Meaning Conference 2021

COVID-19 has killed more than 2.5 million people, devastated the world economy, and wreaked havoc on mental health globally. The challenges for psychologists are: How can we help people stay positive and become better and stronger? and How can we make the world a safer, kinder, and fairer place for all people?

We invite you to the 11^th Biennial International Meaning Conference, where you will learn from leading researchers, practitioners, and educators on how to rise to such challenges, transcend pandemic fatigue, and live a meaningful life. The International Meaning Conferences continue to be the only world congress on existential positive psychology, embracing disciplines ranging from psychology, philosophy, and religion, to management, education, and medicine.

Come and learn the new science of flourishing through suffering. More specifically, you will learn: How to find healing and hope in tragic times and how to transform vulnerabilities to resilience.

Given travel restrictions, we are pleased to offer the conference virtually and reach more people globally. Mark August 5–8, 2021, on your calendars so that you do not miss this unique event.

Confirmed keynote speakers thus far include Christina J. Becker, Louis Hoffman, Todd Kashdan, Tim Lomas, Farooq Naeem, Darcia Narvaez, Robert Niemeyer, and Tayyab Rashid.

We have chosen the conference theme, because at a time when our vulnerability is laid bare by the external threats and our collective existential crisis, we embrace it as an opportunity to explore and discover new pathways to resilience and wellbeing in trying times. Subthemes of the conference include the following:

The role of meaning in wellbeing.
The contributions of cultural differences and indigenous psychology to global wellbeing.
The need to confront human suffering as the foundation for wellbeing.
The role of responsibility in personal, institutional, and global wellbeing.
The transformation of shame, guilt, anxiety, and other negative emotions as a means of achieving sustainable happiness.
The role of faith and spirituality in positive mental health.
The positive psychology of sickness, death and dying.
The effect of interactions between positive and negative emotions on wellbeing.
A dialectical mindset in avoiding radicalism and achieving a balance.
Humility and servant leadership in resolving conflicts.
Moral courage in the face of dangers and risks.

This is only a subset of the expanding domain of existential positive psychology (PP 2.0). All submissions are welcome in any areas related to the adaptive benefits of what is typically considered as detrimental to wellbeing.

Scholarship to Honour Dr. Salvatore Maddi

On Sunday, November 29th, 2020 Dr. Salvatore Ignacio (aka Richard) Maddi, loving husband of Deborah Khoshaba-Maddi and father of Karen and Christopher Maddi, passed away of cancer at the age of 87.

This scholarship was established by Deborah Khoshaba in honour of her husband. A scholarship of $1,500 CAD will be granted to the best submission related to hardiness and resilience by a graduate student. The winner will be decided by a committee.

Winners must become Student Members of the INPM in order to receive the prize at the conference. Click here for membership registration.

Winners will be notified before June 26^th, 2021.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP TO HONOUR DR. SALVATORE MADDI

All graduate students are invited to submit their papers to drpaulwong@gmail.com no later than 11:59 PM on May 30, 2021:

The email subject line should be “The Maddi Scholarship competition | Author Name(s)”
The attached file(s) should be .docx or .doc (or .rtf for those without Microsoft Word)
Text should be single-spaced, Times New Roman, 12-pt font
The paper should be 1,000 words with a 200-word abstract
The submission should be authored by either (a) one graduate student OR (b) one graduate student as the first author and a supervisor as the second author

Honey Family Foundation Student Scholarship Contest

This scholarship contest is to encourage graduate students to get involved in the exciting and ongoing development of existential positive psychology (PP 2.0). All submissions need to be related to some aspects of PP 2.0. Submissions may be based on empirical research, case studies, literature review, or theoretical analysis.

PRIZES

As judged by a panel of adjudicators consisting of Piers Worth, Ph.D., Roger Tweed, Ph.D., and Paul T. P. Wong, Ph.D., the winners will receive the following scholarships, in addition to waived conference registration:

First Prize: CAD $1,000
Second Prize: CAD $800
Third Prize: CAD $500

As well, three honourable mentions will receive waived conference registration. All six winners will have the opportunity to present their submission at the conference and have their submission published in our journal or proceedings.

Winners must become Student Members of the INPM in order to receive the prize at the conference. Click here for membership registration.

Winners will be notified before June 26^th, 2021.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES FOR THE HONEY FAMILY FOUNDATION STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST

All graduate students are invited to submit their papers to drpaulwong@gmail.com no later than 11:59 PM on May 30, 2021:

The email subject line should be “Meaning Conference 2021 Scholarship | Author Name(s)”
The attached file(s) should be .docx or .doc (or .rtf for those without Microsoft Word)
Text should be single-spaced, Times New Roman, 12-pt font
The paper should be 1,000 words with a 200-word abstract
The submission should be authored by either (a) one graduate student OR (b) one graduate student as the first author and a supervisor as the second author