Edward F. Diener Lecture Fund

About the Lecture

The Edward F. Diener Lecture Fund was established to honor the legacy of Professor Edward F. Diener, one of ISQOLS’ most distinguished presidents and a pioneer in the scientific study of subjective well-being. The fund permanently endows a series of keynote lectures on “advances in subjective quality of life theory and research” to be delivered at ISQOLS international conferences.

Lecturers for this series are selected from leading scholars worldwide, across the many disciplines that contribute to quality-of-life research.

This named lecture reflects both the profound impact of Ed Diener’s scholarship and ISQOLS’ enduring commitment to advancing the science and practice of human well-being.

About Edward F. Diener

Professor Edward F. Diener (1946–2021) was the Joseph R. Smiley Distinguished Professor of Psychology, Emeritus, at the University of Illinois. Widely known as “Dr. Happiness,” he shaped the field of subjective well-being through groundbreaking theories, innovative measurement tools, and decades of influential research.

• Seminal Contributions:
  Diener’s work on conceptualizing and operationalizing subjective well-being—years before the rise of positive psychology—helped define happiness as a serious and measurable field of scientific study. His research explored how factors such as income, health, culture, religion, and governance relate to happiness and life satisfaction.

• Methodological Advances:
  He developed widely used measures, including the Satisfaction with Life Scale and the Psychological Flourishing Scale, both of which continue to guide empirical research and applied practice.

• Global Influence:
  Diener championed the use of national accounts of well-being to inform public policy and was instrumental in making well-being research relevant to governments and international organizations.

• Scholarship & Leadership:
  With over 325 publications and 270,000+ citations, Diener’s work continues to inspire new generations of researchers. He was the founding editor of Perspectives on Psychological Science, a co-founder of the Journal of Happiness Studies, and served as editor of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. He also served as president of ISQOLS, the Society of Personality and Social Psychology, and was the first president of the International Positive Psychology Association.

• Mentorship & Accessibility:
  Diener’s legacy extends beyond his publications. Through initiatives like the Noba Project, he made psychology education accessible worldwide, sharing free resources with teachers, students, and practitioners.

Ed Diener’s research showed that happiness is not only a valuable pursuit in itself, but also a predictor of health, productivity, and social connection. His influence transformed subjective well-being into a cornerstone of modern psychology and quality-of-life research.

Legacy

Ed Diener’s scholarship laid the foundation for much of ISQOLS’ ongoing work. His insights bridged psychology with sociology, economics, philosophy, and public policy—helping to build an interdisciplinary community dedicated to understanding and improving human well-being.

As noted in his obituary published in the Journal of Happiness Studies (May 2021):

“All of us have benefited from his ideas and studies; even when we do not cite him directly, we use the work of researchers who were themselves influenced by him. The academic community will build on his pioneering research for decades to come.”

His passing in 2021 was an immeasurable loss to the field, but his ideas continue to guide scholars, policymakers, and practitioners worldwide.

Support the Lecture Fund

Your contribution helps sustain this endowed lecture series in honor of Ed Diener and ensures that future generations of scholars will continue to explore advances in subjective quality of life theory and research.

➡️ Please make your contribution using the donation form below.

Together, we can carry forward Ed Diener’s legacy of scholarship, inspiration, and commitment to improving quality of life worldwide.