The Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center at Penn State will launch its spring 2026 seminar series on Wednesday, Jan. 21, continuing a long-running program designed to share new research, spark conversation, and build connections across disciplines.

Held weekly on Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m., PRC seminars are free and open to the Penn State community and the public. Each session features a 30-minute presentation followed by 30 minutes of discussion, giving attendees the chance to ask questions, exchange ideas, and explore opportunities for collaboration. Participants are welcome to join in person or virtually, and those attending on campus are invited to arrive at 11:30 a.m. for lunch and informal conversation.

The seminar series highlights research that advances prevention science across the lifespan, with speakers drawn from Penn State and institutions across the country. Presentations span a wide range of topics, including youth and community engagement, health policy, environmental influences on health, digital interventions, and methods for evaluating complex prevention programs.

The spring series opens Jan. 21 with a session led by Sarah Chilenski, research professor in the College of Health and Human Development, who will offer a deep dive into research and collaboration opportunities at the Prevention Research Center. Subsequent seminars will feature faculty and researchers addressing subjects such as global citizenship and empathy development, veteran employment pathways, economic evaluation of interventions, health impacts of climate extremes, digital well-being, and nutrition interventions for special populations. The series also includes a seminar led by scholars in the Prevention and Methodology Training Program and a talk by a University of Michigan researcher on digital adaptive interventions.

PRC seminars are part of the center’s broader mission to advance prevention science through research, training, and community engagement. By bringing together researchers, students, practitioners, and community partners, the series creates space for learning that is practical, interdisciplinary, and grounded in real-world challenges.

A full schedule of spring 2026 seminars, along with details on how to attend in person or online, is available on the PRC website linked below. Those interested can also sign up to receive email notifications about upcoming seminars and other prevention-related events.