ISSCI Symposia
The ISSCI Symposia bring together leading researchers and practitioners to explore the latest insights on creativity, innovation, and design. Each session features distinguished speakers and thought-provoking discussions on emerging trends and challenges.
Symposia
Overview of upcoming and past Symposia
Tuesday, June 24th, 2025: What Creativity Researchers Can Learn from Research in Art and Design? – Part 2
Topic: What Creativity Researchers Can Learn from Research in Art and Design? – Part 2
Chair: Keith Sawyer, University of North Carolina, USA
Speakers
Palmyre Pierroux, University of Oslo, Norway
Mara Urdzina-Deruma, University of Latvia, Latvia
Migchiel van Diggelen, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands
Nathalie Bonnardel, Aix-Marseille University, France
Tuesday, May 27th, 2025: What Creativity Researchers Can Learn from Research in Art and Design? – Part 1
Topic: What Creativity Researchers Can Learn from Research in Art and Design? – Part 1
Chair: Keith Sawyer, University of North Carolina, USA
Speakers
Keith Sawyer, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
Pirita Seitamaa-Hakkarainen, University of Helsinki, Finland
Flemming Tvede Hansen, The Royal Danish Academy, Denmark
Wednesday, April 30th, 2025: Culture, Creativity, and Innovation - Part 2: Methodological Challenges and Research Recommendations
Topic: Culture, Creativity, and Innovation – Part 2: Methodological Challenges and Research Recommendations
Chair: Min Tang, University Institute of Schaffhausen, Switzerland
Abstract
Alongside the emic approach, which explores creativity and innovation from within a culture’s own context, the etic approach applies a universal framework to compare these phenomena across cultures. While this approach aims for objectivity, it inherently raises methodological challenges. What key findings and concerns emerge from meta-analyses of cross-cultural creativity studies? How does the sociocultural approach add methodological complexity? What are the typical biases in cross-cultural research, and what methodological recommendations can address them? Most importantly, where are we now, and where are we heading in our pursuit of understanding culture, creativity, and innovation? Join us as we explore these critical questions in our next symposium session.
Speakers
Philipp Barth, European University Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder), Germany
Meta-Analyzing Creativity Across Cultures: Key Insights and Key Methodological Challenges
Vlad Glaveanu, Dublin City University, Ireland
Sociocultural Approach to Creativity and Methodological Complexity
Angela Yee Leung, Chinese University of Hong Kong, China
Culture,Creativity, and Innovation: Where are we now and where are we heading?
David Matsumoto, San Francisco State University, USA
Cross-Cultural Research Methods: Metholological Biases andRecommendations
Wednesday, March 12th, 2025: Culture, Creativity and Innovation - Part 1: When West Meets East and the Global South
Topic: Culture, Creativity and Innovation – Part 1: When West Meets East and the Global South
Chair: Min Tang, University Institute of Schaffhausen, Switherland
Abstract
Creativity and innovation don’t exist in a vacuum. Culture shapes how we define, express, assess, evaluate, and practice creativity and innovation. Beyond Western perspectives lies a diverse array of global approaches. What are the state-of-the-art Western perspectives on creativity? How do Confucian values influence creative conceptions? What can the Global South teach us about creativity? How do intercultural exchanges and collaboration enrich our understanding of creativity and innovation? Join us in our upcoming symposium.
Speakers
Todd Lubart, Université de Paris, France
Creativity and Innovation: The Western Perspective
Weiguo Pang, East China Normal University, China
Confucian Conceptions of Creativity and the 6A’s Framework of Creativity
Min Tang, University Institute of Schaffhausen, Switzerland
Creativity and Innovation: When Germany Meets China – The CHINATIV Project
Solange Wechsler, Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas, Brazil
Creativity in South America: Expanding the creativity concepts for cultural diversity
Wednesday, February 26th, 2025: Transformational Creativity – Part 2
Topic: Transformational Creativity – Part 2
Chair: Sareh Karami, Mississippi State University, USA
Speakers
Sareh Karami, Mississippi State University, USA
David H. Cropley, Professor of Engineering Innovation, University of South Australia, UniSA STEM, Australia
Aakash Chowkase, Associate Research Scientist, Yale University
Friday, January 24th, 2025: Transformational Creativity – Part 1
Topic: Transformational Creativity – Part 1
Chair: Sareh Karami, Mississippi State University, USA
Speakers:
Ophélie Allyssa Desmet, Ball State University, USA
Beyond Novel Ideas: Fostering Transformational Creativity in Education
Vlad Glaveanu, Dublin City University, Ireland
Sociocultural Approaches to Transformational Creativity: The Science of Expanded Possibilities
Robert Sternberg, Cornell University, USA
A Systems Theory of Creativity: A New Synthesis of 50 Years of Research
Tuesday, December 10, 2024: Creativity in Entrepreneurship – Part 2
Topic: Creativity in Entrepreneurship – Part 2
Chair: Leonie Baldacchino, University of Malta, Malta
Speakers & Abstracts
Laëtitia Gabay-Mariani, Kedge Business School, France
Entrepreneurs’ use of Imagination in their Pivot Decisions
It is now acknowledged among practitioners that pivot is an essential step and driver of the start-up creation process. As it challenges central assumptions about the entrepreneurial project, pivot decisions are crucial. Yet, the cognitive skills mechanisms required for entrepreneurs to successful pivot remain overlooked. Our research aims at exploring these mechanisms, especially how creative, social and practical imaginativeness can lead to the generation of new courses of action, and how founders’ cognitive mechanisms may moderate this relationship.
