News
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Video: Digital Technology During Adolescence
May 26, 2026In this webinar, hosted with Spring Point Partners, NSCA member Candice Odgers explored the real risks and benefits of digital technology use during adolescence, and discussed how we can support young people to develop the skills they need to successfully navigate new and existing technology throughout their lives.
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
A Vacant Surgeon General’s Office Issues a Warning About Screen Time
May 22, 2026NSCA member Candice Odgers was quoted in a New York Times article about the new screen time warning issued by the Surgeon General. Although the warning linked excessive time online to worse sleep issues, anxiety, depression, alcohol use, and other health harms, experts say the research is more nuanced. “Much of the existing research does not suggest that social media use is a major predictor of whether a child will develop mental health issues,” said Candice. Rather, she said, “it suggests that children who are already struggling with mental health or other issues are more likely to spend time online.”
Video: UCLA Psychology Presents “The Opportunity of Adolescence”
May 15, 2026In this video, our co-executive directors, Andrew J. Fuligni and Adriana Galván, explore “The Opportunity of Adolescence” and share the science behind why adolescence is an important window of opportunity and plasticity where investments and science-informed supports can help set our young people up for thriving futures.
Adriana Galván and Lisa Lawson on Using Brain Science to Help Gen Z Thrive
May 13, 2026In a new episode of the podcast CaseyCast, Annie E. Casey Foundation President and CEO Lisa Lawson and CDA’s co-executive director Adriana Galván discuss how to better support young people as they navigate the path to adulthood. This podcast episode is adapted from a fireside chat that took place at the 2026 Adolescent Brain Development Summit.
From the Science of Learning and Development to the Promise of Ecosystems
April 20, 2026The UCLA Center for the Developing Adolescent was cited in a New America article highlighting organizations and research that have supported the National Commission on Learning Ecosystems’ understanding of adolescent development and how to build ecosystems that support young people. The National Commission on Learning Ecosystems is a two-year initiative, announced in February 2026, that focuses on making stronger connections between U.S. public schools and out-of-school programs.
What Does Brain Science Tell Us About Adolescence?
April 16, 2026The Wallace Foundation interviews CDA’s Co-Executive Director Adriana Galvan for an article on how adolescent brain development shapes risk-taking and learning, and why relationships, exploration, and access to out-of-school-time opportunities matter for developing adolescents.
A Stable Sense of Purpose Helps Teens Navigate Life’s Challenges
April 1, 2026An article from the Cornell Chronicle examines new research from NSCA member Anthony Burrow on how and why a sense of purpose might fluctuate during adolescence. “Let’s keep monitoring for experiences and settings that seem to support a sense of purpose, because if we do that, we might be able to curate more enduring positive experiences for young people,” says Burrow.
NSCA Member Linda Wilbrecht Elected 2025 American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow
March 26, 2026Linda Wilbrecht, member of the National Scientific Council on Adolescence and a professor in the Department of Psychology and the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute at UC Berkeley, has been elected as a 2025 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the Science family of journals. The honorees are among nearly 500 scientists, engineers, and innovators recognized for their scientifically and socially distinguished achievements.
Advisory Board Member Karen Pittman Awarded the NEA’s 2026 Outstanding Service to Public Education Award
February 24, 2026Advisory Board Member Karen Pittman has been awarded the National Education Association’s prestigious 2026 Outstanding Service to Public Education Award. Previous recipients include Kent McGuire, Linda Darling-Hammond, Sesame Street, Mister Rogers, and President Clinton. Frequently referred to as the godmother of positive youth development, Karen has spent her career bringing research on adolescent development into policy and practice to help leaders realize they can do more than help a few young people “beat the odds” — they can make systemic changes that actually “change the odds.”
Founding Director Ron Dahl Receives the 2026 Huttenlocher Award
February 13, 2026Ron Dahl, founding director of the CDA, has received 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. As well as CDA’s founding director, Ron is a NSCA member, pediatrician, developmental scientist, and professor of Public Health at UC Berkeley. For more than 30 years, he has worked with interdisciplinary research teams to advance understanding of child and adolescent development, behavioral/emotional health in youth, adolescent brain development, and the clinical, public health, and policy implications of this research—work that has resulted in more than 300 publications.