Creativity Expert Exchange Conference: May 13-16

Students and alumni of Buffalo State’s International Center for Studies in Creativity (ICSC) have the opportunity to soak up the latest research in creativity and share ideas during the Creativity Expert Exchange (CEE), May 13-16 on the Buffalo State campus.

Now in its 11th year, the conference “is not just talking about what creativity is but engaging in a higher level of dialogue on a senior-seminar, graduate level,” said Gerard Puccio, professor and chair of the Creative Studies Department. “People who attend really appreciate it.”

Formerly called Expert-2-Expert, the CEE draws about 100 participants annually—a mix of students, faculty, alumni, and creativity professionals from around the world. This year one creativity practitioner is coming from Cairo, Egypt, and another from King William College in the Netherlands, along with guests from Toronto.

“It’s going to be a very international conference,” Puccio said.

The CEE kicks off at 5:00 p.m. Sunday, May 13, at the Buffalo Yacht Club with a dinner and keynote address by Christina Coyle, recipient of ICSC’s 2012 Alumni Achievement Award. A 2005 graduate of the master’s program, Coyle serves as president and founder of the consulting firm Prizm Solutions. She was integral in facilitating the work groups for the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council that helped garner $100.3 million in state grants for the region.

“Christina stayed the course, helped organize the meetings, and ended up becoming a linchpin in that process,” Puccio said.

On Monday through Wednesday mornings, participants will spend the day on the Buffalo State campus where they can participate in workshops examining topics such as global creativity and the code of conduct for creativity professionals. Four-and half-hour master classes will be held Monday and Tuesday afternoons that provide cutting-edge creative problem-solving techniques.

The 2012 conference will include two events that didn’t occur in the past. First, the ICSC will ask participants to volunteer in an hour-long session monitoring how effectively a team of experts can solve a transportation issue.

“We’re weaving research into the conference for the first time,” Puccio said. “Usually, we use undergraduates for our research projects, so this will provide a different perspective.”

Secondly, the ICSC will announce the launch of the International Center for Studies in Creativity Press, which Puccio described as “a rigorous clearinghouse of information about creativity.”

Each conference participant will receive the inaugural ICSC Press book, Creativity Rising, and will be invited to think about publishing with the press.

Overall, the conference serves as a homecoming for ICSC alumni.

“This is why I started the conference in the first place, to build a sense of community,” Puccio said. “There is a spirit of getting reconnected and also expanding the network, helping our graduates to stay sharp and continue to engage in lifelong learning.”

To see the full schedule, go to www.creativityexpertexchange.com.