Character Lab

Advancing scientific insights to help kids thrive

Character Lab was founded in 2013 by Angela Duckworth author and Ross Lee and Egbert Chang, Professor at the University of Pennsylvania; Dave Levin, co-founder of KIPP public charter schools; and Dominic Randolph, Head of School at Riverdale Country School. It was a not-for-profit set up to connect researchers with educators, with the intention to ehance the understanding of the ‘conditions that lead to social, emotional, academic, and physical well-being for young people’.

Character Lab shared insights to help young people lead lives that were good for others as well as themselves, through two pillars of science and practice, before it sunset operations in 2024. Their research network sought to reduce the time and friction of school-based research around how kids thrive. Practices involved playbooks, research-based guides to cultivate strength of heart, mind and will, and Weekly Tips, 60 second actionable advice in the form of a personal letter written by leading scientists.

Although Character Lab sunset operations in 2024, their website remains a useful resource and includes an free and accessible archive of their resources for continued use.