Creativity and Innovation Among Science and Art: A Discussion of the Two Cultures

251 Pages·2015·5.49 MB·English

by  Christine Charyton (eds.)

Christine Charyton E ditor
Creativity and
Innovation
Among Science
and Art
A Discussion of the Two Cultures
Creativity and Innovation Among
Science and Art
Christine Charyton
Editor
Creativity and Innovation
Among Science and Art
A Discussion of the Two Cultures
1 3
Editor
Christine Charyton
Blacklick, OH
USA
Additional material to this book can be downloaded from http://extras.springer.com.
ISBN 978-1-4471-6623-8 ISBN 978-1-4471-6624-5 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-1-4471-6624-5
Library of Congress Control Number: 2014957863
Springer London Heidelberg New York Dordrecht
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Foreword by Gordon Gee
E. Gordon Gee Ed.D, J.D., Ohio State University President 1990–1997,
2007–2013, Vanderbilt University 2001–2007, Brown University 1998–2000, the
University of Colorado 1985–1990, and West Virginia University 1981–1985.
Dr. E. Gordon Gee is president of West Virginia University and president emeritus
at The Ohio State University.
We are living in the twenty-first century where the promise and progress of
American society depends now more than ever on the research and educational
opportunities created at our public universities. Today, true excellence in innova-
tion will be achieved through collaboration and creativity.
The Ohio State University, as one of the most comprehensive institutions of
higher education in this country, recognizes this reality. By connecting academic
dots within the University, Ohio State is using its size to its advantage, and encour-
aging creative thinking across disciplines. Our scholars and researchers are taking
a lead role in preparing students for a competitive global world, one where the race
often goes not solely to the swift, but to the smart. Indeed, Ohio State has the excit-
ing potential to use creativity to fulfill our great promise to the next generation.
This current moment is one of unparalleled potential for this University.
I returned to Ohio State in 2007 for my second tenure as president, following
service to institutions such as Brown University and Vanderbilt University. Since
retiring from the presidency on July 1, I have continued to dedicate my endeavors
to the mission of higher education. And, what an exciting time to do so.
Although the American system of higher education is known as the world’s
best, it can also be frustratingly slow to adapt to change. At the same time, change
is imperative to its survival. That is precisely why our institutions of higher learn-
ing must encourage creative and critical thought in their classrooms and labs
across the country. And, perhaps most important, we must practice what we preach.
I have always derived great energy from being around students. Their energy,
potential, and capacity for change is truly contagious. As a university president,
I served as a guest lecturer in a course called the Psychology of Creativity,
wherein I discussed the upward trajectory of Ohio State from excellence to emi-
nence. I also elaborated on my experiences in leadership and service. To be sure,
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vi Foreword by Gordon Gee
this course presented an excellent opportunity to meet with students prior to their
graduation and engage in a discussion about the impact that a quality education
has on their lives.
Creativity and Innovation Among Science and Art: A Discussion of the Two
Cultures merges transdisciplinary knowledge that is often encouraged, but not
always rewarded. It is a thought-provoking work, insightful, articulate, creative,
and smart. Its comprehensive scope undoubtedly will prove appealing to under-
graduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral, premedical students, faculty,
practitioners, and administrators alike, as well as to scientists, engineers, musi-
cians, and artists. Its discussion and findings have broad implications on a range
of disciplines, from chemistry, physics, neurology, and neuroscience to art therapy,
music therapy, the scientific side of music, and the intertwining of art and science
as integrative disciplines.
This book is written by accomplished authors from myriad fields of exper-
tise, all of whom are faculty affiliated with The Ohio State University, The Ohio
State University Wexner Medical Center and Nationwide Children’s Hospital, in
Columbus, Ohio. It is my hope that you read, enjoy, and celebrate the cultures and
the diversity of this collaboration.
Foreword by Christine Charyton
Christine Charyton, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist, Columbus, OH and Visiting
Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology in the College of Medicine at
the Ohio State University Wexner Center.
I am very grateful to President Gee as a guest speaker in the Psychology of
Creativity and as a contributor to this book. I am also incredibly grateful to all
the book chapter authors who also contributed multiple guest lectures to my psy-
chology of creativity class for my students for Psychology 662, 462, and 2462.
First things first, I try my best to provide my students with the best quality educa-
tional opportunities including experiential hands-on learning. I dedicate this book
to all my students, past, present, and future as well as my clients. I am grateful to
Mike Racke and John Kissel for support of my transdisciplinary research. I am
grateful for the opportunities at Ohio State University to teach, conduct research,
and provide excellent service for topics I am truly passionate about. I am grate-
ful for Paul Sanders and Tom Nygren for offering me the opportunity to teach
