Dr. Martin Georg Bleichner is offering a half-day workshop titled "Night Science and Creativity: Where Do Good Research Questions Come From?" This workshop is designed to introduce the concept of "Night Science," as described by Yanai and Lercher, and create a stimulating environment where students can explore the origins of scientific questions and ideas.

"Night Science" emphasizes the imaginative and exploratory side of research, where creativity and curiosity drive the formation of new hypotheses and research directions. This workshop aims to equip students with tools and strategies to enhance their creative thinking, helping them develop innovative research questions and approaches within their fields. The detailed workshop schedule is outlined below.

Workshop Schedule:

09:00 - 09:30: Introduction to Night Science
Overview of the concepts of night science and day science Discussion of key ideas from Yanai & Lercher's work Importance of creativity in scientific research

09:30 - 10:30: Creativity in Science: Techniques and Practices
Presentation on techniques to foster creativity (e.g., brainstorming, mind mapping, divergent thinking) Interactive exercises to practice these techniques Group discussion on personal experiences with creativity in research

10:30 - 10:45: Break

10:45 - 11:45: Where Do Questions Come From?
Exploration of how to identify and formulate research questions Case studies of groundbreaking research and the questions that inspired them Workshop activity: Generating and refining research questions in small groups

11:45 - 12:45: Night Science in Practice
Strategies for integrating night science into day-to-day research Tips for maintaining a balance between creative exploration and methodological rigor
12:45 - 13:00: Closing Remarks and Q&A
Summary of key takeaways
Open floor for questions and discussion

By the end of this workshop, participants will have a deeper understanding of the significance of creativity in research and practical tools to enhance their scientific inquiry.