“Technological developments – from video games to smart apps – can affect human well-being in both positive and negative ways. The range of questions related to the topics discussed at the conference illustrated the entire research scope of the centre of excellence," said Andero Uusberg, research director of the centre of excellence, professor of affective psychology at the University of Tartu.  

Well-known scientists and experts appeared at the conference. As part of the event, renowned migration geneticist Abdel Abdellaoui, associate professor of the University of Amsterdam Medical Center, visited Estonia, and his presentation at the conference focused on the connections between playing computer games and mental capacity and personality, as well as indicators of well-being. Katrin Tiidenberg professor of participatory well-being at Tallinn University's Institute of Baltic Film, Media and Arts, opened the topic Digital life and (spiritual) well-being based on the Estonian Human Development Report. Kadri Leetmaa, associate professor of human geography at the University of Tartu, highlighted the double marginalization dimension of the digital society in rural areas. In addition, Christian Montag, professor of molecular psychology at the University of Ulm, discussed the relationship between creativity and the use of technology in the (excessive) use of smartphones and social media, and Kadri Haljas, the founder and CEO of Triumf Health, discussed the topic Creating well-being through a health app: beauty and pain.

In the afternoon workshops, TalTech researchers focused on the integration of well-being and technology, offering participants the opportunity to explore the use of sensor technologies to assess physiological well-being, the role of health data and the Health Portal in supporting well-being, and the impact of well-being apps on quality of life.

EstWell, the centre of excellence for well-being sciences, brings together social and behavioral scientists and natural and technical scientists from the University of Tartu, Tallinn University and Tallinn University of Technology to find new ways to measure, understand and influence people's well-being. The annual conference of the Centre of Excellence is organized by one university on a rotating basis; this year, Tallinn University of Technology was the host of the conference.

Centres of excellence in research bring together high-level research groups dealing with related research topics to carry out top-notch international research and to develop and implement innovative ideas. 

View the conference gallery gallery.