UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Eva Lefkowitz, associate professor in human development and family studies, will launch the fall season of Research Unplugged talks with a presentation titled “Beyond Birds and Bees: How to Talk to Your Teens about Sex and Relationships” at 12:30 p.m. Oct. 9 at Schlow Centre Region Library.
The Research Unplugged series, now in its 11th year, brings together Penn State researchers and the State College community for lively public discussions.
Each semester, the series of six talks kicks off with a discussion focused on a parenting, education or child development topic. This week, Lefkowitz will share her research on sexual and romantic relationships in adolescence and emerging adulthood, and will answer attendees’ questions about helping young adults make informed choices.
Lefkowitz is professor-in-charge of the graduate program in the human development and family studies department. She received her bachelor’s degree from Brandeis University and her doctorate in developmental psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles.
She has served as associate editor for Developmental Psychology, is a founding executive council member of the Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood and chairs the membership committee of the Society for Research on Adolescence. Her research takes a developmental approach to studying sexual health, incorporating both sexual development and risk perspectives. She is interested both in how sexual and romantic relationships and experiences develop, and in predictors and outcomes of these relationships and behaviors (e.g., attitudes such as beliefs about gender, religiosity, communication with partners and others, and consequences).
Research Unplugged events are open to the public and free of charge. A question and answer session is part of the program.
The Research Unplugged series is made possible with the support of Penn State and Schlow Centre Region Library. For additional information, contact series coordinator Melissa Beattie Moss at 814-865-2614 or mbmoss@psu.edu.