Greater Good Science Center

The Greater Good Science Center is a research center located at the University of California, Berkeley.

Introduction

The center was founded by Dacher Keltner in 2001, with a donation from UC Berkeley alumni Thomas and Ruth Hornaday following the death of their daughter from cancer. Based at the University of California, Berkeley, it sponsors scientific research into social and emotional well-being. The center draws upon academic fields such as psychology, sociology, education, economics, and neuroscience in its research. It publishes an online magazine, Greater Good; a podcast, The Science of Happiness; the Greater Good in Action website; and classes and events. The Greater Good Science Center is generally considered a credible source that works to bridge the gap between scientific research and the general public. While its mission is focused on promoting well-being, compassion, and a thriving society, its programs, particularly the "Bridging Differences" initiative, aim to present research on how to reduce political polarization and foster constructive dialogue across the political spectrum.

Podcasts and print magazine

The center produces the podcast The Science of Happiness. Greater Good magazine was a quarterly magazine published by the center, edited by Dacher Keltner, of the University of California, Berkeley, and journalist Jason Marsh. The magazine highlighted scientific research into the roots of compassion, altruism, and empathy and included stories of compassion in action, providing a bridge between social scientists and parents, educators, community leaders, and policy makers. The magazine was nominated by the Utne Reader as one of the top independent publications in the country.