Following up on my February 2 post about creativity and strategies for reversing the decline in scientific innovation, I recommend exploring the recent publication by researchers at Aarhus University (Top 80 in the Shanghai ranking). This study delves into the key concepts, antecedents, and implications of creativity in research, offering valuable insights into how it can be effectively nurtured within the scientific community. https://pure.au.dk/ws/portalfiles/portal/387784079/Note_on_creativity.pdf
It’s unfortunate that the authors did not reference Creativity in Science: Chance, Logic, Genius, and Zeitgeist, a book I highlighted on this blog two years ago which now has nearly 500 Scopus citations. Authored by Dean Simonton, a distinguished member of the exclusive group of Scopus Highly Cited Scientists, the book challenges the simplistic notion that scientific progress is solely the result of logic or individual genius. Simonton argues that creativity in science is shaped by a dynamic interplay of chance, logic, personal brilliance, and the prevailing cultural zeitgeist. By integrating these elements, he offers a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of how groundbreaking discoveries occur.
Notably, among the papers referenced in the study is a highly cited work co-authored by Christoph Riedl, affiliated with Northeastern University and Harvard University, titled Looking Across and Looking Beyond the Knowledge Frontier: Intellectual Distance, Novelty, and Resource Allocation in Science. This paper offers valuable insights into the complexities of assessing cutting-edge scientific research. It explores how intellectual distance and novelty interact with evaluator biases, providing crucial considerations for enhancing resource allocation in science.
Ps - In this context, it is also worth recalling the post that cautions against hiring researchers who are excessively engaged with superficial social networks. Such individuals may struggle to cultivate the deep intellectual focus and creativity necessary for genuine scientific inspiration, potentially hindering their ability to make meaningful contributions to their field https://19-pacheco-torgal-19.blogspot.com/2024/06/does-proximity-of-other-human-beings.html
