With the Exploring our Common Humanity in Diverse Contexts (ECoH) priority, Templeton World Charity Foundation (TWCF) aims to explore the feasibility of establishing regional Collaborative Research Hubs for the study of human flourishing. In early 2023, TWCF ran an open Request for Proposals to undertake an analysis of the research, leadership, partnership, and capacity-building landscape for human flourishing in different regions worldwide. This project, led by Enrique Tamés-Muñoz and co-directed by Alberto Hernández-Baqueiro at Tecnológico de Monterrey (Tec), is one of three selected for funding under this competitive process. It focuses on knowledge about flourishing in Latin America, with emphasis on Mexico, Colombia, Chile, and Brazil.

The project team includes academics from Tec, Universidad Católica, and Universidad de Los Andes with expertise in philosophy, technology and innovation, behavioral sciences, education, design, and sociology. It also includes Tim Lomas and Matt Lee of Harvard’s Human Flourishing program, and Alden Lai of New York University School of Global Public Health.

The team will undertake systematic mapping using bibliometric methods to identify researchers, topics, universities, publications and research centers. This will be complemented by key informant interviews and focus groups to help identify relevant actors, potential resources and opportunities for collaboration, and identify research needs within the region. The team will also hold local seminars in Brazil, Colombia, Chile, and Mexico to gather further feedback on the findings. Qualitative findings will be compared to quantitative data produced by Gallup and its Global Happiness Center to provide further context.

The team intends to focus on disciplines related to six key themes that have been identified as particularly relevant to flourishing in Latin America: sustainability and environmental studies; positive psychology and wellbeing; economic development; diversity, inclusion, human rights; Indigenous peoples, culture, and identities; and spirituality and religious studies.