Meaning in Life (MIL)
International Conference 2022

About the Conference

The concept of meaning in life (MIL) has recently earned a renaissance of interest. Although MIL has always been framed as significant for human survival, it has simultaneously been portrayed as chronically lacking in people’s lives. Furthermore, though MIL has been seen as a universal need, it is also highly idiosyncratic. These paradoxes of MIL being a basic necessity but also a rare commodity, and as being universal yet idiosyncratic, have driven the quest for meaning throughout history and across disciplines. The COVID-19 pandemic has not only been changing and impacting the ways we live, but also initiates us to quest more about what still makes life meaningful in this chaotic, challenging, and uncertain world? The increasing quest for MIL provides the driver for meaning-enhancing interventions and meaning-centered practices, but the efficacy of these interventions is influenced by cultural and developmental moderators. Thus, the MIL International Conference 2022 will focus on the theme of cultivating, promoting, and enhancing meaning in life across cultures and life span, and welcomes paper presentations that share and discuss empirical-based and evidence-based MIL research, practice, and applications.

The Meaning in Life International Conference 2022 is supported by the Inter-Institutional Development Scheme (UGC/IIDS15(17)/H01/20) funded by the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong Special Administration Region

Panel Discussion Speakers

Day 2

23 June, 2022 (Thursday)

HK Time (HKT)	Activity
09:00-09:30	Onsite / Online Registration
09:30-10:30	Keynote Lecture III (K3) Meaning in Life: From Mundane to Profound Keynote Speaker Professor Samantha J. HEINTZELMAN Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology Rutgers University – Newark View on YouTube
10:30-11:00	Q and A Session with Professor Samantha J. HEINTZELMAN
11:00-11:10	Break
11:10-12:30	Breakout Session 5 (B5):  MIL Across Lifespan Click here for details Breakout Session 6 (B6):  MIL and Lifestyle Click here for details
12:30-14:00	Lunch Break – e-Poster Session 2 (P2) P2-1 Correlation Between the Trait of Gratitude and Meaning in Life (MIL) in Terms of Presence of Meaning & Searching for Meaning Hin Yiu LI Hong Kong Shue Yan University, HKSAR P2-2 Elderly Facing Death During the Pandemic: The Ethical Dilemma of Hong Kong Christians Ho Yee WU Hong Kong Baptist University, HKSAR
14:00-15:00	Breakout Session 7 (B7)  MIL Across Cultures Click here for details Breakout Session 8 (B8)  MIL, Religion, and Spirituality Click here for details
15:00-15:30	Break
15:30-16:30	Keynote Session IV (K4) Engaging with Life: Synchronicity Experiences as an Underexplored Pathway to Meaning in Life and Well-being Keynote Speaker Dr Pninit RUSSO-NETZER Senior Lecturer, Head of the Education Department, Achva Academic College Head of the Compass Institute for the Study of Meaning in Life Head of the Logotherapy training program, Tel-Aviv University View on YouTube
16:30-17:00	Q and A Session with Dr Pninit RUSSO-NETZER

Day 4

25 June, 2022 (Saturday)

HK Time (HKT)	Activity
09:00-10:00	Online/Onsite Registration
10:00-12:00	Local Forum and Panel Session (in Cantonese) Life and Death Education in Hong Kong Keynote Speakers: Live Well, Die Well: Insights from Ars Moriendi and Bardo Thodol Professor Lap-Yan KUNG Director of the Centre for Quality-Life Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Life Education and School. Development: The Case of Hong Kong Dr. Raymond Ho-Man KONG Lecturer, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, The Education University of Hong Kong Embracing Failure is the Key for Next Generation Ms. Jessica CHAN  General Secretary, Methodist Centre for Quality Life Education  Meaningful Life, Beautiful Life Journey Ms. Mon Yick-Man LAM Senior Manager, Youth Services, St. James’ Settlement Panel Discussion: Professor Lap- Yan KUNG, Dr. Raymond Ho-Man KONG Ms. Jessica CHAN, Ms. Mon Yick-Man LAM View on YouTube

