Ruut Veenhoven Award

The Ruut Veenhoven Award was created in 2014 in honor of Emeritus Professor Ruut Veenhoven (1942–2024), a prominent researcher and one of the founders of the field of Happiness Studies. ( Ruut Veenhoven (1942-2024): The Secret of a Happy and Productive Life | Applied Research in Quality of Life)

The award recognizes outstanding research in the field of Happiness Studies by a promising researcher who has demonstrated innovation and excellence and is in the early stages of their research career.

The prize carries an award equivalent to $500, a certificate of appreciation, and a one-year ISQOLS membership.

The Ruut Veenhoven Award is an initiative of the Erasmus Happiness Economics Research Organization (EHERO). For the 2027–2028 award cycle, the prize will be presented through ISQOLS.

Eligibility and Submission Requirements

• The Award recognizes a scholar who obtained their doctorate between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2023 and who has demonstrated innovation and excellence in Happiness Studies through the publication of a research paper or PhD thesis of outstanding quality.

• Research papers must have been accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed international journal. No work may be submitted that was published before 2018.

• Scholars may submit a maximum of one research paper or chapters from their PhD thesis.

• Each submission must be accompanied by:

  • A current CV; and

  • A summary of the submitted work in English (maximum two pages).

• Submissions are open to both ISQOLS members and non-members.

Selection Process

The final selection of candidates will be made by a Selection Committee consisting of previous winners of the Ruut Veenhoven Award.

The Selection Committee will be supported by a secretary from EHERO, who will facilitate the process but will not participate in the selection decision.

The Jury will consist of members of the ISQOLS Board and will make the final decision on the winner of the Ruut Veenhoven Award.

Knowledge of the intended recipient of the prize must be treated with confidentiality. Only the winner will be notified.

Submission Deadline

Applications and supporting documents must be submitted electronically in PDF format through  by September 30, 2027.

Application coming soon. 

The winner will be announced by the end of 2027.

Ruut Veenhoven Lecture

The winner will deliver the Ruut Veenhoven Lecture at an ISQOLS Annual Conference or as part of an online ISQOLS webinar.

Previous winners:

2015-2016: Dr. Jan-Emmanuel De Neve (University of Oxford). 

2016-2017: Dr. Louis Tay (Purdue University). 

2017-2018: Dr. Lara Aknin (Simon Fraser University)

2018-2019: Dr. Moshen Joshanloo (Keimyung University, South Korea)