Professor Nirmala Rao receives the SRCD Distinguished Contributions to Advancing Research on Child Development in the Majority World Award

Professor Nirmala Rao, Serena H.C. Yang Professor in Early Childhood Development and Education, and Chair Professor of Child Development and Education at the Faculty of Education, HKU, has been awarded the prestigious Distinguished Contributions to Advancing Research on Child Development in the Majority World Award by the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD).

This Award recognises SRCD members who have made significant scholarly contributions that advance the understanding of child development in communities across the Majority World. The term “Majority World” encompasses people of African, Asian, and Latin American heritage, who make up approximately 85% of the global population. Professor Rao is the inaugural recipient of this new award and the first scholar outside the United States to receive a Senior Distinguished Contributions Award in SRCD’s history.

Professor Rao is recognised for her methodologically rigorous, large-scale studies that have significantly advanced research on child development in Asia and the Pacific. Her work has produced robust evidence leading to tangible improvements in equity-focused early childhood policies. She has also developed, refined, and applied innovative tools to track children’s developmental trajectories across diverse early learning environments. Additionally, her impactful collaborations with influential partners have facilitated the dissemination of research findings and promoted investment, which ultimately improve the lives of underprivileged children in the Majority World.

Founded by the National Academy of Sciences in 1933, SRCD is one of the world’s most prestigious and respected professional organisations in the field of child development. It is a professional association whose membership consists of researchers, practitioners, and human development professionals from over 60 countries. Its mission is to advance developmental sciences and promote the use of developmental research to improve human lives. The SRCD Senior Distinguished Contributions Awards were presented on May 1, 2025 during the SRCD 2025 Biennial Meeting held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. For details about SRCD and the Award, please visit https://www.srcd.org/news/2025-srcd-biennial-awardees. 

This recognition by SRCD underscores Professor Rao’s exceptional dedication and impact in the field of child development. Her work has had a far-reaching impact, informing both academic discourse and real-world applications in early childhood development. Within the University, she has received the University Outstanding Research Award and Faculty Knowledge Exchange Awards. She has also received the Hong Kong Research Grants Council Humanities and Social Sciences Prestigious Fellowship and a Best of UNICEF Research award.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Professor Rao on this honour.

More about Professor Nirmala Rao
https://web.edu.hku.hk/faculty-academics/nrao

About SRCD Biennial Awards
https://www.srcd.org/professional-advancement/awards-grants/biennial-awards