Established in 2003, the National Scientific Council is a multi-disciplinary collaboration of scientists and scholars from universities across the United States and Canada designed to bring the science of early childhood and early brain development to bear on public policy decision-making. The mission of the Council is to synthesize and communicate science to help inform policies that promote successful learning, adaptive behavior, and sound physical and mental health for all young children. Central to this concept is the ongoing generation, analysis, and integration of knowledge and the critical task of educating policymakers, civic leaders, and the general public about the rapidly growing science of early childhood development and its underlying neurobiology.
The Science of Early Childhood
Neuroscience, molecular biology, and genomics tell us that early life experiences are built into our bodies. They get under our skin and into the brain and other organ systems, with lasting effects on individuals, communities, society, and the economy. Children subjected to poverty, violence, or neglect during these early years without a supportive network of adults can end up with faulty “wiring” that has long-term consequences well into adulthood. Experiences during the first few years of life – good and bad—literally shape the architecture of the developing brain. Stable, positive relationships with adults and growth-promoting experiences are key to the development of the architecture that forms the foundation for all future learning, behavior, and health. More >
Journal Article
"Neuroscience, Molecular Biology, and the Childhood Roots of Health Disparities: Building a New Framework for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention"
The origins of many adult diseases can be traced to negative experiences early in life, so confronting the causes of adversity before and shortly after birth may be a promising way to improve adult health and reduce premature deaths, according to this article written by Jack P. Shonkoff, M.D., W. Thomas Boyce, M.D., Bruce S. McEwen, Ph.D., all members of the Council, and published in the June 3, 2009, issue of JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association.
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InBrief: The Impact of Early Adversity on Children's Development
This edition of the InBrief series outlines basic concepts from the research on the biology of stress, which show that major adversity can weaken developing brain architecture and permanently set the body's stress response system on high alert. Science also shows that providing stable, responsive environments for children in the earliest years of life can prevent or reverse these conditions, with lifelong consequences for learning, behavior, and health.
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Reports & Working Papers
Briefs
Council Members
Learn about the Council's unique, multi-disciplinary, multi-university group of scientists and scholars. More >
Council Publications
The Council has created a series of publications to marry the science of early childhood and brain development with state-of-the-art communications research designed to effectively translate that knowledge for non-scientific audiences. More >
Major support for the Council has been provided by: the Birth to Five Policy Alliance, the Buffett Early Childhood Fund, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Norlien Foundation, and the Pierre and Pamela Omidyar Fund.
