![Aerial image of UVA Grounds at dusk with Blue Ridge Mountains in the background](/sites/default/files/styles/500x281/public/2022-11/hero_explore-topic_grounds-aerial-dusk_1900x1069_2022-11-15.jpg?h=ae3c4d9e&itok=RKXA6Dhh)
Explore by Topic
Take a look at a few of the areas where our research, practice and service meet.
Knowledge to Impact
At UVA EHD, our faculty and students reach across boundaries to do interdisciplinary work that makes a real difference in people's lives.
Whether it's in our research labs, our academic classrooms, or out in the world, everyone in the EHD community shares a common goal: to make the world a better place through education and human development. With that goal in mind, we're breaking down silos to solve some of the most challenging problems facing our society today.
These collaborations and partnerships are what make it possible for us to support families with groundbreaking autism research, turn around struggling school districts, bring the science of reading into classrooms, and so much more.
![A teacher with long hair and two high school age boys smile while looking at a laptop screen](/sites/default/files/styles/600x444/public/2022-11/topic-landing_checkerboard_child-adolescent-dev_2022-11-1.jpg?h=c5cb2769&itok=_7AYbtQ7)
Child and Adolescent Development
Understanding curiosity and motivation, reimagining middle school, discovering new insights into autism and neuroscience, and more – at UVA EHD, we are working to understand every facet of how young people become healthy, thriving adults.
![A kindergarten teacher points at pictures in a book while students, seated on a rug in front of her, look and point](/sites/default/files/styles/600x444/public/2022-11/topic-landing_checkerboard_ece_2022-11-1.jpg?h=50d2bb5b&itok=9GIQCY_f)
Early Childhood Education
The early years of a child’s education are among the most critical for learning and development. From training early childhood teachers to cultivating partnerships across Virginia and beyond, UVA EHD is deeply engaged in how to improve education for our littlest learners.
![Rotunda at dusk](/sites/default/files/styles/600x444/public/2022-11/explore-topic-checkerboard_edpol-lead_rotunda_600x444_2022-11-15.jpg?h=7a12d5db&itok=DlXV2JQM)
Education Policy and Leadership
Education leaders, administrators and policymakers have the opportunity – and the responsibility – to shape the future of our educational systems and the students within them. We are cultivating leaders who are up to that challenge.
![College-age students in a yoga class](/sites/default/files/styles/600x444/public/2022-11/explore-topic-checkerboard_health-wellness_yoga-class_600x444_2022-11-15.jpg?h=750f8ed6&itok=y3XUWFDC)
Health and Wellness
Understanding human development requires a holistic view of health and wellness – mind and body, together. UVA EHD experts are working to improve health and wellbeing throughout the lifespan, from sports injury and exercise science to school mental health support.
![Graduate in cap and gown looks over her shoulder and smiles](/sites/default/files/styles/600x444/public/2022-11/explore-topic-checkerboard_idea_graduation_600x444_2022-11-15.jpg?h=b0822377&itok=1ixO-spj)
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility
At UVA EHD, we are committed to building diverse and inclusive communities – starting with our own. We believe that education should be inclusive and accessible to all, a core value that is integrated throughout our academic programs, our research, and our outreach.
![Stacks of children's books in colorful bins](/sites/default/files/styles/600x444/public/2024-04/explore-topic-checkerboard_literacy_books_600x444_04-19-2024.jpg?h=56a25956&itok=0whM10zh)
Literacy
At EHD, we believe reading is a human right. Our faculty, staff and students are working to unite research, practice, and policy so that all children, in Virginia and beyond, have access to evidence-based literacy instruction.
![Women stand near a research poster presentation, talking and pointing at the posters](/sites/default/files/styles/600x444/public/2022-11/explore-topic-checkerboard_research-methods_student-research-conference_600x444_2022-11-15.jpg?h=fe103977&itok=cJe79aTc)
Research Methods
Rigorous educational research does more than uncover new knowledge – it changes lives. From open science to data analysis to groundbreaking qualitative and theoretical discoveries, our faculty and scholars are improving how research is done.
![Two female teachers sit at a round table with two young boys, giving individualized lessons](/sites/default/files/styles/600x444/public/2022-11/explore-topic-checkerboard_sped-disability_johnson-elementary_600x444_2022-11-15.jpg?h=773c4c9e&itok=j5JwroPr)
Special Education and Disability
All children deserve a quality education. From speech and hearing disorders to intellectual disabilities, we are working to close the gaps and ensure that all children, no matter what challenges they face, receive the support they need to learn.
![A teacher sits at a table with several elementary school students, holding up a small whiteboard that reads "twelve times five equals"](/sites/default/files/styles/600x444/public/2022-11/explore-topic-checkerboard_teaching-learning_johnson-elementary_600x444_2022-11-15.jpg?h=c5cb2769&itok=bS_MO14Y)
Teaching and Learning
Quality teaching and learning are at the core of everything we do at UVA EHD. We not only train the best teachers using the latest research on how students learn, we also evaluate educational innovations, partner with school divisions across the country, and much more.