"We are called to build a movement to mend the social fabric of our nation...It will require reimagining the structures, policies, and programs that shape a community to best support the development of healthy relationships."
— Dr. Vivek Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General
"Understanding society’s ills as symptoms of a fundamental crisis of connection, rather than as merely a mental health crisis, an epidemic of loneliness, deepening group divides, or as alarming violent trends, opens the door for solutions of unprecedented breadth and scope. In other words, the science of human connection may hold the key to addressing modern-day issues across the board, all at the level of primary prevention."
— Dr. Niobe Way
Our Mission
Our research examines the intersections of culture, context, and human development, with a particular focus on the social and emotional development of children and adolescents. Broadly, we are interested in how schools, families, and peers, as well as larger political and economic contexts, influence developmental trajectories. We seek to foster connectedness within and across groups, pushing for recognition of our common humanity.