The National Scientific Council on the Developing Child (NSCDC) is a
multi-disciplinary collaboration comprising leading
scholars in neuroscience, early childhood development, pediatrics,
and economics. Created to seize the opportunity that arose from response
to the landmark report from the National Research Council and Institute
of Medicine, From Neurons to Neighborhoods: The Science of Early Childhood
Development, the Council works to build strong, informed,
bipartisan leadership in both the public and private sectors to close
the gap between what we know and what we do to promote successful learning,
adaptive behavior, and sound physical and mental health for all young
children.
Through a marriage of cutting-edge, interdisciplinary scientific knowledge on early child development to highly sophisticated communication research methods designed to ensure accurate public understanding of that science, the NSCDC is promoting a new national dialogue focused on rethinking the meaning of both shared responsibility for children and strategic investment in their future. The Council is housed at the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University.
New Publications
Working Papers
Articles
![]() |
Early
Influences on Brain Architecture How early experience has a powerful and lasting influence on brain development. An interview with Council member Eric Knudsen |
![]() |
The
Cradle of Prosperity: Raising the New American Economy An essay describing the scientific evidence that supports a new strategy for economic health, with comments by Council members James J. Heckman and Art Rolnick. |
New Science Briefs
![]() |
How Early Child Care Affects Later Development |
![]() |
How Gene-Environment Interaction Affects Children's Anxious and Fearful Behavior |

