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CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University’s Science Pub on April 11 will focus on how early educators can nurture resilience through daily interactions with children and their families and how community members can further aid those efforts.

The virtual event, a joint effort of Oregon State University in Corvallis and OSU-Cascades in Bend, will feature Shannon Lipscomb, associate professor of human development and family sciences at OSU-Cascades, and Barbara Brody, associate professor of practice with OSU Extension Service in Malheur County.

Their presentation is titled: “On the Road to Recovery: Promoting Resilience with Children and Early Educators.” Lipscomb and Brody, who are both affiliated with Oregon State’s College of Public Health and Human Sciences, will talk about what resilience is and how it can be developed in children.

Although quality child care and early learning can boost resilience, they say few early educators receive the support they need to strengthen resilience in themselves, one another and the children they care for. They define resilience as positive adaptation in the face of adversity or trauma, such as abuse, neglect, household substance abuse, racism, death in the family, and other traumas such as living through a global pandemic.

They will discuss strategies to support early educators in nurturing resilience – and how community members can contribute to their success.

Lipscomb’s research aims to identify positive social factors to protect children from negative effects of adversity and trauma. Much of this work involves strengthening supports for the adults in children’s lives. She works closely with community organizations, child care groups, schools and public health partners.

Brody provides leadership and oversight to a diverse group of Extension programs focused on the unique needs of the community. As an OSU Extension faculty, she provides information, services and expertise to meet local challenges and help community members thrive.

Lipscomb and Brody collaborate through a pilot project supported through the Hallie E. Ford Center for Healthy Children and Families at Oregon State to bridge expertise in local communities such as Malheur County with expertise from campus-based faculty. Together with local partners they apply evidence-based programs and strategies in ways that best meet the needs of local communities.

The free Science Pub will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The event will be broadcast on YouTube Live. Registration is required and can be completed at https://beav.es/w62.

Sponsors of Science Pub include the OSU Office of Research and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.