Creativity in Research Introductory Session

In this introductory talk we will focus on the role of creativity in scientific work and how we can cultivate creative problem finding and creative problem solving. Many young scholars have a schema of doing science, that there is a linear path from identifying a research question to finding the answer. The reality is that science happens very differently, we get stuck, we take unexpected turns, we get rejected, our experiments fail, we get scooped. 

This is why it is important to complement analytical skills with creative problem solving abilities so that researchers can face the unknown, learn from failure without feelings of guilt, manage their time and emotions and cultivate reflective practice to build resilience. We encourage them to be playful and have fun while exploring their research and to learn how to embrace and navigate ambiguity that is inherent to innovative research.