Staying Creative so the Science Doesn't Stale

Famed American advertising exec Leo Burnett once said, “Curiosity about life in all of its aspects, I think, is still the secret of great creative people”. Scientists are certainly curious about life. But is a scientist the first person that comes to someone’s mind when asked to name a creative individual? Probably not. Yet creativity - “the creation of an idea or object that is both novel and useful” - is arguably the very essence of science. The scientific process, from hypothesis and predictions to experimental design and data interpretation, requires creativity. Communicating our research to different audiences also requires creativity. With only 140 characters to spare or 3 minutes of someone's day, scientists are creating new ways to communicate their research, outside of academic journals. How does one practice creativity? What are the barriers to creativity in science? Since Albert Einstein stated, “Creativity is contagious, pass it on”, I will pass along what I’ve learned about creativity and its role in scientific research and science communication.