Science of Happiness: Research-Based Path to Well-being

Dacher Joseph Keltner, born in Jalisco, Mexico, serves as Professor of Psychology at UC Berkeley and Founding Director of the Greater Good Science Center, where he has revolutionized our understanding of human emotions and social behavior. His research spans the evolutionary and cultural origins of compassion, awe, love, beauty, power, and social inequality, with over 230 published scientific articles. A graduate of UC Santa Barbara with a Ph.D. from Stanford, Keltner completed post-doctoral work with Paul Ekman at UCSF before joining Berkeley in 1996. His influence extends beyond academia through collaborations with Pixar on films like Inside Out and Soul, work with tech companies like Facebook, and his widely acclaimed Science of Happiness MOOC that has reached over 600,000 students. His books, including "Born to Be Good," "The Power Paradox," and "AWE: The New Science of Everyday Wonder," have shaped public understanding of positive psychology. Recently awarded the 2025 APS Mentor Award, Keltner has mentored over 35 Ph.D. students and postdocs who now serve as faculty worldwide. His work regularly appears in major media outlets, and he has received numerous accolades, including membership in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and recognition as one of Utne Reader's 50 visionaries

Emiliana Simon-Thomas, Ph.D., is the Science Director at the Greater Good Science Center (GGSC) at the University of California, Berkeley. She is a leading neuroscientist and expert in the psychology of compassion, kindness, gratitude, and other prosocial behaviors that support human happiness. Her research explores the neurobiological and psychosocial roots of empathy, connection, and pro-social emotions, as well as how these traits can boost personal well-being and resilience