This news feature written by Karen Feldscher highlights an August 9 Hot Topics lecture by Jack P. Shonkoff, director of the Center on the Developing Child. In his talk, “Leveraging Science to Shape the Future of Early Childhood Policy,” Shonkoff spoke of the need for researchers and policymakers to work collaboratively to develop fresh ideas for supporting young children. According to Shonkoff, the sector of early childhood policy “has to not just reduce barriers to learning, but also build the foundations of physical and mental health.”