Ed The clever trick used by sports betting apps - Shannon Odell

What strategies do gambling industries use to encourage addictive behavior, especially among young people who make up the fastest-growing demographic of gamblers? 🎲 🏈 ⚽
Find out more in the new TED-Ed video, made in partnership with CDA and @bezosfamilyfoundation.org: www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYpy...

2025 Adolescent Brain Development Symposium: Building Economic Opportunity during Adolescence - YouTube The fourth annual Adolescent Brain Development Symposium, hosted by the UCLA Center for the Developing Adolescent, convened policymakers, youth-serving organ...

Earlier this month, we hosted our fourth annual Adolescent Brain Development Symposium focused on Building Economic Opportunity during #Adolescence!
Session topics ranged from career preparation programs to supporting entrepreneurship.
Watch the full sessions now: www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...

Congrats to NSCA member @candiceodgers.bsky.social on being named a Chancellor’s Professor at @ucirvine.bsky.social!
The title recognizes scholars who have demonstrated "unusual academic merit."
Read more: socialecology.uci.edu/news/odgers-...

National Youth Employment Coalition 2025 Annual Forum: Elise Brumbach presenting on May 14 at 10:35 am

We are in Minnesota this week presenting at the 2025 #NYEC Annual Forum! Join our Director of Policy and Practice on May 14 at 10:35 a.m. for a presentation on 'The Connecting Adolescent Brain: Developmental Science Insights to Help Opportunity Youth Thrive': site.pheedloop.com/event/EVEDZB...

SEL & Wellness Summit. Sacramento, CA. May 15-16.

The Center for the Developing Adolescent is presenting at the #SELWellnessSummit!
If you are attending SEL & Wellness, join us on May 16th at 9:40 a.m. (Breakout Session 3) for a presentation on 'Leveraging the Opportunity of #Adolescence to Support Developmental Relationships in Schools.'

16 to 25: Building Pathways toward a Thriving Adulthood

Between the ages of 16 and 25, we are motivated to learn, explore, and connect in ways that help us transition to the agency and responsibilities of adulthood.
Learn more about this critical stage of development with our new 16 to 25 fact sheet: developingadolescent.semel.ucla.edu/topics/item/...

Happy May! 🌸 This month, the CDA is focusing our content on economic opportunity during #adolescence.
Stay tuned for resources about late adolescence, blog posts about promoting economic opportunity, and highlights from our 2025 Adolescent Brain Development Symposium: Building Economic Opportunity.

Congrats to @jenndsn.bsky.social, co-director of the National Scientific Council on #Adolescence, on her successful TED Talk!

"Adolescence isn't a problem to be solved. It's a transformative period of growth & opportunity—and we all have a role to play in helping young people unlock its potential."

5 signs you’re a good driver - Iseult Gillespie As one of the agency’s best employees, you’ve been selected as a finalist to take on a new top-secret mission. You’ve already shown your aptitude for surveillance and disguise, but the agency’s lookin...

During #adolescence, the brain is uniquely wired to learn from new experiences, creating a window of opportunity for adolescents to learn how to drive!
A new video, made in partnership with CDA and @bezosfamilyfoundation.org, explores 5 lessons all drivers should know: ed.ted.com/lessons/5-si...

The CDA is at #BOOSTConference presenting on "The Connecting Adolescent Brain: Developmental Science Insights to Help Middle + High School Youth Thrive"! Interested in connecting? Meet our Director of Policy & Practice Elise Brumbach or Research Associate Natalie Saragosa-Harris.

Adolescents participating in climate action by cleaning up trash on a beach.

Research shows that adolescents are especially concerned and conscious of #climatechange, and are uniquely inspired to find solutions and participate in climate action.
Learn about how climate action can impact young people in our new blog post: developingadolescent.semel.ucla.edu/blog/item/th...