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We are a group of scientists, practitioners and universities united by a passionate commitment; contribute to Colombian and world peace through science. We believe in the potential for growth and positive transformation in the aftermath of conflict, and that science has an important role to play not only to facilitate recovery, but also to prevent future hostilities and lay the foundations for sustainable peace. The Science for Peace project is the result of this shared vision and is led in Colombia by the Florecer Institute.
Under the scientific direction of Professor Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi, co-creator of the science of positive psychology, and the participation of the world leading experts of the science of well being, character, and related disciplines, Science for Peace offers the opportunity to develop what could be one of the greatest studies in human history. We hope you consider joining us in this worthwhile goal of bringing light to one of humanity's major problems: the use of violence to resolve conflicts.
WHY US ?
What makes our project truly unique is that unlike other initiatives that also share the passion and commitment to peacemaking, we offer an innovative approach, a scientific method, and solid scientific careers that allow us to design, develop and implement evidence based programs in key segments of the population.
INNOVATION
New and revolutionary approach to positive social transformation.
EXPERIENCE
The world's leading scholars and practitioners united for Colombian and world peace.
METHODOLOGY
A step by step, rigorous and systematic approach for concrete and measurable results.
GLOBAL SUPPORT NETWORK
A global community with passionate commitment towards peace.
WHAT THE MEDIA SAYS ABOUT US
“The one and only scientific proyect for the postconflict, as an oportunity for displaying technology and rigorous, systematic knowledge, developed in the best univerisities worldwide, so they can serve as a model and legacy, not only for colombia but for other nations."
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Revista El Congreso...
Revista El Congreso
“The methodologies that psoitive psychology has developed through more that two decades since it was born in the united states in order to teach people to forgive, have more compassion, be more optimistic and hopeful, could be applied in Colombia in order to ease the transition to peace for a population that has been deeply affected by more than half century of war"
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El Nuevo Siglo...
El Nuevo Siglo
La Patria
“Worldwide pioneers of the development of applied investigations with the highest scientific rigour for the construction of peace."
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El Universal...
El Universal
“A program that aims to facilitate the transition to peace in Colombia through a scientific methodology"
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El Espectador...
El Espectador
THE PROJECT
The project intends to pursue a program of separate but complementary research studies, and to implement interventions focused on education and the general public based on new technological means of communication.
VICTIMS
A happy, fulfilling and productive life in the aftermath of trauma is possible.
Can survivors enjoy life and have greater well being after experiencing the horrors of war? Can they grow from trauma? can they forgive and have hope for the future? what are the consequences of unforgiveness? and why does this matter anyway? The latests official reports about the psychological damage of victims in Colombia show that only 15% of them feel they have successfully reincorporated to their work life after the traumatic experience. An ample body of research shows the effectiveness of evidence based interventions aimed at facilitating these outcomes. In a country with over 8 million victims, the development and implementation of evidence based programs that facilitate these processes is desperately needed; it would save vast costs to the health system, and set the foundations for societal flourishing. This should be one of the main priorities of a public agenda that aims at building long lasting and sustainable peace.
REINTEGRATED SOLDIERS
From the battlefield to the good life
Can former rebels become consciously committed, creative agents of the better future of Colombia? Can they develop trust in the institutions of civil society? Perhaps the most urgent application of Positive Psychology and related disciplines to the current situation in Colombia is in helping achieve the social reintegration of the guerrilla fighters into civil society.
Members of illegal groups need high quality psychological training if they are to adapt in the highly polarized society that awaits them. The design and development of empirically based programs can facilitate that they not only adapt, but also find happiness and fulfillment in their new lives; an absolute necessity for the successful transition towards peace. Furthermore, studying the psychological effects of violence of the members of the illegal groups formerly involved in the conflict can create less conflict producing policies, develop procedures for the peaceful welcoming of former combatants, inform government institutions, keep individuals from resorting to violence.
