Teaching ourselves creativity

Are some people born creative, and others born to be dull? Do we need creativity to solve the grand challenges facing the world today, whether in science or society more broadly? In a paper that just became available online in Conservation Biology (Online Early), we argue emphatically No to the first question, and Yes to the second if we are to provide clean air, clean water, and abundant wildlife for generations to come. Creativity provides the raw material we need to solve some of the toughest conservation challenges, and yet we rarely think about how we can increase our individual and collective creativity. There’s a surprising amount we can do, in fact, from intentionally surrounding ourselves with unfamiliar concepts, to making time for reflection, and embracing risk responsibly. Once you’ve read the article… get outside and take a walk to let it sink in!