a rich variety of classes, including the Psychology of Creativity at Ohio State
University. I am grateful for the insights I have gained working under Psychology
Department Chair Rich Petty and Psychology Department Vice Chair Ben Givens.
I have learned that creativity can thrive in any environment despite violent opposi-
tion, squelchers, lack of resources, lack of genuine support, and lack of extrinsic
rewards. True creativity is in the eye of the beholder. If we want to be creative, we
can do so in any environment, despite obstacles, roadblocks, and impediments. As
I tell my students, creativity is meant to enhance people’s lives and is the vehicle
for innovation. Without creativity, there would be no innovation.
Students in my class came up with the three key take home messages of my
course, which I affirm. One, that creativity is a choice. We choose whether or not
to use our creativity. We choose whether or not to be creative. Two, that creative
people can thrive in any environment. Creative people thrive despite their environ-
ment. Three, that creativity can be taught. Creativity can be taught; however, the
learner needs to want to learn. Teaching is a vehicle to inspire us to want to learn.
Furthermore, learning about creativity and learning to be creative is a choice.
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viii Foreword by Christine Charyton
Just as the course is an elective and brought many students from all over the
university from various colleges across the university, students chose to take this
course. Over approximately 7 years, the course began at approximately 25 and the
last class had approximately over 100 students. Despite the large class size at over
100, students still had experiential and interactive learning, which is important to
understand creative, critical, and higher order thinking. I encourage faculty teach-
ing such classes to use interactive, multimedia. The class and I used music, videos,
dialog, and debating. Topics included the discussion of space habitation, travel
to Mars, politics, the many benefits of capitalism, and the problems and costs of
communism in relation to individualism and collectivism. Several guest speakers
presented on art therapy, music therapy, creativity and music and the brain, crea-
tivity in physics, creativity in chemistry, art history, and others.
This book is meant to engage people from various backgrounds, educational
levels, and disciplines. It is meant to engage conversation across disciplines.
Hopes are to enhance the awareness regarding importance of creativity and inno-
vation in society. Creativity and innovation are necessary for our path to economic
prosperity, not only for the United States of America but for other countries from
around the world. Hope you enjoy your journey with us across several integrated
cultures in the sciences and the arts as well as benefit from our conversation,
reflection, and future directions in the rich diversity and light of culture.
Preface
Creativity and Innovation Among Science and Art: A Discussion of the Two
Cultures has 11 chapters and two forewords, one by President Gordon Gee and the
other by Christine Charyton.
Chapter 1 contains a brief introduction to the importance of creativity and inno-
vation in the United States and in the world.
Chapter 2 contains a section on creativity and the brain as well as music and the
brain.
Chapters 3 and 4 include creative arts therapies: music therapy and art therapy,
respectively. The aim is to discuss how creativity can be used as a therapeutic
intervention.
Chapters 5 and 6 discuss creativity in science and contain how theoretical
physics is creative as well as how chemistry can use creativity in the Research
Experiences to Enhance Learning (REEL) program, respectively.
Chapter 7 discusses the application of creativity in engineering and how crea-
tivity and innovation are key components of engineering design.
Chapter 8 includes a discussion on musical creativity, improvisation, nonlinear
dynamics, fractal analysis, and the scientific side of improvisation.
Chapter 9 includes the integration of science and art and how individuals may
excel in both domains. Case studies of East and West are discussed including the
Ukrainian culture.
Chapter 10 includes a discussion and reflection of the conversation. Key salient
take home points are discussed by the participants of the conversation.
Chapter 11 includes the future directions for creativity and innovation in educa-
tion and our given disciplines. Where do we go from here? How can creativity and
innovation flower among the cultures?
Best wishes with your interests, passions, and dialog about the two cultures in
science and art as well as other cultures.
Our conversation among the cultures in science and art…
To view and download our video of the videotaped conversation among us, go
to: extras.springer.com.
ix
x Preface
Thank you to all the students in the Psychology of Creativity course for their
questions that structured this conversation.
Special thank you to Segun Osiniusi for videography, as well as Segun
Osiniusi, Caitlin Jones, and Jill Francis for attending, participating, selecting all
the student questions, asking questions and engaging in dialog for our conversa-
tion as well as Dianne Charyton for administrative support.
Thank you to all the faculty serving as guest lecturers for my Psychology of
Creativity class. We engaged in dialog about music and guest lecture experiences
off camera, and on camera, we shared interesting conversation regarding the
dynamics of creativity and innovation in our given fields and domains from the
individual through societal perspectives. Hope you enjoy, are enjoying, and have
enjoyed our videotaped conversation.