Season 2, Episode 6
The Role of Serendipity in Creativity
“That’s what makes serendipity a powerful tool, is that it relies on the prepared mind and it relies on this idea of scarcity of wisdom, of using the accidents that come to you and taking advantage of them.”
– Dr. Wendy Ross
Hosts & Guests
Dr. Wendy Ross
Cyndi Burnett
Matthew Worwood
Episode Transcription
The role of Serendipity in Creativity with Dr. Wendy Ross
How does serendipity affect creativity?
In this episode of the Fueling Creativity podcast, Dr. Cyndi Burnett and Dr. Matthew Worwood speak with Dr. Wendy Ross, a cognitive scientist, senior lecturer in psychology, and Chair of the Serendipity Society. Wendy’s research looks at the role of serendipity in creativity, using everything from experimental methods to ethnographic work.
Listen in as Wendy shares her research findings on the relationship between serendipity and creativity, why serendipity is a disruptive force in learning, and the importance of students building a tolerance to failure and adversity. She also gives powerful advice for educators on implementing this knowledge around serendipity in the classroom.
They also discuss the current debates on whether the pandemic has increased or decreased feelings of serendipity, as well as what teachers can do foster a norm of working through discomfort and mistakes.
Wendy’s Tips for Teachers:
- Encourage your students to get comfortable with discomfort and failure.
- Generate interesting environments with many different moments of inspiration and pathways of creativity.
- Most serendipity comes from interactions with people, not with things.
Guest Bio
Wendy’s main topic of research is the role of material serendipity in higher cognitive processes such as insight problem solving and creativity. She draws on a range of methods from eye-tracking and experimental psychology to focused cognitive ethnography. She is currently co-editing two collections on serendipity: The Art of Serendipity (Palgrave) and Serendipity Science (Springer). She is Co-Chair of the Serendipity Society and Vice President of the Possibility Studies Network. In 2021, she was awarded the Frank Barron prize by Division 10 of the APA.
Connect with Wendy:
Connect with her on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-ross-670487191
Debrief Episode
Related Podcast Episodes
Bridging the Gap: Serendipity, Excellence Gaps, and the role of Wonder.
What were the biggest lessons learned during the last five episodes in Season Two of the Fueling Creativity podcast? In this final debrief, Dr. Cyndi Burnett and Dr. Matthew Worwood sit down and reflect on episodes that discussed Serendipity, Student Engagement, Excellence Gaps, and Wonder.
Bridging the Gap: Creativity Tips and Gifts for the Holidays
How do you support your children’s creativity, and make meaning and connections this holiday season? What gifts should you get your children this year that will help nurture their creativity? We have some ideas! In this special holiday episode of the Fueling Creativity podcast, Dr. Cyndi Burnett and Dr. Matthew Worwood share activities and traditions to promote creative thinking as a family during the holidays. Plus, they share lots of affordable gift ideas that promote creative thinking in children of all ages.
Bridging the Gap: Lessons Learned from Season Two (Part 1)
What were the biggest lessons learned so far in Season Two of the Fueling Creativity podcast? In this episode, Dr. Cyndi Burnett and Dr. Matthew Worwood sit down and have a debrief to reflect on the first 5 episodes of Season Two, highlighting the key takeaways and major lessons these conversations have taught them about creativity and education.
Podcast Sponsor
We are thrilled to partner with Curiosity 2 Create as our sponsor, a company that shares our commitment to fostering creativity in education. Curiosity 2 Create empowers educators through professional development and community support, helping them integrate interactive, creative thinking approaches into their classrooms. By moving beyond traditional lecture-based methods, they help teachers create dynamic learning environments that enhance student engagement, improve academic performance, and support teacher retention. With a focus on collaborative learning and exploration, Curiosity 2 Create is transforming classrooms into spaces where students thrive through continuous engagement and growth.
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