The Institute of Human Development and Social Change (IHDSC) supports rigorous research and training across social, behavioral, educational, policy, communication, and health sciences. Through collaborative and interdisciplinary research, IHDSC works to bridge the disconnect between the science of human development and policies and practices that affect children, youth, and families in diverse contexts.
IHDSC represents a dynamic collaboration among three NYU schools: Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development; Faculty of Arts and Science; and Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.
For Researchers
IHDSC supports rigorous research and training, cultivating research through seed awards, working groups, and individualized grant support from conception through closeout.
For Partners
IHDSC partners with researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to conduct research, develop training, and create mutually beneficial opportunities for networking and professional development.
Upcoming Event
Meet the recipients of the 2020-2021 Seed Awards!
This year, IHDSC funded six new projects that bridge multiple domains of expertise and further the mission of the Institute. We've prioritized research that aligns with our theme of "Unraveling Inequality, Expanding Opportunity" in partnership with NYU’s Cross-Cutting Initiative on Inequality and NYU's Research Development Office.
Learn About Our Seed Award Recipients
Recent Blogs:
Seed Award Spotlight: Drs. Maaike Bouwmeester and Shilpa Sahay
Drs. Maaike Bouwmeester and Camilla Matuk received seed funding for their project, "Designing Frameworks for Multimedia Use in Informal STEM Programs for Young Learners." Dr. Bouwmeester and collaborator Dr. Shilpa Sahay discussed their nonprofit partnership and how their seed award served as a springboard for future research.
Q&A: Young Women's Freedom Center and Dr. Shabnam Javdani
On the Ground interviewed Young Women's Freedom Center executive Director Jessica Nowlan and NYU Steinhardt professor Dr. Shabnam Javdani about the role of their research and partnership in working with girls, young women, and TGNC young people towards decriminalization, decarceration, abolition, and reimagining the juvenile justice system response.
Seed Award Spotlight: Dr. Susannah Levi
In 2019, Drs. Susannah Levi and Daphna Harel received a seed award for their project, "High Variability Phonetic Training as a Mechanism for Improving Underlying Reading Skills in School-Age Children." Read about what came from the project, how COVID-19 impacted research, and what else might grow out of their seed award.
Unraveling Inequality, Expanding Opportunity
Inequality is prevalent in health, education, justice, and technology — in our own backyard and around the globe. Enriching opportunities that engender positive outcomes are distributed inequitably to children and youth in our communities. To bring groundbreaking, rigorous research and collaborative engagement to bear on this challenge, the Institute’s theme is “Unraveling Inequality, Expanding Opportunity.”
What does this mean for the year ahead?
Select Projects
Global TIES for Children
Global TIES for Children is an international research center at New York University dedicated to designing, evaluating and advising on programs and policies to improve the lives of children and youth in the most vulnerable regions across the globe.
CONNECT
The CONNECT lab at NYU conducts research to understand and strengthen contexts for learning and mental health in low-income education settings. We study natural opportunities for academic, social, and emotional learning via productive relationships and quality interactions.
IES-PIRT
For over a decade, IHDSC and faculty from seven NYU academic units have trained incoming and advanced doctoral students from diverse backgrounds to become outstanding researchers in the educational sciences.
Systems Aligning For Equity
The aim of SAFE Spaces (formerly RISC) is to examine the setting-level characteristics and processes that occur in child welfare settings and explore their association with outcomes for youth.
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