Entering Grades 10-12

Psychology of Wellbeing

How do research psychologists figure out what makes us happy and unhappy? What can we do to help ourselves, our friends, and our community feel better about their lives? In this program, you will explore the science of well being, collecting and analyzing data to generate ideas about what changes could have the most impact. You will pursue your own investigations into the sources of well being, design and conduct a study, analyze the data, and consider how it applies to the people you care about.

This program is based on a Big Ideas course at UC Berkeley, developed by the Nobel Laureate Saul Perlmutter.

Parents are invited at 3 p.m. on the last day for teens to share their projects.

Program Info

Food: Lunch is provided. Teens bring a water bottle and snacks from home.
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday
Location: UC Berkeley
Tuition: $1,465.00
Seeking Financial Aid? Learn More >

Session 1: 06/23/2025 – 06/27/2025
No Residential Option

Sample Day

7:30 a.m.

Wake-up for residential teens!  Residential teens enjoy breakfast & walk together to campus

9:00 a.m.

All teens sign in with instructors
Welcome activities and icebreakers
Opening Circle- group check-in and framing the day
Explore STEM concepts and hands-on investigations in your track
Mid-morning break with teens from other tracks
Hands-on investigations and exploration cont.

11:45 a.m.

Lunch break in campus cafeteria Social time with teens from other tracks

12:45 p.m.

Continued investigations and explorations in your track
Various lab tours and guest speakers
Afternoon break with teens from other tracks
Closing Circle- reflection prompts and preview of what’s ahead

 4:00 p.m.

College Pathways Programming
Campus or other tours 
Meet and talk to current college students 
Meet and talk to professionals from a range of STEM career fields

 5:00 p.m.

Commuter teens sign out with instructors
Residential teens walk together to dorms and enjoy some well deserved downtime 

 6:30 p.m.

Dinner
Evening program 
Free time

10:00 p.m.

Lights Out!

Activity Highlights

  • Design and conduct a psychology research study
  • Analyze your own data about well-being
  • Develop practical strategies for becoming happier
  • Improve data skills related to data analysis and determining causal relationships
  • Meet and mix with teens across other STEM tracks
  • Meet and talk to students and STEM career professionals
  • Project presentations and certificates

Staff Bios

Brian Delahunty

Brian Delahunty has spent the last three years working with the interdisciplinary UC Berkeley course Sense & Sensibility & Science to develop critical thinking curriculum. During his time as a UC Berkeley undergraduate, he studied psychology, neuroscience, data science, and experimental design. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Science with a minor in Data Science in 2025. 

In his free moments, Brian loves to spend time in nature, whether that be backpacking, climbing, or caving.

May Cho

May Cho is a graduating senior at UC Berkeley, majoring in Nutritional Sciences. She is aspiring to become a registered dietitian and hoping to specialize in eating disorders or sports nutrition.  Throughout her years at Cal, May has worked as a resident assistant, worked at UCSF, and volunteered at local schools and food pantries. 

May is originally from Myanmar but grew up in San Francisco and in her free time, she enjoys reading, going to concerts, and trying new cafes!