2023 Global Flourishing Conference
On 29 and 30 November, 2023, the Global Flourishing Conference returned for its second year. Hosted by the Templeton World Charity Foundation, this interdisciplinary conference showcased the latest and most meaningful scientific advances in understanding how humans flourish across cultures, alongside innovative new tools and strategies that can foster greater flourishing.
2023 Global Flourishing Conference Featured Speakers
2023 Program
Click on a session title to watch its corresponding conference recording.
November 29, 2023 - Day 1
Advancing Science and Solutions for a Flourishing World: Current and Future Perspectives
This session examined perspectives on the field of flourishing research and innovation to answer key questions like ‘what does flourishing mean to real people in real world settings and how might their understanding differ from scholarly definitions?’ and ‘how might the field reframe or reimagine traditional concepts of health, well-being, and human happiness?’.
Featuring:
Tim Lomas, Psychology Research Scientist, Harvard University
Meetu Khosla, Professor, Daulat Ram College, University of Delhi
Nancy Hey, Executive Director, What Works Centre for Wellbeing
Moderated by:
Andrew Serazin, President, Templeton World Charity Foundation
How Can Artificial Intelligence Enable Scientific and Social Progress in Human Flourishing?
This session explored how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can enable scientific discovery and promote human flourishing. AI can extend the human capacity for creativity, efficiency, and optimization. However, it can potentially diminish flourishing through social control, loss of cultural diversity, and environmental harm. In this context, panelists explored the promises and pitfalls of AI.
Featuring:
Melanie Mitchell, Professor of Complexity, Santa Fe Institute
David Robinson, Head of Policy Planning, OpenAI
Nipun Mehta, Founder, ServiceSpace
Moderated by:
Lucas Wittmann, Editorial Director, TIME Magazine
Solidarity in Love as a Foundation for Shared Flourishing
in partnership with The Fetzer Institute
This session sought to answer the question: What would a world with love at the center of policy design look like? Panelists explored the importance of incorporating a new worldview that advocates for the shared flourishing of all, grounded in transformative conceptualizations of L/love and wholeness.
Featuring:
Matthew T. Lee, Professor of Social Sciences and Humanities, Baylor University
William Vendley, Vice President, World Religions and Spirituality, The Fetzer Institute
Rana Dajani, Professor of Molecular Biology, The Hashemite University
Moderated by:
Mohammed H. Mohammed, Senior Program Officer, The Fetzer Institute
The Economics of Human Flourishing
This session explored the fundamentals for flourishing economies, and by extension, flourishing lives. How do free markets encourage social mobility and human freedom? Which institutional arrangements hinder or help development and flourishing? Presenters unpacked these critical topics, drawing connections between economic research and important social issues through the lens of their work.
Featuring:
Abhishek Singh & Eknoor Kaur, Prosperiti
Denis Foretia, Executive Chairman, Nkafu Policy Institute
The Science of Loneliness and How to Foster Social Connectedness
This session engaged with the preeminent science on loneliness and social isolation and discussed the consequences that lack of meaningful connection and relationships have for human well-being and flourishing. It also explored where science can support and inform community-level policy solutions, as well as spotlighted innovative examples of programs that support development of healthy relationships.
Featuring:
Margarita Tarragona, Professor of the Practice, Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM)
Chikako Ozawa-de Silva, Professor of Japanese Studies & Anthropology, Emory University
Anthony Ong, Professor of Psychology, Cornell University
Moderated by:
Laurie Santos, Professor of Psychology, Yale University & Host, The Happiness Lab podcast
November 30, 2023 - Day 2
How The Arts Promote Flourishing Amid Adversity
This session delved into the realm of creative expression, exploring how creativity can move us from a place of suffering to flourishing. Panelists unpacked the psychological processes of creativity and discussed how we process trauma and grow - and the role creativity can play in that.
Opening presentation:
Ben Arthur, Artist & Host, Songwriter podcast
Asli Perker, Journalist & Author
Tuna Kiremitçi, Musician & Author
Panel Featuring:
Eranda Jayawickreme, Professor of Psychology & Senior Research Fellow, Program for Leadership and Character, Wake Forest University
Sunil Iyengar, Research & Analysis Director, National Endowment for the Arts
Maggie Zhao, President, Education Division, International Positive Psychology Association
Moderated by:
James Pawelski, Professor of Practice and Director of Education, Positive Psychology Center, University of Pennsylvania
Religions as a Source of Individual, Communal, and Social Flourishing
in partnership with Templeton Religion Trust
Religious faith impacts the search for meaning and purpose at a personal level. At a communal level, religious participation offers connection to communities of faith that increases social capital and can serve the common good. In this session, panelists explored how religious faith can positively affect outcomes that are indicative of flourishing at a communal and social level.
Featuring:
Wendy Cadge, Professor of Humanistic Social Sciences, Brandeis University
Brandon Vaidyanathan, Associate Professor & Chair of Sociology, The Catholic University of America
Matt Bloom, Professor Emeritus, University of Notre Dame
Arielle Levites, Executive Director, Collaborative for Applied Studies in Jewish Education (CASJE)
Moderated by:
Giavana Jones, Program Officer, Templeton Religion Trust
Depolarization and Pluralism for Flourishing
Separated by polarization, humanity's ability to flourish is compromised. This session explored ways to achieve depolarization of our communities and create a more flourishing world. Panelists presented insights gleaned from research and practice on how to transform the power of our differences to find constructive solutions for the crises we face in modern times.
Featuring:
Jay Van Bavel, Professor of Psychology and Neural Science, New York University
Uma Viswanathan, Executive Director, New Pluralists
Mark Freeman, Executive Director, Institute for Integrated Transitions
Moderated by:
Heather Templeton Dill, President, John Templeton Foundation
Planetary Flourishing: Inspiring Science, Wisdom, and Action
This session will explore what is required to co-create a future of planetary flourishing by elucidating the causes and conditions that affect planetary well-being and coming up with inclusive ways of research that result in ecological solutions and policy.
Poetry reading by Efraín Bartolomé, Poet & Writer
Featuring:
Father Joshtrom Kureethadam, Professor, Salesian Pontifical University
Marcelo Gleiser, Professor of Natural Philosophy, Dartmouth College
Britt Wray, Director, Special Initiative of the Chair on Climate Change and Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University
Moderated by:
Yuria Celidwen, Indigenous Scholar, Contemplative Faculty, University of California Berkeley, Advocate for Indigenous Peoples and Mother Earth Rights, United Nations
