Blog:

Adolescence Across the Animal Kingdom
January 6, 2023We talked with NSCA member and UC Berkeley neuroscientist Linda Wilbrecht about how insights from the animal kingdom can shift our perspective on the importance of our own human adolescent years.

Friendships & School Diversity
September 23, 2022Students from the UCLA Summer Research Bootcamp share what they learned about the importance of friendships during adolescence and the added benefits of ethnic diversity within those friendships.

Teens Learn About Teen Learning
September 23, 2022Students from the 2022 UCLA Summer Research Boot Camp describe how learning about adolescent development taught them to look deeper into the issues around them and use data to find solutions.
Press Releases
February 25, 2025: Announcing the UCLA Center for the Developing Adolescent’s 2024 Annual Report
January 17, 2023: New Guides Help Organizations Build Effective Youth Engagement Programs
August 16, 2021: New Report Examines Intersection of Anti-Black Racism on Youth Development
November 30, 2020: Center for the Developing Adolescent Announces New Advisory Board Members
October 1, 2020: Center for the Developing Adolescent Announces New Leadership
Stay in the Know

How Can We Enhance Belonging to Promote Exploration?
July 14, 2022This was the fourth and final question tackled at our first annual Brain Development Symposium by panelists Nancy Deutsch, PhD, Director of Youth-Nex at the University of Virginia, and Joyce Pae, Principal at the Chicago Academy K-8 School.

Is Failure Good for Exploration and Learning?
June 23, 2022At our first annual Adolescent Brain Development Symposium we asked experts Dr. Catherine Hartley and Dr. Ken Ginsburg about how mistakes and unexpected outcomes can help us thrive.

How Can We Support Risk Taking During Adolescence?
June 13, 2022At our first annual Adolescent Brain Development Symposium we asked experts Molly Pencke, manager of the Bezos Scholars Program, and Wouter van den Bos, PhD, faculty at the University of Amsterdam.
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A “Sweet Spot” for Navigating Uncertainty
June 3, 2022A study from researchers at UC Berkeley found that 13- to 15-year-olds appear to be better than younger children or adults at navigating unpredictability and uncertainty.

What is Unique About Exploratory Learning During Adolescence?
May 25, 2022What is unique about exploratory learning during adolescence? At our first annual Adolescent Brain Development Symposium we asked experts Jamila Walida Simon, Youth Development Specialist at New York State 4-H, and Dr. Ron Dahl, Director of the Institute of Human Development at UC Berkeley.

Rebuilding with Adolescents in Mind: Key Takeaways from the Summer Webinar Series
July 30, 2021Our Digital Communications Intern Allyson Nesmith, shares her reflections on our recent webinar series on school re-entry.

Science in Action: A Research-Informed Intervention that Supports Youth in Foster Care
April 29, 2021National Scientific Council member Dr. Leslie Leve, University of Oregon, spoke recently about how research can pinpoint the “key ingredients” that make more effective programs and interventions for youth.