Connect with esteemed U of T alumni and friends in New York for a discussion on life satisfaction and public policy, with Dr. Felix Cheung.
- Reception & Presentation
- Q&A session follows the presentation.
- Refreshments will be served
Professor Melanie A. Woodin
President, University of Toronto
invites University of Toronto alumni and friends to attend a reception, featuring a special presentation:
The Science of a Good Life: Why Life Satisfaction Belongs at the Heart of Policy
by
Dr. Felix Cheung
Assistant Professor and Canada Research Chair in Population Well-being, University of Toronto
The United States remains one of the world’s wealthiest and most innovative nations, ranking highly on many indicators of economic strength, educational attainment and technological advancement. Yet over the past decade, Americans have reported stagnating or declining levels of life satisfaction. Why is there a growing gap between traditional measures of progress and how people actually feel about their lives?
In this talk, Dr. Cheung draws on his work with the World Happiness Report and global data to introduce life satisfaction as a powerful way for understanding societal progress. He will present the latest research on life satisfaction at the regional, national and global levels, highlighting emerging trends in the United States.
He will also discuss what can be done—from policy choices to everyday practices—to ensure that the U.S. becomes not just a prosperous country, but one where more people genuinely feel satisfied with their lives.
About Dr. Felix Cheung
Dr. Felix Cheung is an Assistant Professor and Canada Research Chair in Population Well-being at the University of Toronto - St. George. Dr. Cheung directs the Population Well-being lab, founded the Canadian Happiness Report, and co-authored the 2025 World Happiness Report. He is a member of the World Wellbeing Panel and co-leads the McGill-UofT Wellbeing Research Seminar. He is named a Rising Star by the Association for Psychological Science.
Dr. Cheung’s research examines the determinants, consequences, and policy relevance of a satisfying, purposeful, and engaging life. He takes an interdisciplinary perspective to examine population well-being in relation to pressing global issues. In the classroom, Dr. Cheung teaches courses on population well-being, research methods, and meta-science (the scientific study of scientific practices) at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Have questions about this event?
Contact Mike Henry at mike.henry@utoronto.ca
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