The Department of Psychology recently convened a two-day Academic Conference titled ‘Zeitgeist’ on the 8th and 9th Aril, 2024, themed ‘Unveiling the Transformative Power of Positive Psychology’. The event commenced with an inauguration ceremony featuring a keynote address by Dr. Dalip Singh, a retired IAS officer and Author of “Emotional Intelligence at Work”. Dr. Singh’s insightful discourse, illuminating positive psychology through the prism of emotional intelligence, set the intellectual tone for the conference. Following the keynote, the Department orchestrated a Panel Discussion titled ‘Mindfulness or Misinformation: Debunking Non-scientific Notions of Positive Psychology’, adeptly moderated by Dr. Priyanka Padhy, Assistant Professor at Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi. This was succeeded by a thought-provoking lecture by Prof. Pooja V. Anand from Daulat Ram College, University of Delhi, delving into ‘Mirror, Media, and Me: Reflecting upon Media’s Impact on Body Image’ within the framework of Positive Psychology.
The first day concluded with a screening of the documentary titled ‘Happiness Class’, graced by filmmaker Ms. Samina Mishra, which offered a poignant glimpse into the experiences of stakeholders involved in the happiness curriculum, marking a reflective end to the day’s proceedings.
The second day featured an array of competitions and workshops, commencing with a Paper Presentation competition that attracted participants from colleges across Delhi-NCR. Simultaneously, the Department organized an Intervention Design Competition and an Inter-College Quiz Competition aligned with the conference’s theme. Following this, the Department hosted an enriching ‘Chaupal’ session, where the faculty members of the Department offered life insights intertwined with principles of Positive Psychology, enabling studens to live a meaningful and fulfilling life. This was followed by a ‘Zen and Zest Mindfulness and Gratitude Workshop for Positive Living’, facilitating mindfulness practices adeptly moderated by Prof. Priti Dhawan (Professor Department of Psychology, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi University) and Ms. Sentisungla Longchar (Teacher In Charge of the Department of Psychology, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi University).
The conference culminated formally with the Valedictory Session, where the Department’s Bi-annual Magazine ‘Zeitgeist’ was released, followed by a captivating classical fusion dance performance, and a Prize Distribution ceremony for various competitions. Ms. N. Pamyaphy (Assistant Professor Psychology Department at Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi) conveyed the vote of thanks, followed by a Behind the Scenes video highlighting the commendable efforts put in by everyone to make the conference a success, compiled by the Department’s Publicity Team.