The following are highlights from coverage by major U.S. and international media outlets of the Center or its affiliated faculty members, initiative members, or partners.
The Atlantic
December 2009
"The Science of Success," by David Dobbs
This article discusses a new theory of behavioral genetics and quotes pediatrician W. Thomas Boyce, of the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, and a member of the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child. Read>>
The Boston Globe
Nov. 10, 2009
"Hub Lab Writing the Book on Face-Reading," by Patricia Wen
The article describes research conducted at Children's Hospital Boston by Center-affiliated faculty member Charles A. Nelson III, a member of the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child. The project studies when and how babies and young children learn to identify faces and discern facial expressions. Read>>
PBS' "Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?"
Rebroadcast in October 2009 on PBS stations
The four-hour documentary series features Center Director Jack P. Shonkoff, affiliated Harvard faculty members Ichiro Kawachi and David Williams, and National Scientific Council on the Developing Child member Bruce McEwen of Rockefeller University. More >>
The New York Times Magazine
Oct. 4, 2009
“Understanding the Anxious Mind,” by Robin Marantz Henig
The article describes research into the development of human temperament by two former and current Center affiliates: Jerome Kagan and Nathan A. Fox. Kagan, who is the Daniel and Amy Starch Research Professor of Psychology, Emeritus, in Harvard’s psychology department, was a member of the Center’s Core Research Seminar from 2006 to 2008. Fox, distinguished university professor and director of the child development laboratory at the University of Maryland College Park, is a current member of the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child.
Read >>
Newsweek
Aug 1, 2009 (online); Aug. 17, 2009 (print)
“Chile Starts Early: President Bachelet Leads the Way in Pushing the Advantages of Preschool,” by Jimmy Langman
The article cites Chile as an example of a growing trend in Latin America and beyond for countries to heed the advice of experts “who argue that the best way to strengthen a society and increase development is to improve health, education, and other services for its youngest citizens.” The article quotes Andrea Rolla, a senior research associate at the Center on the Developing Child and the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and refers to work by Center Director Jack P. Shonkoff.
Read >>
PBS' “NOVA ScienceNOW” program
July 7, 2009
“Autism Genes”
This program segment, which discusses research efforts to identify genes that might be responsible for autism, features comments from Center-affiliated faculty members Takao Hensch and Charles A. Nelson III.
Watch >>
USA TODAY
June 30, 2009
“Aging well starts in womb, as mom's choices affect whole life,” by Liz Szabo
The article quotes Center Director Jack P. Shonkoff: “Twentieth-century medicine dealt with child health and adult health separately. What 21st-century medicine is telling us is that if we want to change adult health, we have to look in babies, even before they're born.”
NBC’s “Today” program
April 2, 2009
“Looking for Answers on Autism”
Charles A. Nelson III, Center faculty affiliate, is featured in a segment about World Autism Awareness Day. The segment discusses Nelson's research at Children's Hospital Boston, which involves monitoring the brain activity, eye contact, language, and social interaction of babies who have autistic siblings, whom studies suggest may be at a greatly elevated risk to develop the disease.
Watch >>
Harvard Magazine
March-April 2009
“The Developing Child” by Elizabeth Gudrais
Center-sponsored research, initiatives, and affiliated faculty members receive extensive treatment in this cover article and the related Web-only content.
Read full article >>
Read online extras >>
CBC Radio One’s “Ideas” program
“The Brains of Babes” series
March 2009
In three episodes, broadcast on March 4, March 11, and March 18, 2009, reporter Jill Eisen details how new research into brain development, human biology, and behavior is showing how early experience can affect lifelong health and well-being. The series features both W. Thomas Boyce, a member of the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, and Center Director Jack P. Shonkoff.
Listen >>