Sylvia Hubner-Benz, Paderborn University, Germany
Creativity in Entrepreneurship: An International Perspective
Like one cannot learn to be a dancer without dancing, one cannot learn to be an entrepreneur without acting on entrepreneurial ideas and opportunities. Drawing on the metaphor of dancing, I will elaborate on why and in what way structure, action, and interaction are relevant for the creative activities of entrepreneurship. Acknowledging the importance of creativity in entrepreneurship has important implications for structuring the entrepreneurial process, designing entrepreneurship education, and navigating interactions with the environment. Based on these considerations, I will discuss how far cross-cultural differences account for differences in entrepreneurial action across different cultures and countries.
Leonie Baldacchino, University of Malta, Malta
Intuition in Entrepreneurial Ideation and Decision-Making
Successful entrepreneurs often claim to rely on their gut feelings to identify innovative opportunities and make timely, effective decisions. This suggests that intuition is a vital aspect of entrepreneurial cognition, yet, it remains relatively underexplored in entrepreneurship. In this presentation I will outline my recent papers on intuition in new venture ideation and opportunity exploitation, as well as some work-in-progress relating to the development of a program for developing entrepreneurial intuition.
Wednesday, November 13, 2024: Creativity in Entrepreneurship - Part 1
Topic: Creativity in Entrepreneurship – Part 1
Chair: Leonie Baldacchino, University of Malta, Malta
Speakers
Eduardo Manuel de Almeida Leite, University of Madeira, Portugal
Integrating philosophy and psychology to enhance creativity and innovation in entrepreneurship: the W.O.M.B. model
Sandro Sant’Anna, University of Malta, Malta
Motivations and Intentions underlying Decisions to Pursue Senior Entrepreneurship
Erica Santini, University of Trento, Italy
Resilience, Decision Making and Sustainability in Entrepreneurship
Tuesday, October 1, 2024: AI and Creativity in Education
A special demonstration session led by Ron Beghetto.
Wednesday, June 26, 2024: Creativity in Education: Bringing Creativity into the Classroom to Advance Well-Being
Chair: Jessica Hoffmann, Yale University, USA
Speakers
Sandra Russ, Case Western Reserve University, USA
Is There a Place for Pretend Play in the Classroom?
Craig Bailey, Yale University, USA
Using Stories, Art, and Movement to Teach Children About Emotion
Ayotunde Ayobello, Yale University, USA
Slice by Slice: Enhancing Classroom Creativity and Well-Being with the Wellness Pizza Approach
Wednesday, May 22, 2024: Creativity in Education: Teaching Creativity Creatively
Topic: Creativity in Education: Teaching Creativity Creatively
Chair: Jessica Hoffmann, Yale University, USA
Speakers
Ron Beghetto, Arizona State University, USA
The Challenge and Rewards of Teaching Creativity Creatively
Jean Pretz, Elizabethtown College, USA
Activities, Assignments, and Assessments for Cultivating Creativity in College
Ross Anderson, Creative Engagement Lab, USA
From Managing Doubt to Trusting Intuition: The Holistic Development of Self-Regulation, Skill, and Knowledge for Teaching Creativity Creatively
Monday, April 29, 2024: Innovation - Part 2
Topic: Innovation – Part 2
Chair: Margaret Mangion, University of Malta, Malta
Speakers
Thomas Gillier, Grenoble Ecole de Management, France
Federica Rossi, Universita’ di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Italy
Lisa Pace, University of Malta, Malta
Wednesday, March 20, 2024: Innovation – Part 1
Chair: Margaret Mangion, University of Malta, Malta
Speakers:
Steven Pattinson, Northumbria University, UK
Harnessing creative tensions: A micro-level study of value creation
Stephanie Fabri, University of Malta, Malta
Understanding the determinants of innovation across European member states: a fuzzy-set approach
Krisitna Buhagiar, University of Malta, Malta
Unpacking Innovation: A Multidimensional Perspective in the Context of Boutique Hotels
Friday, February 23, 2024: The Roles of Case Studies in Creativity Research – Part 2
Chair: Michael Hanchett Hanso, Columbia University, USA
In this second symposium on case study research, the presenters provide an overview of how case study research fits into the broader investigation of creativity with actual case examples, highlighting the advantages and challenges of this kind of research.
