Highlights of the launch of HAPPY? at the SCIENCE GALLERY, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland in April 2012

A FREE 'LAB IN THE GALLERY' THAT EXPLORES YOUR HAPPINESS THROUGH REAL EXPERIMENTS, CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF RESEARCH AT TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN'S SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY AS PART OF THE DUBLIN CITY OF SCIENCE 2012 FESTIVAL

"We all strive to be happy— it makes us healthier, wealthier and more resilient. However—is a nation's happiness dependent on its economy alone? Ireland has had the greatest economic shock of any developed country in recent history, and our world-famous capacity for good humour and happiness has taken a jolt. Yet we still rank within the top ten happiest countries in Europe and the world according to recent polls. Why are we still reporting high levels of well-being? What is the reality behind the statistics? — HAPPY? Is part of Science Gallery's 'lab in the gallery' series and was developed in partnership with Trinity College Dublin School of Psychology to mark 50 years of teaching, research and training. HAPPY? Will present visitors with a series of real research experiments exploring the causes, correlates and consequences of happiness through a living psychological laboratory. The data gathered will enable a greater understanding of the complexity of factors that affect our happiness. — from experiments that explore the influence of language, emotional attachment and moral acts of kindness on your well-being to happiness themed events, HAPPY? Aims to uncover the true mood of the nation. Can happiness be learned? Do you consider yourself happy? HAPPY? Seeks to inform, entertain and perhaps even bring a smile to your face."

CURATORS
Ian Robertson, Malcolm Mac Lachlan