Creativity as a trainable skill
Creativity is often viewed as something innate, a talent you either have or do not have. In research, this perception may be even stronger, where scientific breakthroughs are frequently associated with exceptional individuals and rare moments of inspiration. But what if creativity is instead a skill that can be systematically developed and strengthened?
Inspired by ideas from the research project Idea Work, this seminar explores creativity as a trainable skill, with structural and cultural determinants, rather than a mysterious gift. The session will focus on how researchers can cultivate habits, environments, and ways of thinking that increase the likelihood of generating new ideas and perspectives.
For early-career researchers in the natural sciences, creativity is not only relevant for major discoveries, but also for everyday scientific work: designing experiments, solving technical problems, interpreting unexpected results, communicating science, and identifying new research directions. We will discuss practical approaches to overcoming mental rigidity, navigating information overload, and creating conditions that foster curiosity and innovation in academic life.
The seminar will also touch upon how large language models (LLMs) and AI-based tools may influence scientific creativity, both as potential amplifiers of idea generation and as technologies that could risk homogenizing scientific thinking if used uncritically.
About the speaker
Gudrun Rudningen is an Associate Professor at the Department of Education, University of Oslo. Among broad and transdisciplinary interests, she has studied collective creativity and innovation. In this seminar, she will discuss creativity as a process and skill that can be cultivated, also within scientific research and academic environments.