EDUCATION
Educating for character and virtue is the key to Colombia’s present and future peace
We see education, as the greatest opportunity to make a positive impact on the present and the future of Colombia. Young people's perspectives, attitudes, habits and mentalities, are firstly constructed during childhood and adolescence. Positive and character education combine the science of positive psychology with best learning practices to make the best of students, schools and communities. The goal is to help children and youth to break generational patterns and become ethical leaders committed to building a better world for all.
Teaching character and virtue is key for children to grow into positive change agents who not only know what the right thing to do is, but are capable of translating that knowledge into action. The extensive work undertaken in the field of character and positive education in the past years put values and virtues into practice with evidence based curriculums that hold the key to colombian and world peace.
ARMED FORCES
After half a century of heroism, It’s time to take care of those who take care of us
Members of the Colombian army have been fighting to protect its people for over half a century, putting their lives constantly at risk for their fellow citizens; it’s time put more attention into their psychological needs and well being. Research shows that veterans and members of the army who have been exposed to violence and conflict often experience high levels of post-traumatic stress disorder and other psychological problems that negatively impact their health and well being. Soldiers who have been exposed to conflict and violence deserve to receive evidence based intervention programs that help them grow from trauma, enjoy greater well being and live happy and fulfilling lives.
CIVIL POPULATION
Peace begins within each of us.
Despite the conflict’s thousands of victims, Colombians live alienated from the search of conflict solutions. People do not usually understand that peace begins inside them, and that if we want a peaceful country , the change that will make the difference will not just be the one that those directly involved in the conflict do, but the one that all of the Colombians make.
For this reason, the science of wellbeing and happiness has personalized methodologies, so that every person can heal and thus contribute to their own peace and success of the social fabric of our country.
THE TEAM
Team members of the Science for Peace project are world renowned scholars and practitioners acclaimed for their experience in the design and implementation of evidence based strategies.
Andrea Ortega Bechara
Founder and director of the Science for Peace project, Founder and director of the Positive Psychology Institute Flourish in Colombia, founder and president of the Colombian Positive Psychology Association, and a member of Universidad del Sinu General Council’s board. Andrea’s goal is to conduct rigorous research in the field of positive education and positive organizational scholarship that can help individuals, communities and organizations to flourish. Andrea studied in the Master of Applied Positive Psychology program at the University of Pennsylvania. She has a Master of Science in Organizational and Social Psychology from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a B.S in Philosophy from Université Paul Valery Montpellier III. She also graduated Summa Cum Laude as a lawyer from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana.
Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, PhD
Co-founder of the science of happiness, Dr. Csikszentmihalyi is internationally recognized as one of the most outstanding researchers of the 21st century. He runs the Quality of Life Research Center at Claremont Graduate University. In addition, he has been Tony's Blair adviser during his government, as well as for several countries in conflict at Eastern Europe. He has written many best sellers and more than 120 articles or chapters. Dr. Csikszentmihalyi is one of the most cited psychologists today in diverse fields of psychology and business. His theory of Flow is today one of the most influential in organizations to increase productivity.
Richard Glenn Tedeschi, PhD
Richard Glenn Tedeschi, Ph.D. Dr. Tedeschi is a Licensed Psychologist specializing in bereavement and trauma, he is a Professor of Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and core faculty for the Health Psychology Ph.D. program. He heads the Posttraumatic Growth research lab, and also serves as Graduate Coordinator for the MA Psychology program. With his colleague Lawrence Calhoun, he has published several books on posttraumatic growth, an area of research that they have developed which examines personal transformations in the aftermath of traumatic life events. Their most recent book is Posttraumatic Growth in Clinical Practice (2013) Dr. Tedeschi serves as consultant to the American Psychological Association on trauma and resilience, and was a subject matter expert in the development of the US Army Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Program.
