Center Overview
Who will vote or run for political office in tomorrow's societies? Who will sit on the juries, speak up at public meetings, and contribute to the charities? Who will join the workforces and raise the families? There is just one answer to all of these questions: the youngsters who are now growing up around us.

The Stanford Center on Adolescence aims to promote the character and competence of all young people growing up in today's world. The Center's work provides guidance for parenting, for improved educational practice, and for youth development in a wide variety of community settings.

Contemporary trends worldwide have made the Center's mission urgent as well as global. On the positive side, many autocratic regimes have given way to democratic forms of governance. Yet, at the same time, emerging and mature democracies alike have seen young people disengaging from the civic institutions that make democratic participation possible. Why the lack of interest, and how can we get today's young involved in their communities in a constructive manner?

Just as troubling is the waste of potential that results from failing to acquire the skills and attitudes needed for successful careers. How can we prepare young people for competitive, entrepreneurial, and technological economy that will dominate the world tomorrow?

Activities

Research

The Center's research focuses on the general question of how to prepare young people for active and productive citizenship in a democratic society. Researchers have focused on a wide range of topics and approaches, ranging from biological studies of puberty and its consequences to developmental accounts of the acquisition of character and competence in today's society. The Center’s current research focuses on youth purpose and thriving.

Public Presentations

The Center on Adolescence encourages participation at professional meetings, invited talks, and other events related to the work of Center.

Research Awards

The Center awards grants of up to $10,000 to non-Stanford doctoral students, postdocs, and early-career faculty from a variety of disciplines to study phenomena and concepts related to youth purpose.

Educational Partnerships

The Center partners with the Quaglia Institute for Student Aspirations and the Thrive Foundation to explore and develop ways to foster purpose and thriving in young people at school and in other areas of their lives

Colloquium Series

The Center sponsors an in-house colloquium series for researchers from different Stanford departments and schools to discuss a topical issue related to adolescence.

Conferences

The Center hosts conferences at Stanford and in association with national conferences of leading professional organizations related to adolescence.
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