痴补苍诲别谤产颈濒迟听听of education and human development,听long听a pioneer in early childhood听studies,听will听launch the听听on March 27, uniting more than 40 faculty members across听Vanderbilt University to advance early childhood research and translate findings for families,听educators听and communities.听听
The ECRC听serves as a听hub where scholars,听students听and听practitioners听can connect, share听ideas,听and amplify听research that听shapes听how听children听from birth to age 8鈥攊ncluding multilingual learners and children with disabilities鈥攄evelop听and learn.听
鈥淰anderbilt鈥檚 strengths in early childhood research鈥攁nchored听in听Peabody College鈥攑osition us as a global leader in advancing knowledge and expanding opportunity for young children,鈥� said Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs C. Cybele Raver. 鈥淭he听Early Childhood Research Collaborative is an exciting step forward, bringing together scholars from across the university to spark new ideas, deepen collaboration and drive discoveries that will make a meaningful difference for children and families.鈥�听
LAUNCH EVENT AND KEYNOTE SPEAKER听
The March 27 (1:30 to 5 p.m., Wyatt Center Rotunda) will feature keynote speaker Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, a Temple University psychology professor and Brookings Institution senior fellow听lauded听as a 鈥渟cientific entrepreneur鈥澨齜y the American Association of Psychology.听
With 15 books and more than 250 publications, Hirsh-Pasek is an award-winning researcher recognized for bridging basic science and educational impact. She will discuss 鈥淎ctive playful learning: Where the science of learning meets education.鈥�
Guests will also enjoy faculty flash talks from collaborative members, student poster presentations and a reception.听
LEADERSHIP AND 大象传媒app听AREAS
, Anita S. and Antonio M. Gotto Professor of Child Development and professor of psychology, directs the collaborative. A leading scholar of how children develop problem-solving skills in mathematics in the early years, she emphasized the importance of this work: 鈥淭he first eight years of children鈥檚 lives are a critical time for developing the broad range of competencies they will need to thrive in school, in relationships and in life,鈥� she said.
, research assistant professor of special education,听serves听as assistant director.
The ECRC鈥檚 work is organized around five key areas of early childhood development:
- Early Childhood Policy听focuses on policies that promote听health and well-being, economic security, and high-quality, affordable early-learning opportunities for families with young children.听Led by听, director of the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center and professor of early childhood and public policy.
- Emotional and Social听examines听how听children听learn to recognize and express emotions, understand social rules, develop听empathy听and form positive peer relationships.听Co-led by听,听professor of special education,听and听, associate professor of psychology and human development.
- Language and Literacy听focuses听on helping听children听build essential听language development听skills听and听foundational building blocks for reading and writing.听Co-led by听, associate professor of teaching and learning,听and听, associate professor of special education.
- Mathematics听explores听how interactive, everyday experiences and play support early math development.听Co-led by听听and听, research assistant professor of teaching and learning.听听
- Motor and Cognitive听investigates听how infants and young children learn about the world through exploration,听observation听and social interactions, and how听these experiences听promote cognitive development.听Led by听, professor of psychology and human development.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
The听 will serve as a resource linking researchers, media, students and the broader community with Vanderbilt鈥檚 early childhood experts, while showcasing their studies and practice partnerships that create real-world impact.听
鈥淲e鈥檙e committed to ensuring that Vanderbilt鈥檚 expertise reaches those who need it most.鈥� – Tatiana Peredo
鈥淓arly childhood research belongs in the hands of families, educators and communities,鈥� said Peredo.听鈥淲e鈥檙e committed to ensuring that Vanderbilt鈥檚 expertise reaches those who need it most.鈥�听
To learn more, visit the 听or听听for the听.
