The global Psychology community mourns the loss of a pioneer. Dr Phil Silva, founder of the world-renowned Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study – better known simply as the Dunedin Study – passed away on Thursday at the age of 84.
For IB Diploma students, the Dunedin Study on which the longitudinal study that Caspi et al. (2003) is based.
Dr Silva’s legacy is nothing short of extraordinary. In 1972, he began following the lives of 1037 babies born at Queen Mary Maternity Hospital in Dunedin. Over 50 years later, the study continues, with a participation rate of around 90% – an unmatched achievement in longitudinal research worldwide.
As psychology teachers, we often search for meaningful case studies that demonstrate the real-world impact of psychological research. The Dunedin Study is one of those rare, gold-standard examples. It has helped reshape our understanding of child development, health, education, and mental wellbeing – and much of its success is owed to Dr Silva’s vision, energy, and compassion.
Before becoming a psychologist and researcher, Phil Silva was a primary school teacher. Teaching rural children in the 1960s deeply influenced his later work – a foundation built on empathy, curiosity, and a commitment to supporting young people and their families. That passion carried through into his academic career, where he completed a master’s and PhD under Otago University’s Dr Patricia Buckfield, who herself had a keen interest in neonatology.
Together, their early work collecting data on babies born in Dunedin from 1967 to 1973 laid the groundwork for the creation of the Dunedin Study. But it was Silva’s leadership, drive, and charisma that propelled the project forward. Against the odds – with minimal funding and few formal resources – he rallied hundreds of volunteers who believed in his mission to improve children’s lives.
Silva’s research didn’t just stay in academic journals. It influenced public health policy, helped normalise routine check-ups for preschoolers, and highlighted the impact of conditions like glue ear on child development. He spoke passionately about the need for society to prioritise children’s wellbeing. In one memorable critique, he noted that New Zealanders were more likely to service their cars than check on the health of their children – a powerful call for compassion and systemic care.
His work was internationally recognised. In 1993, the Dunedin Study made the cover of Time magazine under the headline: “All You Need is Love”. A year later, Silva was awarded an OBE for services to health and education.
Dr Silva’s influence extended far beyond data collection. He was a mentor to the late Professor Richie Poulton, who succeeded him as study director, and to the current director, Professor Moana Theodore, who first joined the team as an interviewer during the age-26 assessment phase.
Theodore describes him as “an energetic mentor” with a unique ability to bring people together in service of a bigger purpose: improving lives. That ability is reflected in the enduring loyalty of study participants – many of whom have stayed involved for over five decades.
She beautifully summed up his contribution:
“Dr Phil has left this legacy and a taonga [prized treasure] for New Zealand… the best childhood foundation guarder in the world – and the most studied group of people anywhere in the world.”
For those of us teaching psychology, the Dunedin Study is a model of longitudinal research excellence. It’s a case study we can use not only to explain developmental psychology, biopsychosocial models, or research methods—but also to inspire our students to see how psychological science can serve real people, communities, and policy.
Dr Phil Silva didn’t just collect data—he created change. He showed us what psychology could be at its best: compassionate, evidence-based, and relentlessly committed to human wellbeing.
Let us honour his legacy by continuing to teach with the same curiosity, purpose, and care.
Rest in peace, Dr Silva. Your work lives on—in policy, in classrooms, and in the lives of 1037 individuals who helped the world better understand what it means to grow, change, and thrive.
Tom Coster - Psychology 