The USC Office of Population Studies (OPS) Foundation, Inc. met with Dr. Alan Stein, Dr. Heather Kitt, and Dr. Victoria Crawford of Oxford University, Dr. Linda Adair of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Dr. Joshua Miller of the University at Buffalo, New York on July 7–8, 2025. 

This two-day meeting focused on discussions on the effects of climate change on the health and well-being of children and adolescents, and collaborating on a grant proposal submission to further examine this crucial research topic using data from the Longitudinal Cohort Study on the Filipino Child (LCSFC) and the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey (CLHNS). The LCSFC and CLHNS are two of the longest-running age cohort studies in the country that are currently implemented by OPS.

Representing OPS in the meeting were Director and Research Associate Francisco Largo, Deputy Director and Research Fellow Dr. Nanette Mayol, Research Associate Sonny Bechayda, and Consultants Dr. Judith Borja, Lorna Perez, Delia Carba, and Isabelita Bas. Also joining the meetings were OPS Visiting Research Fellow Dr. Alejandro Herrin, LCSFC Consultant Dr. Ma. Fiscalina Nolasco, Dr. Delia Belleza of the University of San Carlos (USC) Department of Psychology, Marjury Dino of the USC Department of Anthropology, Sociology and History, Asst. Prof. Jan Alegado of the University of the Philippines Cebu, Dr. Angelito Umali of the United Nations Children’s Fund, and Ravina Madrid of the United Nations Population Fund. Dr. Adair and Dr. Miller also led the discussion on longitudinal analysis and novel analytical strategies for CLHNS and LCSFC.

In addition, a research forum on “The State of Our Filipino Adolescents’ Human Capital Formation” was held on July 9, 2025 at the Rigney Hall, USC Talamban Campus, in celebration of World Population Day 2025. The forum was co-sponsored by OPS and the Commission on Population and Development Region VII. 

Dr. Borja, Dr. Mayol, and Director Largo presented key findings from the LCSFC on factors from childhood to adolescence that determine the adolescents’ level of preparedness in pursuing higher education and their chances for a productive labor force engagement. Dr. Miller presented LCSFC findings on water and food insecurity and how these relate to adolescent development. Dr. Adair, Lead Investigator of the CLHNS, discussed early and childhood factors that contribute to adolescent and adult productivity based on the CLHNS findings. The forum was attended by participants from the academe, civil society organizations and government agencies.

With reporting from the USC Office of Population Studies