Emotions, Health and Well-being Seminar: 3rd ed.
Multiple Lenses Into the Future of Well-being: Integrating Emotional, Scientific, and Cultural Strategies for Impact in Education, Work, and Society
Prof Shigehiro Oishi
Professor of Social Psychology, University of Virginia & Visiting Professor, Columbia University
Professor Shigehiro Oishi is an internationally recognised researcher exploring the intersections of culture, social ecology, and well-being. His work asks profound questions about what makes life meaningful, happy, and psychologically rich across societies. Recipient of the Carol and Ed Diener Award in Social Psychology, Professor Oishi has made influential contributions to research on how inequality, community, and environment influence human happiness. His curiosity extends beyond the lab, drawing on arts, sports, and cultural context to understand what truly sustains human flourishing.
At our seminar, Professor Oishi will share insights from his decades of work uncovering how our surroundings, from the places we live to the values we share, influence well-being and collective emotional life.
Dr. Himangana Gupta
Academic Associate at the United Nations University – Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS).
With nearly a decade of interdisciplinary experience, her work has focused on climate change and biodiversity policy and community-based approaches to tackle global environmental change. Her ongoing research work focuses on indigenous and local communities and well-being. She was also a part of the National Communication Cell of the Indian Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change from 2016-2019. She contributed to India’s Second and Third Biennial Update Reports to the UNFCCC. She is a certified expert in climate adaptation finance. She has seven edited books to her credit and more than 30 research publications. She also served as Lead Author for the Nexus Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.
At the seminar, Dr. Gupta will discuss her current research on the intercontinental indigenous perspective on Well-Being.
João Santos
Joao Santos brings expertise in the macro-design of European Vocational Education and Training (VET) policy, with a particular focus on social inclusion and systemic reform.
At the conference, he will explore how VET policy has evolved over the past decade, from a narrow emphasis on employability skills to a more holistic, values-driven approach that prioritizes inclusion and learner well-being.
Drawing on recent EU initiatives such as Pathways to School Success (2022) and the Comprehensive Approach to Mental Health (2023). There shall be a discussion on how well-being in VET is deeply connected to reducing dropout rates, supporting disadvantaged learners, and ensuring equitable access.
Looking ahead, Joao Santos will highlight the reforms needed for VET institutions to become not only centres of skills development but also stability anchors for learners navigating social and economic pressures.
Iolanda Galinha
Associate Professor, Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Professor Iolanda Galinha’s research explores the science of emotional well-being and how it can be nurtured through education. Her current study, MindRegulation-SEL, is a randomised controlled trial examining the effects of relaxation and guided imagery combined with socioemotional learning on children’s psychological, physiological, and cognitive development. Her work bridges neuroscience, education, and psychology to better understand how emotional regulation supports well-being and academic success.
At the seminar, Professor Galinha will share early insights from her MindRegulation-SEL study and lead a practical workshop on physiological measurement of emotions and well-being, supported by the BIAL Foundation.
Bárbara Guedes
Bárbara Guedes is a psychologist motivated by challenge and deeply enthusiastic about neurodiversity. Proudly neurodivergent herself, she works in adult assessment and intervention, with a particular focus on ADHD, guided by a neuroaffirmative and empathic approach. She is the co-founder of Brainstorm – Associação Portuguesa de PHDA, where she contributes to research, training, and intervention projects, as well as serving on the board. Bárbara completed her professional internship at NeuroGime, where she focused on providing individual psychological support and conducting neuropsychological assessments of adults, primarily in the context of ADHD.
She has also developed and implemented a pioneering online group intervention programme for adults with ADHD and continues to advocate for awareness and accessible, evidence-based resources. At the Emotions, Health and Well-being Seminar, Bárbara will speak about recognising and nurturing the strengths of neurodivergent individuals.
Celeste Simões
Maria Celeste Rocha Simões is an Associate Professor with Habilitation in the Department of Education, Social Sciences, and Humanities at the Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, and a member of the Centre for Education and Health Promotion. Her work focuses on mental health promotion, socio-emotional learning, resilience, and well-being across childhood and adolescence, with extensive experience in school-based and preventive education research at national and European levels.
She will present on the PROMEHS curriculum (Promoting Mental Health at Schools) and its impact in Portugal within the broader European Erasmus+ project. As the national lead, she has coordinated research demonstrating the effectiveness of PROMEHS in strengthening socio-emotional competencies, well-being, and resilient learning environments, drawing on recent Portuguese data.
António Raposo
António Raposo is a leader in process transformation and information systems, dedicated to aligning technology with human-centred outcomes. With extensive experience implementing agile support processes and IT security frameworks across mobility and business services in multiple countries, he focuses on driving innovation while maintaining operational excellence and customer satisfaction. As VW CIO and Digitalization Director, António oversees the transformation of IT structures into lean, adaptive systems that serve multiple business units efficiently.
At the seminar, he explores how artificial intelligence can enhance productivity and support mental well-being, examining both the opportunities and ethical responsibilities that come with integrating emerging technologies into everyday work and research.
Emily Bispo
Emily Bispo is a third-year PhD student at Católica University, within the Emotions and Well-being research group. Her work focuses on couples’ emotional regulation, exploring how partners navigate, influence, and support each other through complex emotional experiences.
Emily’s research sheds light on the interpersonal processes that shape emotional connection and resilience within intimate relationships, contributing to a deeper understanding of emotional well-being in everyday life.
Ema Shaw Evangelista
Evangelista emphasizes the importance of thinking outside traditional settings to better support children from difficult backgrounds, addressing issues like institutionalization and trauma.
Fern Beauchamp
Fern Beauchamp is a PhD researcher at Universidade Católica Portuguesa, where she's exploring how breathing practices might promote connection to self, others and nature and lay foundations for individual, collective and planetary wellbeing.
Distinguished Guests
The seminar will open with welcome remarks from Catarina Duff Burnay (Dean of FCH-UCP), Francisco Esteves (PhD Coordinator and CRC-W Director), and Augusta Gaspar (Head of the Psychology Scientific Area), setting the tone for a day of collaboration and discovery, amongst many other speakers.
The day will also include reflections from Margarida Gaspar de Matos and Joana Carneiro Pinto, Professors and representatives of the Organising Committee, who will deliver the closing remarks.
Throughout the event, the 2nd-year PhD students will moderate the discussions, weaving in their own topics of interest and facilitating thoughtful exchanges between speakers and participants.
And of course, all the participants! We are excited to welcome you to this seminar.