The USC Center for Affective Neuroscience, Development, Learning and Education (USC CANDLE) is proud to announce a two-year, $2.1 million grant from the Bezos Family Foundation to launch the CANDLE Innovation Lab. This groundbreaking initiative will explore how cutting-edge neuroscience can be integrated into classroom practices to foster deeper student engagement and durable change in adolescent education.
Led by Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, the Fahmy and Donna Attallah Chair in Humanistic Psychology and a prominent professor at USC’s Rossier School of Education and Brain & Creativity Institute, the CANDLE Innovation Lab will bring together researchers, educators, administrators and students in a collaborative setting. The Lab’s primary focus is to explore how understanding adolescent brain development can revolutionize teaching methods, aiming to address challenges such as student disengagement and inequity in learning.
“We are thrilled to be supported by the Bezos Family Foundation in our mission to leverage developmental neuroscience in ways that will create transformative and scalable educational practices,” said Immordino-Yang. “This initiative has the potential to reshape not only how teachers approach learning but also how students see themselves and their futures.”
Key components of the project include the creation of collaborative learning and action communities, known as COLABs, where teachers, researchers and youth will co-develop strategies grounded in science to implement in real-world classrooms. These strategies, constructed around human development, aim to promote civic engagement, emotional well-being and transcendent thinking, which research shows plays a crucial role in students’ long-term success and mental health.
“We are immensely proud of the CANDLE Innovation Lab’s pioneering work in integrating neuroscience with educational practice,” said USC Rossier Dean Pedro Noguera. “This project is a powerful example of how research can transform classrooms, empowering educators with the tools to better engage students, foster critical thinking and address inequities in education. Thanks to the support of the Bezos Family Foundation, we are one step closer to reshaping the future of education to create more equitable and inspiring learning environments for all students.”
The grant will also support professional development resources for educators and advance research in developmental neuroscience. By enabling a deeper connection between scientific research and practical classroom applications, CANDLE aims to address the pressing educational needs of today’s diverse student populations, particularly those in underserved communities.
For more information, visit candle.usc.edu.
About CANDLE
Founded in 2019, USC CANDLE is dedicated to transforming education through the integration of developmental social-affective neuroscience and pedagogical practices. Housed within USC’s Brain and Creativity Institute and the USC Rossier School of Education, CANDLE aims to create evidence-based educational reforms that promote student engagement, equity, citizenship and long-term well-being.
About the Bezos Family Foundation
The Bezos Family Foundation is an independent, nonprofit private Foundation founded by Mike and Jackie Bezos, who along with their family, serve as the Foundation’s directors. Since 2001, the Foundation has partnered with remarkable organizations and individuals to transform how we prepare young people from prenatal through young adulthood to pursue their own path for success and meaningfully contribute to society. Learn more at bezosfamilyfoundation.org
Mary Helen Immordino-Yang
- Fahmy and Donna Attallah Chair in Humanistic Psychology
- Director, USC Center for Affective Neuroscience, Development, Learning and Education (candle.usc.edu)
- Professor of Education, Psychology & Neuroscience
- Brain & Creativity Institute; Rossier School of Education University of Southern California Member, U.S. National Academy of Education
Xiao-Fei Yang
- Associate Research Professor
