Dear Friends,
This week’s installment of our end of the year recap focuses on Children and Screens’ passion for advancing and supporting research. Through our scientific grants program and international convenings and publications, we engage hundreds of researchers to focus on important and cutting-edge interdisciplinary research. Hailing from all parts of the globe, these experts are at the intersection of psychology, psychiatry, communications and media, pediatrics, social work, nursing, education, neuroscience, public health, computer science, and more. Research themes and questions range from cyberbullying, social media, social comparison and addiction to civic engagement and digital literacy.
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Research Retreat Seed Grants Program |
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Scientific Grant Funding:
As the mental health crisis was reaching an almost feverish pitch in mid-2021, Children and Screens convened over 120 interdisciplinary experts in the field for a two-day virtual scientific research meeting exploring the effects of digital media on young people’s mental health. During this retreat, researchers, clinicians, and other professionals discussed what we know and what we need to learn, and the topics that are most urgent -- and developed a comprehensive research agenda for the future. Children and Screens will fund $100,000 for interdisciplinary studies to a team of investigators who attended the retreat. An outstanding NIH-style Review Committee will complete their evaluations of proposals in early January, at which time we will announce award recipients. Stay tuned to learn more about the team and their exciting research!
In 2022, Children and Screens will continue its grants program with another $100,000 award to interdisciplinary PIs to investigate the efficacy of virtual learning and education technology following a research retreat on the same topic (see below).
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For those who missed it, the Institute was delighted to award Dr. Marc Potenza of Yale University and Dr. Yihong Zhao of Columbia University a $100,000 grant earlier this year. The interdisciplinary team is utilizing state-of-the-art statistical methodology and predictive modeling to investigate the relationships between digital media use and changes in brain structure and function, as well as the associated clinically relevant behaviors in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (ABCD Study) dataset. We are proud to share that Drs. Potenza and Zhao have received NIH funding to continue this important research!
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Education Technology and Virtual Learning Research Retreat:
Education technologies, both inside and outside of the classroom, have increased exponentially in the last several years. During the pandemic, virtual learning saw mixed results with many children academically worse off. There is more research urgently needed across the board on: the learning benefits and drawbacks of education technology, the efficacy of education technologies, best practice guidelines, screen management policies, EdTech curricula, video-call teaching, etc. Children and Screens hopes to catalyze research in this critically important area beginning with its next virtual retreat, Education Technology and Virtual Learning, where educators, learning scientists, educational psychologists, and others will present the evidence on the current academic landscape and variation in educational technology, as well as discuss teachers’ and students’ experiences during the pandemic. The meeting will explore what worked and what didn’t, where the gaps are, and curate a comprehensive research agenda for future investigation to support educational health and development.
Save the date for Wednesday, May 18 and Thursday, May 19, 2022.
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"Digital Media and Developing Minds" International Scientific Congress and Tools and Methodologies Exposition:
As children and teens spend more and more time on their devices, and new technologies play an ever increasing role in driving child health and development, the number of potential research questions in this area is multiplying exponentially. To help prioritize and address these critical areas of research and spur interdisciplinary collaboration, Children and Screens will host its highly anticipated third Digital Media and Developing Minds Congress and Tools and Methodologies Exposition on Wednesday, November 2 - Saturday, November 5, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Mark your calendars!) Our last conference was attended by researchers, clinicians, educators, government agencies, public health experts, and others from top institutions in 13 countries and 40 US states. Next year’s convening will feature keynote presentations, panel discussions, flash talks, and poster sessions, on everything from violent videogaming to social media use to how the pandemic is changing the technological landscape and so much more. You will not be disappointed!
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When you make a contribution to Children and Screens, you too can be a supporter of cutting-edge research in the field of digital media and child development! Your gift today may provide essential funding to launch much-needed studies, and expand our scientific knowledge of how media affects young people. Nearly half of the Institute’s past grant recipients have proceeded to receive larger government grants -- your gift could be the start of something world-changing! Furthermore, your donation may support upcoming convenings. These events serve to bridge gaps between fields, assembling researchers, clinicians, educators, and government agencies in one space to encourage collaboration and knowledge sharing. Past retreats and Congresses have been the birthplace of large, national, interdisciplinary projects. Your contribution could help provide the environment for the generation of the next impactful idea or the formation of a new all-star research team! |
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Sincerely,
Dr. Pam Hurst-Della Pietra and the Children and Screens Dream Team: Gabrielle, Lauren, Madhuri, Kate, Cristian, Maggie, Jennifer, Jasmine, Anisha, Julie, Andre, Meghan, Tanner, Srimayee (Sri), Christina, Aarti, Lara, Vishnuja, Gregory, Jayna, Tanisha, Lindsay, Ava, Sofia, Erik, Hung-Yi, Katelyn, Amanda, Andrew, Ananya, Emily, Haoyan, Sanjana, Daniela, Laylani, Jessie, Ruowen, Annie, Joseph, George, Kwan, Sandra, Meryem, Ken, Qixuan, Olivia, Juliann, Kem, Grace, Sophie, Aditya, Avery, Kristen
Board of Advisors: Samuel Aronson, PhD, Naomi Baron, PhD, Dimitri Christakis, MD, MPH, Charles Czeisler, PhD, MD, Tracy Day, Elizabeth Englander, PhD, Carmen Gill Bailey, MD, Lauren Hale, PhD, Carrie James, PhD, Heather Kirkorian, PhD, Colleen Kraft, MD, MBA, Barnaby Marsh, PhD, Larry Rosen, PhD, Ellen Wartella, PhD, Paul Weigle, MD
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