All posts by sabina alkire

Organizing Committee of the 2025 Kyoto Conference

Organizing Committee of the 2nd conference of the International Society for Bhutan Studies

  • Seiji Kumagai (Institute for the Future of Human Society (IFOHS), Kyoto University)
  • Yuko Nishitani (Graduate School of Law, Kyoto University)
  • Shiro Ohmi (Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University)
  • Ryota Sakamoto (Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS), Kyoto University)
  • Miguel Alvarez-Ortega (Graduate School of Law, Kyoto University)
  • Matteo Miele (University of Florence/ CSEAS, Kyoto University)
  • Kengo Konishi (IFOHS, Kyoto University)
  • Takahiko Kameyama (IFOHS, Kyoto University)
  • Yoshio Akamatsu (CSEAS, Kyoto University)
  • Akiko Ueda (Graduate School of International Development, Nagoya University)
  • Dendup Chophel (University of Copenhagen)

Stuff

  • Seimin Kimura (IFOHS, Kyoto University)
  • Geshe Thupten Gawa Matsushita (IFOHS, Kyoto University)
  • Kaworu Kominami (Graduate School of Letters, Kyoto University)
  • Keiki Nakayama (University of Leipzig)
  • Yoshiki Ishiuchi (ASAFAS, Kyoto University)

Symposium ‘The Future of Well-being’ 2025 time schedule

7th February 2025

14:00–14:05  Opening Remarks: Yukiko Uchida (Kyoto University)

14:05–14:20  Introduction ‘Research and Development of Kokoro Technology towards Well-going and Well-being’: Seiji Kumagai (Kyoto University)

14:20–15:00  Measuring Well-being and Poverty to Guide Policy Action: Sabina Alkire (University of Oxford)

15:00–15:10  Break

15:10–15:50  Well-being in the History and Culture of Bhutan: Karma Ura (Centre for Bhutan Studies and GNH Research)

15:50–16:00  Conclusion: Seiji Kumagai

16:00–16:30  Informal Social Gathering of Speakers and Audience

Contact: Institute for the Future of Human Society, Kyoto University, 46 Yoshida Shimoadachi-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8501 Japan

Mail: info@isbs2025kyoto.com

ISBS Launch Conference 2019

ISBS 2019 conference group photo

The fascinating inaugural ISBS launch conference took place on 8th to 10th January 2019 at Magdalen College, Oxford. The conference had a plethora of hidden jewels in its papers and presentations – from buddhism to linguistics, anthropology to democracy to Gross National Happiness.

During the Conference on the 9th January 2019, there were Distinguished Lectures by the Former Prime Minister of Bhutan, His Excellency Dasho Tshering Tobgay, and the President of the Center for Bhutan Studies and Gross National Happiness, Dasho Karma Ura, with the Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University, OECD’s Martine Durand, and Economists’ Prof. James Foster.

His Excellency Dasho Tshering Tobgay

The ISBS launch conference reflect the ISBS aims in microcosm:

  1. As the ISBS is multidisciplinary, the conference will feature papers on topics from linguistics to history to natural science to Buddhism to economics and business and so on.
  2. As the ISBS promotes research excellence, papers will reflect the cutting edge research internationally on Bhutan.
  3. As the ISBS seeks to support Bhutanese scholars, both junior and established, this conference will feature their voices alongside international scholars.
  4. As the ISBS seeks to create intellectual community and academic exchange so the conference will provide spaces for mentoring, networking, and sharing.
  5. As the ISBS seeks to contribute to the happiness of future generations, so the ethos of our exchange will be to engage both the guardians of culture and tradition and those able to use the research to enact positive change.
  6. As the ISBS seeks to be inclusive, we welcome gifts that support the participation of all scholars.
Dasho Karma Ura
ISBS 2019 Conference in the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford
ISBS 2019 Conference at Magdalen College, Oxford

The conference programme, biographies and abstracts (PDF)
Conference lectures
Conference Powerpoints
Conference videos
Conference photos (Album 1)
Conference photos (Album 2)

ISBS 2025 Kyoto Conference

The 2nd conference of the International Society for Bhutan Studies, February 4–6, 2025 Kyoto, Japan

This conference continued the ISBS philosophy and provided an opportunity to think together about global happiness and well-being based on the latest research findings on Bhutan.

  1. As the ISBS is multidisciplinary, the conference featured papers on topics from linguistics to history, natural science, Buddhism, economics, business, and so on.
  2. As the ISBS promotes research excellence, papers reflected the cutting edge international research on Bhutan.
  3. As the ISBS seeks to support Bhutanese scholars, both junior and established, this conference featured their voices alongside international scholars.
  4. As the ISBS seeks to create intellectual community and academic exchange so the conference provided spaces for mentoring, networking and sharing.
  5. As the ISBS seeks to contribute to the happiness of future generations, so the ethos of our exchange was to engage both the guardians of culture and tradition and those able to use the research to enact positive change.
  6. As the ISBS seeks to be inclusive, we welcome gifts that supported the participation of all scholars.

Message to the participants of the the 2nd conference of the International Society for Bhutan Studies

ISBS 2025 has successfully concluded all of its sessions.
We appreciate all the participants for warm cooperation, and wish the continuous prosper of international Bhutanese Studies and well-being of every beings in the world.
See you again in the near future !                              
ISBS 2025 Team

Programme of the ISBS 2025 Kyoto Conference (PDF)
Article in Kuensel about the ISBS 2025 Kyoto Conference (PDF)
Organizing Committee of the ISBS 2025 Kyoto Conference

International symposium ‘The Future of Well-being’

The international symposium ‘The Future of Well-being’ was held as a part of the ISBS 2025 Kyoto Conference on 7th February 2025.

