Creativity

Bioscience students are often highly creative individuals but, during degree studies, they are rarely given the opportunity to be creative and innovative (Creativity in the Biosciences).  Inevitably, most Bioscience programmes focus on the development of the essential critical and analytical skills that enable students to converge on the correct solution to a problem.  However, the divergent thought processes that lead to the identification of alternative, imaginative and creative solutions are not addressed.  This page contains materials and links to resources that will help students achieve their true creative potential.

STEM Subject Centres' meeting on Creativity in Science

The Centre for Bioscience organised a day, 29th April 2009, of interactive sessions designed to help academics promote students' creative problem solving skills.  An event report and related resources from the event are available.

Creativity in the Biosciences website

The Creativity in the Biosciences website promotes creativity in students working individually and in teams.  It features:

• Leading research scientists describing cutting edge developments in bioscience and suggesting problems students may wish to solve
• A wide range of techniques that should help students find creative solutions to problems
• Chat room and electronic noticeboard
• Structured group sessions

Bulletin article

Bulletin Editorial Summer 2008 No 24 outline the need to bring more creativity into the teaching and learning of bioscience students.

Imaginative Curriculum archives

The Imaginative Curriculum Project archives are held at the PALATINE Subject Centre website.  The resources provide advice and practical help to teachers who want to develop their curricula in ways more likely to foster students' creativity.

Additional resources

The Creativity Short Guide focuses on techniques and strategies designed to promote creative problem solving skills in bioscientists.

Additional resources include books and a website supporting promotion of creativity.

Information about other important skills to teaching and learning in the biosciences can be found at the Centre's Key Skills web page.