Honors Seminars Spring 2013

Say "creativity" and most people think art, music, dance, or literature. What is creativity in the context of the sciences? How does it differ and how is it similar to creativity in other fields? In this course, we will develop an understanding of scientific creativity through readings in creativity research, the history of science, original scientific papers, and biography and memoirs. We will consider representations of scientific creativity in films and literature. We will explore the social context of creativity. We will examine how creativity can be fostered (or crushed) by institutions. There are multiple opportunities for students to customize the course towards their own areas of interest. Science, engineering, and mathematics students have found this course to help them see their discipline in a new light. Humanities, social science, education, design, and management students have found the course to make science topics approachable. All leave the course with an enhanced understanding of creativity in the world and in their own lives.