This year’s UK Creativity 2018 conference took place on 22 May 2018 at Canterbury Christ Church University. Our guest blogger Giacomo Fini gives a round-up of the event.
It’s a month now since the Canterbury conference ended, but we are all still benefiting from the fresh perspectives it has brought to our understanding of creativity. With a huge range of topics featured in talks and posters, this was a truly interdisciplinary and international conference. Continue reading
Academics at institutes across the UK are seen as the backbone of this country’s research. They promote the advancement of knowledge across a multitude of domains, maintaining this country’s passion for growth, creativity and development. But what is it really like to work as a UK-based researcher in 2018? Here’s your opportunity to feed into our research.
Following the brilliant inaugural conference held at Edinburgh Napier in May 2017, organised by Lindsey Carruthers, Shelly Kemp and Gillian Hill, the 2018 conference is being hosted at Canterbury Christ Church University on 22nd May. Kathryn Friedlander eagerly anticipates what’s on offer this time.
Last year’s event was all about networking, building a community and collaboration – and none of us could have anticipated how spectacularly well it would achieve its aim! One of the more tangible benefits for me was the rapid expansion of our own pool of contacts across a diverse range of applied fields. This enabled us to approach a far wider pool of potential contributors for our forthcoming Frontiers Research Topic Novel Approaches for Studying Creativity in Problem-Solving and Artistic Performance.
The 2018 one-day conference will feature another excellent keynote speaker – Todd Lubart, Professor of Psychology at the Université Paris Descartes. Professor Lubart’s research focuses on creativity, developing it in children and adults, the creative process, emotion, and intercultural issues. He has authored and co-authored many books as well research papers.
His keynote is entitled ‘Homo Creativus: the Creative Side of Mankind’.
As previously, the conference will also feature oral papers, posters (with a prize for the best), refreshments, working lunch, and wine reception; plus the now infamous ‘speed networking’ session which was so useful – and such fun! – last year. But the organisers also caution us to:
“Expect more of the same—plus some surprises!”
(How appropriate for a conference on insight and creativity!)
We can’t wait to join organisers Ian Hocking, Karl Jeffries, Carolyn Mair and Paul Sowden at this vibrant showcase for UK Creativity research, and I’m particularly looking forward to renewing old friendships from 2017, as well as meeting new faces in the field.
If you are interested in joining us, do take a look at the conference website or Facebook page. The deadline for abstract submissions is 31st January 2018.
‘Creative Sides: A conference on the Psychology of Creativity ‘ will be held at Canterbury Christ Church University, Augustine House, Roof Terrace (AH3.31), Rhodas Town, Canterbury, on Tuesday, 22nd May, 9:30am-6pm. Cost £40, including morning and afternoon refreshments, working lunch and wine reception. To book your place, go to: ukcreativity2018.splashthat.com.
Many thanks to Canterbury Christ Church University, the University of Surrey and the University of Central Lancashire for organising the event this year, and to the British Psychological Society London & Home Counties Branch for sponsoring the Best Poster Prize. For queries, email: ukcreativityresearchers@gmail.com.
Gillian Hill reports on the University of Buckingham‘s Psychology Pop-up Lab which made its debut at MK Innovates Science Festival, held in Milton Keynes Shopping Centre on 7th/8th July.
With a theme of Puzzles, Pain & Positivity, our research hubs (CREATE, Psychology of Educational Development, Centre for Health and Relationships and Emotion and Lifespan Relationships) were out and about with lots of interactive activities to engage the public with our work. Continue reading
Gillian Hill reports on preparations to help celebrate the 50th birthday of Milton Keynes at a festival to celebrate Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in Middleton Hall, Milton Keynes Shopping Centre (7th/8th July)
Final preparations are underway for our Pop-up Lab. showcasing the University of Buckingham’s Psychology Research Hubs which – of course – includes CREATE.
The challenge was set by MK Innovates to provide exciting and interactive activities that engage young people – and especially girls – from Milton Keynes and the surrounding area with science. As always, the CREATE team were keen to get in on the act and we’ve identified some core aspects of our research to showcase at the event.
Excitement is mounting as the hours tick down towards our conference on the Psychology of Creativity: Building Impact, Skills & Collaborations…
Gill Hill and Shelly Kemp have been working hard with our amazingly enthusiastic and efficient colleague at Edinburgh Napier, Lindsey Carruthers, to make sure that everything is in place for the day – and the event has now sold out! Continue reading
Soapbox Science may be just the platform you need to launch your academic career. Gill Hill looks back over her personal successes of the past year, since her appearance at Milton Keynes, and urges all female scientists to take the plunge.
About this time last year I noticed an announcement on the University of Buckingham‘s round-up email. It was a call for female scientists to take part in our local Soapbox Science event, to be held in Milton Keynes shopping centre in the summer of 2016. Although initially hesitant, I talked myself into applying, thinking it would be good for me to have to talk about my PhD research to a public audience.
One year on I thought I’d reflect on my Soapbox experience, in the hope of encouraging other female scientists to apply.