Speakers
Robert Weisberg, Temple University, USA
The Importance of Case Studies in Formulating Theories of Creative Thinking
Takeshi Okada, University of Tokyo, Japan; Sawako Yokochi, Tokyo Future University, Japan; Daichi Shimizu, Kobe University, Japan
Case Studies on Creative Processes of Contemporary Artists and Street Dancers
Friday, January 26, 2024: The Roles of Case Studies in Creativity Research – Part 1
Topic: The Roles of Case Studies in Creativity Research – Part 1
Chair: Michael Hanchett Hanso, Columbia University, USA
In this first symposium on case study research, the presenters provide an overview of how case study research fits into the broader investigation of creativity with actual case examples, highlighting the advantages and challenges of this kind of research.
Speakers
Michael Hanchett Hanson, Columbia University, USA
From Real World to Laboratory and Back
Matthew Capezzuto, Yale Center for British Art, USA
Itinerant Forms: The Cyphering Book of John Whisler
Jennifer Ruth Hoyden, Columbia University, USA
Case Study: Encounterings
Monday, November 13, 2023: Let’s Go Beyond the Brick: Innovative Assessments of Creativity
Topic: Let’s Go Beyond the Brick: Innovative Assessments of Creativity
Chair: Seyedahmad Rahimi, University of Florida, USA
Speakers
Roger Beaty, Pennsylvania State University, USA
Artificial intelligence for domain-specific creativity assessment
Selcuk Acar, University of North Texas, USA; Peter Organisciak, University of Denver, USA; Denis Dumas, University of Georgia, USA
Applications of Artificial Intelligence to Verbal and Figural Tests of Creativity
Seyedahmad Rahimi, University of Florida, USA
Synergy of Creativity and STEM: Stealth Assessment of Creativity in STEM Contexts
Tuesday, October 24, 2023: Creativity in the Workplace – Part 2
Contributed by the editor and contributors to the Handbook of Organizational Creativity published by Elsevier (June 2023).
Chair: Roni Reiter-Palmon, University of Nebraska, Omaha, USA
Speakers
Sam Hunter, University of Nebraska, Omaha, USA
Creativity and shared leadership
Tamara Friedrich, University of Warwick, UK
Personnel selection for creativity
Kelsey Medeiros, University of Nebraska, Omaha, USA
Constraints and creativity
Tuesday, September 26, 2023: Creativity in the Workplace – Part 1
Topic: Creativity in the Workplace – Part 1
Contributed by editor and contributors of the Handbook of Organizational Creativity published by Elsevier (June 2023).
Chair: Roni Reiter-Palmon, University of Nebraska, Omaha, USA
Speakers
Jennifer Mueller, University of San Diego, USA
Guiding the study of how leaders can overcome the bias against novelty in organizations
Daan van Knippenberg, Rice University, USA
Diversity and creativity in organizations
Roni Reiter-Palmon, University of Nebraska, Omaha
Team Creativity and Innovation: The effect of team creative cognition
Thursday, August 24, 2023: Materiality in the Creative Process
Topic: Materiality in the Creative Process
Chairs: Wendy Ross, Joel Chan, and Takeshi Okada
Presenters:
Wendy Ross & Simone Ten Hompel, London Metropolitan University, UK
Takeshi Okada, University of Tokyo, Japan
Joel Chan, University of Maryland College Park, USA
Simon Penny, University of California, Irvine, USA
Monday, June 19, 2023: Virtual Creativity
Topic: Virtual Creativity
Speakers
Andrea Gaggioli, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy
Virtual Creativity: The role of presence and emotions
Samira Bourgeois Bougrine, Université Paris Cité, France
Exploring future-oriented thinking in virtual reality
David Glowacki, Intangible Realities Laboratory, Spain
A representational continuum for thinking about design in virtual reality
Thursday, May 25, 2023: Generative AI and Creativity: Opportunities and Challenges
Topic: Generative AI and Creativity: Opportunities and Challenges
Chair: Andrea Gaggioli, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy
Speakers
Andrea Gaggioli, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy
Todd Lubart, Université Paris-Descartes, France
Janet Rafner, Aarhus University, Denmark
Monday, April 3, 2023
Topic: Creative Potential – Part 2
Chair: Zorana Ivcevic, Yale University, USA
Speakers
Vlad Glaveanu, Dublin City University, Ireland
Giovanni Corazza, University of Bologna, Italy
Wednesday, March 1, 2023: Creative Potential – Part 1
Chair: Zorana Ivcevic, Yale University, USA
Speakers
Todd Lubart, Université Paris Descartes, France
Dimitrios Zmpainos, Harokopio University, Greece
Sandra Russ, Case Western Reserve University, USA