Character Day is a global event for people to screen films on the topic of science as it relates to character development. Participants review printed materials and resources for discussions linked globally online about their own character, who they are, who they would like to be, and how to develop these character strengths, based on evidence-based research.
Character Day, on September 22, 2016, is in its third year.
Character Day for 2017 is September 13, 2017. In 2018 it was set for September 26, 2018. September 27–28, 2019 is scheduled.
History
Character Day was created in 2014 by
Tiffany Shlain
Tiffany Shlain (born April 8, 1970) is an American filmmaker and author. Described by the public radio program ''On Being'' as "an internet pioneer", Shlain is the co-founder of the Webby Awards and the founder of the International Academy of Dig ...
, the co-founder of the non-profit Let it Ripple: Mobile Films for Global Change, founder of the
Webby Awards
The Webby Awards are awards for excellence on the Internet presented annually by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, a judging body composed of over two thousand industry experts and technology innovators. Categories include ...
,
and the co-founder of the
International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences,
to launch a global premier of the short film ''The Science of Character'', which explores the social science and neuroscience behind character development.
Shlain and Let it Ripple produced Character Day, and invited schools and organizations around the world to premier the film and discuss its ideas about character development all on the same day via a simultaneous online video conversation. There were over 1500 events in 31 country on March 14, 2014.
The State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs also selected ''The Science of Character'' to be part of their American Film Program.
On September 8, 2015, Character Day became an annual event. For the second event, Shlain and Let it Ripple premiered Shlain's film ''The Adaptable Mind'', which explores skills needed in the 21st Century, and ''The Making of a Mensch'', about the science of character through the Jewish teachings of
Mussar interpreted through a modern-day lens.
The second Character Day had over 6700 events in 41 countries.
In addition, the US State Department selected ''The Adaptable Mind'' to be part of their 2016-2017 American Film Showcase.
Character Day 2016 is September 22, and currently has over 13,000 events.
Events
In 2014, over 1500 schools and organizations watched ''The Science of Character'' including people 31 countries, with people joining the conversation online from over 120 countries.
Experts in character education from Harvard, Yale, University of California Berkeley, and others led a virtual global Q&A. The US State Department had screenings in Washington DC and embassies around the world including Egypt and Vietnam, among others.
Volunteers translated the film into 14 languages including Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese, French, German, Hindi, Japanese, Norwegian, Persian, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Spanish and Swahili.
In 2015, Character Day screened the film ''The Adaptable Mind'' for 6,784 schools, classrooms, workplaces and organizations.
Events took place in 41 countries on all inhabited continents except Antarctica. People from 125 countries participated in the online discussion.
References
{{reflist, 3
External links
Tiffany ShlainLet It Ripple
International conferences
Academic conferences
Technology conferences