Homo ludens på universitetet

Om förutsättningar för kreativa forskningsmiljöer

Författare

  • Kjell Jonsson Umeå universitet
  • Christer Nordlund Umeå universitet

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54807/kp.v21.28069

Nyckelord:

creativity, research environments, research policy

Abstract

This essay draws on a paper presented at the Young Academy of Sweden’s workshop “Universities as Creative Environments?” held at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences on October 17, 2011. Starting with a brief overview about creativity as a concept and as an object of academic study, results from a wide range of research on conditions for creative research environments, past and present, are summarized and discussed. Three findings regarding collaborative scientific research are highlighted: 1) small research groups (4–10 scientists) seem to be more creative than large ones; 2) heterogeneous research groups seem to be more creative than homogeneous ones; and 3) creativity in research groups appears to be stimulated by both “structural instability” (concerning organization and academic freedom) and “structural stability” (concerning trust and long term funding). Furthermore, it is argued that truly creative environments are vulnerable and difficult to create; they typically develop organically, from below, rather than being the result of top-down politics or university management. If these findings are correct – and if creative research is the ultimate goal – there may be reasons to re-think the benefits of large and strictly organised research programs, such as the so-called “centres of excellence”, “strong research environments” and “strategic research fields” so frequently promoted in current European research policy.

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Författarbiografier

Kjell Jonsson, Umeå universitet

Kjell Jonsson är prorektor och professor i idéhistoria vid Umeå universitet. Jonsson är intresserad av vetenskapens historia, samhällsroll och kulturella implikationer.

Christer Nordlund, Umeå universitet

Christer Nordlund är professor i idéhistoria vid Umeå universitet och Pro Futura Scientia Fellow vid Kollegiet för avancerade studier (SCAS) i Uppsala. Nordlund är intresserad av vetenskapens historia, samhällsroll och kulturella implikationer.

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Publicerad

2012-03-01

Referera så här

Jonsson, K., & Nordlund, C. (2012). Homo ludens på universitetet: Om förutsättningar för kreativa forskningsmiljöer. Kulturella Perspektiv – Svensk Etnologisk Tidskrift, 21(1), 2–9. https://doi.org/10.54807/kp.v21.28069

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