UNIVERSITY NEWS - OCTOBER 2003

MEDIA CONTACT: Kristine M. McGrath
561-297-1168, kmcgrath@fau.edu
Kevin J. Petrovsky
561-297-0007, kpetrovs@fau.edu

World-Renowned Scholar Joins FAU

BOCA RATON, FL (August 19, 2003) - Dr. David J. Lewkowicz has joined the department of psychology in FAU's Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. A graduate of Brandeis University and City University of New York, Dr. Lewkowicz comes to FAU after spending the past sixteen years at the New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities in Staten Island, New York.

Dr. Lewkowicz is an internationally recognized authority on the development of perception in infants and has published and lectured extensively on this topic. His specific research focuses on how vision and hearing enable babies to explore their world and how babies use visual and auditory information to learn about the objects and people around them. His research is also applicable to the studies of babies suffering from autism, drug addiction, low birth weight and brain injuries.

"The environment around a newborn really shapes their developmental outcome," said Dr. Lewkowicz. "Babies need to be able to integrate what they see and hear in order to develop serial learning, which is critical for perceptual and cognitive development, such as speech."

Dr. Lewkowicz's research is supported by research grants from the National Institutes of Health. He will hold a public lecture on his research on Thursday, October 23 at 4 p.m. on FAU's Boca Raton campus. For more information, please contact the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science at 561-297-2954.
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