Everett Worthington, PhD
Licensed clinical psychologist and Professor of Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). His research interests include forgiveness and other virtues, religion and spirituality in clinical practice, and the hope-focused approach to counseling couples. He has written over 30 books on topics including forgiveness of others, self-forgiveness, character strength, religion and psychology, and couples' therapy, and he has published over 350 scholarly articles and chapters. Worthington has been frequently cited as an expert on his topics of interest in the scientific literature and public media.
Stefano Vinaccia Alpi, PhD
Dr. Stefano Vinaccia Alpi is a psychologist from the Universidad Pontificia Javeriana- Bogota and Doctor (PhD.) in Clinical and Health Psychology from the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid - Spain. He has taught at different universities in Colombia. In 1998 he received the "Colombian Prize from the Association of Psychological Assessment for the most distinguished trajectory among all the Colombian psychologists under the age of 40. He has developed and directed different works on chronic illness, quality of life and positive psychology of health, which have been presented both at national and international congresses and symposia. He has published more than 135 articles in psychology and medical journals, he has also participated in 10 book chapters and has published three books. He is currently Senior Researcher at Colciencias 2015-2018.
Margaret Kern, PhD
Senior lecturer in the University of Melbourne Graduate School of Education in the new Centre for Positive Psychology. A summa cum laude graduate from Arizona State University, she received her doctorate in psychology in June 2010 from the University of California, Riverside, and received postdoctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania Positive Psychology Center. Her research addresses the question of who flourishes and why. More specifically, her research focuses on several related areas: (a) understanding and measuring healthy functioning, (b) evaluating sophisticated theories of psychosocial processes underlying health over time, (c) big data approaches to psychological study, and (d) whole school approaches to wellbeing. She incorporates a lifespan perspective, innovative quantitative methods, and interdisciplinary collaboration throughout her research.
Maria Elena Garassini, PhD
Licenciada en Psicología (UCV), Magister en Psicología del Desarrollo Humano (UCV), Doctorado en Educación (Universidad de Sevilla), Doctorado en Psicología (UCV), Especialista en Terapia de Pareja y Familia (PROFAM Caracas en alianza con Center for Couples and Family Development, Florida, USA). Directora de la escuela de Psicología de la Universidad Metropolitana (UNIMET) en Caracas. Consultora en Organizaciones para la promoción del Bienestar. Creadora y coordinadora del diplomado en Psicología Positiva dictado en CENDECO-UNIMET. Autora de múltiples publicaciones en el área de Psicología Positiva: Psicología Positiva en Venezuela, la Felicidad duradera, Aportes de la Psicología Positiva en el trabajo , Fortalezas del venezolano, Hablan los adolescentes: desarrollo positivo. Representante por Venezuela de la Red Iberoamericana de Psicología Positiva y miembro de la IPPA (International Positive Psychology Association).
STAFF
We are a group of young people who identify with the passion and work of the Science of Peace and Wellbeing.
Steven Zarian PhD(c)
Visiting scholar at the Quality of Life Research Center at Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, CA. He received his B.A. in International Relations with a concentration in Global Institutions and Society from University of Redlands, and M.A. in Positive Developmental Psychology from Claremont Graduate University. In his free time, Steven loves hiking, traveling, and meditating
Rachael Perlman
Rachael Perlman is currently working towards her Master in Positive Developmental Psychology at Claremont Graduate University. She is committed to understanding how trauma can trigger personal and collective transformation, and to then making that knowledge usable on a societal level. Her background in Anthropology and work with other cultures give her a transdisciplinry and multicultural perspective.
Diana Santamaria
Sciences of Happiness Institute Florecer General Coordinator
Daniela Campos
Psychology student at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá. She is interested in learning more about Positive Psychology and the applications that it has in the Colombian framework, in order to help building peace and harmony for all.
Patricia Garcia
Industrial Engineering student from the Polytechnic Gran Colombiano,Bogotá. She has the enthusiasm and willingness to support the implementation, design, and evaluation of prospect projects we undertake.
MEDIA PRESENCE
We are immensely grateful to all national and international media to recognize the importance of the Science for Peace Project for Colombia and the world.
