Does traveling give you better ideas? Will learning a new language make you more creative? Do bilingual people solve problems better? Charles Darwin believed that creativity is a fundamental characteristic of the human species. Yet inspiration can be so hard to come by that some cultures believe it’s up to gods to provide it (where would the ancient Greeks be without their Muses?). In this session, we will explore the findings from social psychology regarding creativity and activities and experiences that can increase it. And as we analyze the link between cross-cultural experiences and an increase in individuals' creativity, we’ll try to find out if it’s truly possible to chase innovative ideas across time and place.

This session is open to anyone interested in culture, creativity, and/or social sciences.