The Human Development Initiative (HDI) at Michigan State University reflects an emerging form of leadership and partnerships in the social sciences as well as cross-college collaborations. A broad range of health and human welfare issues and the complexity of interactions between environmental and genetic factors as they influence human development across the life span require an integrated approach that incorporates diverse methods, analyses, and theories. The social and behavioral sciences at MSU are well positioned to form partnerships across disciplines to begin asking and answering questions that will explain important aspects individual development, the trajectories of optimal development, and how we can improve the quality of life for people of all ages.
The HDI follows an engaged model, where communication between scholars and practitioners improves quality of life in communities, both in Mid-Michigan and beyond. This kind of collaboration has implications for economic development, as communities benefit from the application of science-founded knowledge. The initiative will help to bring talented researchers and scholars across several fields to MSU, and their collective knowledge and applications related to human development and learning will make the mid-Michigan region a more attractive place to live for families with members of all ages.
This initiative has had my full commitment and investment since its establishment, and I look forward to the important advances in knowledge made possible by the enterprise.
