First Annual Global Scientific Conference on Human Flourishing

Join us on November 29 & 30, 2022 for the First Annual Scientific Conference on Human Flourishing

Free and open to all, this virtual conference will showcase dynamic, global dialogues on the most significant scientific discoveries in understanding human flourishing.

About this Conference

The aim of this conference is to speed the translation of interdisciplinary insights about our common humanity into breakthrough innovations that help us flourish together amid modern challenges.

We invite professionals whose work contributes to the creation and sharing of new knowledge and innovations for human flourishing, regardless of discipline. This includes leading scientists, policymakers, practitioners, cultural influences, philanthropists, grassroots advocates, and media from around the world.

We strongly encourage participation from groups traditionally under-represented in the scientific study of human flourishing, including scholars and leaders from lower- and middle-income countries.

The Conference Program will have two highly connected tracks:

1) Understanding and measuring flourishing across cultures

Researchers are demonstrating that it is possible to identify the dimensions and determinants of flourishing, both those that are common across cultures and those that differ. The conference will showcase the latest scientific understanding and measurement of why people flourish and how they can be supported to flourish, including global surveys and indexes of flourishing and novel research studies in social psychology, neurobiology and other fields.

2) Innovations for flourishing amid modern challenges

Insights about how and why humans flourish are being translated into practical innovations to promote flourishing. The conference will explore promising applications of flourishing science from around the world, including: tools for listening and learning in a polarized world; innovations in character education; the science of spiritual practice; the science of forgiveness; artificial intelligence and moral judgment; economic policy and flourishing; and flourishing in adversity.

Each track will include a mix of session types:

• Plenary sessions: Dynamic presentations of the latest scientific research on flourishing, paired with discussions among global leaders about how to put knowledge into practice for more people around the world

• Open abstract program: Virtual exhibit hall of research abstracts submitted from contributors around the world and selected by a global jury; top-scoring abstract authors will be invited to present their work in plenary spotlight talks

• Technical workshops: In-depth, interactive dialogues focused on key topics in understanding flourishing and developing flourishing innovations, co-organized with academic centers and research and policy institutes worldwide

About Human Flourishing

Sir John Templeton reminded us that periods of change are opportunities to participate in a grand creative process of human progress. The field of human flourishing is highly interdisciplinary, bringing together dynamic combinations of researchers across the physical, biological, and social sciences with scholars in philosophy, history, art, and theology. The fact that so many different disciplines have approached the topic reflects its complexity and universality. Read our working paper on how the science of human flourishing can accelerate sustainable development.

Templeton World Charity Foundation has made a commitment of $60 million in bold research, practices, and policies that promote human flourishing to be invested over the next five years. Read more about our strategy to support scientific research to translate discoveries into practical tools. And explore the over 500 submissions to our Grand Challenges for Human Flourishing Request for Ideas in our Ideas Database.

Watch This Video

Learn more about human flourishing and how science can help us flourish better.