Journal article
What is scientific creativity, and is it in crisis...now?
PsycCritiques, v 60(37), pp No Pagination Specified-No Pagination Specified
01 Jan 2015
Abstract
Reviews the book The Creativity Crisis: Reinventing Science to Unleash Possibility, by Roberta B. Ness (see record 2015-00657-000). Is scientific creativity really diminishing? If so, what can be done about the so-called “crisis”? The apparent lack of scientific creativity concerns not only those in the “hard” sciences (e.g., chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science, and engineering), but psychologists and social scientists, too. This book review first disentangles the notion of scientific accomplishment from scientific creativity, and then unpacks the validity of the claim about impediments to scientific creativity today. The book begins by highlighting major scientific and technological inventions by the likes of Einstein, Edison, and Ford. However notable, major inventions are not ahistorical. Scientific breakthroughs can be misconceived as sudden genius-like insight with undue attention to the cultural milieu and the development of domain-relevant knowledge and experience. A lack of play coupled with problems with the systems of tenure and peer review is presented as impediments to scientific creativity today. Broad-brush claims about the ideal of creativity pepper the book, rather than tackling, for example, how deans and scientists might manage the contradictory personality traits of open-mindedness versus hostility and impulsivity that characterize creative scientists versus less creative scientists. Thus, it’s left up to the reader to contemplate how to recognize actual scientific creativity within oneself, know when to use it effectively for scientific collaborations, and stimulate scientific creativity in one’s students. A resounding unanswered question is how to use creativity research to address the elephant in the room of female and minority underrepresentation in science and technology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
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Details
- Title
- What is scientific creativity, and is it in crisis...now?
- Creators
- Jen Katz-Buonincontro
- Publication Details
- PsycCritiques, v 60(37), pp No Pagination Specified-No Pagination Specified
- Publisher
- American Psychological Association
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- School of Education
- Other Identifier
- 991020546593004721