Greater Good Science Center - Greater Good

The Greater Good Science Center, located at the University of California, Berkeley is an interdisciplinary research center devoted to the scientific understanding of individual happiness, compassion, strong social bonding, and altruistic behavior. The center was started in 2001 and serves to conduct research, and to translate and disseminate research for the general public. Until 2009, the center published the online magazine Greater Good, and the center also produces podcasts on its research findings.

History

The center at the University of California, Berkeley was started in 2001 as an interdisciplinary research center. By studying individuals and their relationships, the center aims to promote well-being in society as a whole.

Print magazine

Greater Good magazine (ISSNÂ 1553-3239; 2004-2009) was a quarterly magazine published by the center, edited by Professor 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 had been nominated by the Utne Reader as one of the top independent publications in the country.