How do ideas arise? Some suggestions to stimulate the generation of original projects in ecology
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25260/EA.21.31.2.0.1214Keywords:
atypical, ecological projects, nonconformity, setbacksAbstract
Researchers in ecology try to develop projects based on novel ideas, but, as good human beings we are, we have a limited capacity for creativity. Therefore, it is usual for us, during our academic life, to generate only few really original ideas. Knowing how original ideas arise becomes vital. If we are at the beginning of our academic life, it will facilitate the development of our first independent projects; and if we are at the end of our career, it may lengthen the creative stage of our professional life. In this essay, I will first describe some suggestions to stimulate the generation of original projects in ecology, detailing the context where they were conceived. Finally, I will propose an integrative conceptual framework whose use may favor the occurrence of original ideas. Based on detailed personal experiences in the text, I identify three key aspects that may stimulate the generation of creativity: nonconformity with dominant ideas, the existence of setbacks and attention to the atypical. Extreme levels of these aspects are counterproductive. Minimal dosages of nonconformity, setbacks, or attention to the outliers undermine creativity because they stimulate conformity, comfort, and focus only on the rule. But too high levels also limit the generation of original ideas because it limits an integrative vision, causes exasperation and prevents us from seeing the phenomenon context. Consequently, I consider that the generation of original ideas is maximized with intermediate levels of nonconformity, setbacks and attention to the atypical. To stimulate ecology projects based on original ideas, I suggest having some level of nonconformity about the dominant ideas, considering small setbacks as opportunities and paying attention to the atypical without neglecting the context where they come from.
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