Co-organizers

International Advisory Committee

Professor Meike BARTELS, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Professor Albert Tsun-hung CHAN, Clinical Psychologist, HKSAR
Professor H. S. CHUI, Gratia Christian College, HKSAR
Professor Samantha HEINTZELMAN, Rugters University – Newark, United States
Dr Yuk-Ching (Sylvia) KWOK LAI, City University of Hong Kong, HKSAR
Professor Lap Yan KUNG, Chinese University of Hong Kong, HKSAR
Professor Shui-Fong LAM, The University of Hong Kong, HKSAR
Dr Alex Wang-On LI, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, HKSAR
Professor Sonja LUYBOMIRSKY, University of California – Riverside, United States
Dr Jiayan PAN, Hong Kong Baptist University, HKSAR
Dr Travis PROULX, Cardiff University, England
Professor Pninit RUSSO-NETZER, Achva Academic College, Israel
Professor Satoshi SHIMAI, Kansai University of Welfare Sciences, Japan
Professor Michael F. STEGER, Colorado State University, United States
Dr Siu-Ming TO, Chinese University of Hong Kong, HKSAR
Professor Allan H. K. YUEN, Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education, HKSAR
Dr Man-Tak YUEN, University of Hong Kong, HKSAR
Dr. Joel VOS, Metanoia Institute, England

Organizing Committee

Conference Chair
Dr. Chi-Keung (Alex) CHAN, Hong Kong Shue Yan University and Tung Wah College, HKSAR

Program Co-Chairs
Dr. Chung Ping (Susanna) WONG-IP, Gratia Christian College, HKSAR, Program Chair
Professor Michael F. STEGER, Colorado State University, United States, International Program Committee Chair
Dr. Yin-hung (Bess) LAM, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, HKSAR, Review Chair
Dr. Chi-fai (Raymond) CHUI, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, HKSAR, Finance Chair
Dr. Yat-fan (Nicolson) SIU, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, HKSAR, Publicity Chair

International Program Committee

Dr Michael BENDER, Tilburg University, The Netherlands
Dr Christian CHAN, University of Hong Kong, HKSAR
Dr Kai-tai CHAN, Individual Consultant, HKSAR
Professor Wallace Chi Ho CHAN, Chinese University of Hong Kong, HKSAR
Dr Wendy Wing-lam CHAN, Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, HKSAR
Dr Chris CHEUNG, Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education, HKSAR
Dr Sing-hang CHEUNG, University of Hong Kong, HKSAR
Dr Floria CHIO, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, HKSAR
Dr Jason CHOW, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, HKSAR
Dr Sandrine CHUNG, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, HKSAR
Dr Wai FU, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, HKSAR
Dr Anna N. N. HUI, City University of Hong Kong, HKSAR
Dr Man Yee HO, City University of Hong Kong, HKSAR
Dr Ho-Man (Raymond) KONG, Education University of Hong Kong, HKSAR
Professor Kalina MICHALSKA, University of California Riverside, United States
Dr Lufanna LAI, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, HKSAR
Dr Bobo LAU, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, HKSAR
Dr Esther Yuet-Ying LAU, Education University of Hong Kong, HKSAR
Dr Wilbert LAW, Education University of Hong Kong, HKSAR
Dr Yuk-Yee (Karen) LEE, Gratia Christian College, HKSAR
Dr Hildie LEUNG, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Saudi Arabia
Dr P. F. Jonah LI, Indiana University – Bloomington, United States
Dr Li LIN, Lingnan University, HKSAR
Dr Su LU, De Montfort University, The Netherlands
Dr Matthew OSEKA, Concordia Theological Seminary, HKSAR
Dr Ying TONG, Educational Psychologist, HKSAR
Dr Anna TSO, Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, HKSAR
Dr Carrie WU, Hong Kong Baptist University, HKSAR
Dr Jiawen (Carmen) YE, Lingnan University, HKSAR
Dr Ben C. L. YU, Chinese University of Hong Kong, HKSAR
Dr Livia YULIAWATI, Universitas Ciputra Surabaya, Indonesia
Dr Michela ZAMBELLI, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Milan), Italy