Creativity hotspots

Say you have an intense interest in the research and practice around creativity. Where do you go to meet fellow researchers and learn about the newest and most impactful projects? And what if you don't want to travel due to Covid-19, and/or environmental concerns – is it even possible to get involved meaningfully if you stay online? Here, I'll discuss some options I have found in these challenging times. 

Online options

Firstly, I'm a member of the International Society for the Study of Creativity and Innovation. We meet every two months for two-hour online symposiums, with a focus on a specific theme. For example, in one we discussed the role of case studies in creativity research. That session included a fascinating talk by Professor Roger Weisberg from Temple University in the USA, who demonstrated that by coding and analysing quantitatively, for instance, the sketches that preceded Picasso's famous Guernica painting, we can learn a lot of about the cognitive mechanisms underlying creativity, and even develop new theories of creativity, which we can then test in the lab. This was one of the talks that inspired me, and the discussion of a masterpiece that depicts genocide is unfortunately particularly relevant at the moment. 

Another inspirational talk was from Professor Keith Sawyer and Professor Danah Henriksen, presenting the new edition of their book Explaining Creativity: The Science of Human Innovation. I enjoyed the practical creativity tasks, using pen and paper and MIRO software. Overall, the ISSCI symposia are a wonderful opportunity to learn about some of the most interesting research in creativity from some of the most influential creativity researchers around the world. 

Then there's the creativity community of practice, organised by the company BIC, with a quarterly online meeting. It aims to bring together researchers and practitioners around creativity in education. I was inspired to see projects for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. For example, 4^th Dimension is a virtual gallery, showcasing creative arts, works, events. It aims to enhance inclusivity, peer-learning and reduce barriers to art. I also learned about a project called Playlab, where participants are taught how to use AI, to reduce inequalities in accessing AI and encourage people from disadvantage backgrounds to become creative with AI. Something that Professor Michael Hanchett Hanson mentioned really resonated with me: he said that the situation with AI at the moment is a bit like flying on a plane while building it at the same time. AI is very relevant for creativity and education, and I expect many lively discussions in the next few sessions. It is clear to me that researchers, practitioners, and organisers of this meeting are all very passionate about finding ways to encourage students to be move involved in learning and be more creative. 

These two organisation – the ISSCI and the creativity community of practice – recently collaborated to produce a report on  creativity in education, where researchers from the ISSCI network were asked to summarise their ongoing studies on creativity and education. The report aimed to inform educators about ongoing projects on creativity and education and encourage evidence-based creative education.   

If you are interested creativity in relation specifically to higher education and would like to discuss ideas (mainly from UK-based academics) on how to inject more creativity in your university teaching, then #creativeHE is for you. It is another wonderful community interested in the relationship between creativity and education. I went to face-to-face meetings before the Covid19 pandemic as well as online meetings after the pandemic started.  One example is an online open mic event, where academics gathered to recite their poetry – an idea that can be used in an educational context to promote a sense of community among students and staff. It's an inspiring and award-winning community, started off by Professor Chrissi Nerantzi and colleagues some years ago. 

In-person conferences

What about more traditional conferences on creativity if you are happy to meet 'IRL'?

If you are in the UK and would like to know about creativity research and researchers in the UK, then the UK creativity researchers annual conference is for you. This year they did something wonderful, and (naturally) creative: instead of having 'keynote speakers', positions filled by seasoned researchers, they have 'newnote speakers', where early career researchers are invited to speak. Given how difficult it is to be an early career researcher, I think this is a very thoughtful innovation. Two of their annual conferences had been done online too, although the coming conference will be purely face-to-face. 

If you want to venture further than the UK, then there is the Creativity Conference in Southern Oregon University, where you can meet more international researchers. A little tip: rather than taking two planes to get to Oregon, fly to LA and take the train to experience the 25-hour coastal journey on the East Coast! For most, the plane to LA will be unavoidable, but at least the rest of the way could be done in a more environmentally friendly and adventurous fashion. There is a way to attend the conference online, although not to present online. I have not attended yet, but it looks to me like a great opportunity to meet with creativity researchers from around the world, and especially from USA, where some of the most fascinating research in creativity takes place. 

So, which feels more creative?

There are things to be gained by meeting IRL, especially when it comes to certain creativity-related activities – although software such as 'Miro', or even the low-tech option of showing on screen what you drew on paper, can facilitate well many creative activities. Personally, with few exceptions, I find online meetings more productive and inspiring, and less overwhelming. Online communities are valuable; meeting for a couple of hours every 2-3 months allows me to get up to date with the latest research and practice, meeting researchers in a more relaxed manner, without being overwhelmed with too much information in a short amount of time as usually happens at conferences. And as our unforgettable Dr Bex Lewis would have probably said if she read this article, online is real life! 

I also think including full online options for all conferences can only make them more inclusive. This seems increasingly important in a world of challenges such as climate change, pandemics, conflict – creativity research and practice are key for finding solutions to our problems.