The symposium focused on the concept ‘well-being’, which plays a central role in the politics, economy, and culture of contemporary Bhutanese society. Dasho Dr. Karma Ura and Professor Sabina Alkire, two leading scholars in current Bhutanese and well-being studies, gave insightful talks concerning well-being and its future.

Symposium ‘The Future of Well-being’ timetable

The symposium was supported by the Uehiro Foundation on Ethics and Education, the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (KAKENHI), and Kyoto University Institute for the Future of Human Society (IFoHS).

Watch the video of the international symposium ‘The Future of Well-being’ on IFoHS YouTube channel

    2019 Conference videos

    Author Title View
    Fergus LyonDecision Making under Uncertainty: The Case of Building Earthquake Resilience in Bhutan
    Azade ToygarFuneral Rites and Post-Mortem Practices of the Lhokpu
    Francoise PommaretPeople on the Move: In-country Migrations in Bhutan
    Ven Lopen Gembo DorjiGarcham – the Masked Dances of Bhutan
    Ven Lam Lotay SingayReligious Music and Chants from Bhutan
    Rev. Prof. Martin LairdContemplation and Meditation
    His Eminence Dralop Rinpoche Sangay DorjiMandala and Arts
    Dorine Eva van NorrenSDGs versus cosmovisions of the Global South: GNH, Ubuntu and Buen Vivir
    Dr Matthew SchuelkaEducation in Bhutan: Culture, Schooling, and GNH
    Karma GyeltshenSacred Geography – Footprints of Padmasambhava in Bhutan
    Seiji KumagaiThe Education of Tsangpa Gyare as the Basis of Pedagogic System of Drukpa Kagyu School
    Michael RutlandThe Search for Harmony in the 21st Century
    Chelsea FerrellImportance of Religious Forests for the Rural Himalayan Communities of Bhutan
    Kuenga WangmoArcheology in Bhutan: Understanding Ancient Mortuary Practices
    Interactive sessionPlenary  Session on Identity & Purposes: Roger Goodman, David Gellner, Dasho Dr Karma Ura, Lopen Gembo Dorji, Prof Seiji Kumagai, Francoise Pommeret, and Dr Kuenga Wangmo, moderated by Sabina Alkire

    2019 Conference Powerpoints

    NAMETOPICDOWNLOAD
    Anden DroletGood Governance, Gross National
    Happiness, and the Care of the Other
    Azade ToygarLhokpu Mortuary Rites
    David HechtHome Ranges for Birds, Home Ranges for Deities: Citadels of Conservation in Bhutan
    Deki YangzomFood and Culture: Changes, Continuities and Changing Continuities in Bhutan
    Dorine van NorrenSDGs versus cosmovisions of the Global South: GNH, Ubuntu and Buen Vivir
    François PommeretPeople on the move: In-country migrations in Bhutan
    Karma GyeltshenSacred Geography – Footprints of Padmasambhava in Bhutan
    Matthew SchuelkaEducation in Bhutan: Culture, Schooling, and Gross National Happiness
    Michael GivelGross National Happiness Policy Outputs in Bhutan from 1972 to 2014
    Michaela WindischgrätzDispute Settlement in a Changing Society
    Pascal GerberAgreement Morphology in Gongduk: Synchronic and Diachronic Perspectives
    Richard WhitecrossNew Horizons? : The right to environmental protection and the Supreme Court of Bhutan
    Seiji KumagaiThe Education of Tsangpa Gyare (1161-1211) as the Basis of Pedagogic System of the Drukpa Kagyu School
    Selin GrollmannThe Internal Diversity of the Tshangla Languages: Insights from Bjokapakha
    Steven NewmanPractical Ideas for Facilitating Bhutan to Become a Global Exemplar of Resilience in the Face of the ‘Perfect Storm’
    Tashi NamgayThe careful Science of Astrology
    Yoshiro ImaedaBhutaneity in the Tibetan Cultural Context

    2019 Conference Lectures

    Two Distinguished Lectures on Bhutan: The Land of the Thunder Dragon and Gross National Happiness

    An afternoon of two Distinguished Public Lectures on Bhutan, by the Former Prime Minister of Bhutan, His Excellency Dasho Tshering Tobgay, and the President of the Center for Bhutan Studies and Gross National Happiness, Dasho Karma Ura.

    The lectures took place at the Sheldonian Theatre.

    3:00-4:30pm His Excellency Dasho Tshering Tobgay spoke on Bhutan Matters: Building Happiness with Small Promises, chaired by the former Chairman of the General Board, University of Oxford, Dr Ralph Walker.

    5:00-6:30pm Dasho Dr Karma Ura gave a lecture on Development with Integrity: Bhutan’s Development and its Gross National Happiness Index, chaired by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, Professor Louise Richardson. Discussants included Martine Durand (Chief Statistician, OECD) and James Foster (Professor of Economics and International Affairs at George Washington University).

    This event was part of a larger conference (ISBS Conference) taking place in Oxford, 8-10 January 2019. The International Society of Bhutan Studies (ISBS) launch conference took place at Magdalen College, seeking to develop the study of Bhutanese culture, life and nature in all aspects and encourage, inspire and motivate interest in lesser known aspects and promote and strengthen the areas of existing concentration. ISBS exists primarily to encourage academic exchange, among both Bhutanese and foreign scholars, and secondarily to contribute to the happiness of future generations.