Why did you change your name to the Greater Good Science Center from the Center for Development of Peace and Well-being?

Our new name does not signal a shift in the Center’s mission, which remains essentially unchanged from its beginnings in 2001: to expand social well-being in the world. We do this by studying the social and biological roots of positive emotions and behaviors, and by distributing relevant findings to practitioners and members of the general public who can apply them to their personal and professional lives.
Learn more about our History.

Our name change was motivated by feedback we received from people about our Center's identity. We found that the word "peace" led people to believe the core of our work is political in nature, was related to peace and conflict studies, or even that we might be a yoga studio! We also found the old name to be too long and cumbersome.

We chose the name “Greater Good Science Center” in order to build on the success of our magazine Greater Good and as a way to highlight our intention to increase social well-being in the world. We also want to communicate that everything we do is based on science — scholarly research into the social and biological roots of positive emotions. The term "Science Center" indicates our desire to bring these scientific findings to practitioners and members of the general public in a way that is both accessible and engaging.
How can I get involved or get more information about the Center?

There are several ways individuals and organizations can connect with the Greater Good Science Center:

• Join our email lists to receive updates, announcements, and invitations to upcoming events for the Half Full: Raising Happy Kids Blog and Greater Good Science Center E-News Alerts.
• Make a donation to support the GGSC’s activities.
• Subscribe to Greater Good, the GGSC’s quarterly magazine.
• Contact us if you’d like to be a GGSC volunteer.

How is the Greater Good Science Center affiliated with UC Berkeley?

The Greater Good Science Center is housed within the Institute of Human Development, which has been an organized research unit of the University of California, Berkeley since 1927.
The GGSC also partners with the Institute of Personality and Social Research, the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute and the Berkeley Social Interaction Laboratory. The Center’s offices are located within the university’s Harold E. Jones Child Study Center.

How does the Greater Good Science Center support research?

Our Science Initiative and Fellowship Program nurture and support a diverse body of scientific research connected to the mission of the Greater Good Science Center. Check out the For Scholars section for more information.