Creativity Scholars
The 2018-2019 Creativity Scholars will use the intersection of science and art as a jumping off point to learn the skills and techniques necessary to complete a sustained creative project that grows out of an area of their own interest. Through two credit bearing courses, Creativity Scholars will spend their time delving into a topic of personal interest and developing and executing a creative project that incorporates that topic. For instance, a Creativity Scholar interested in botany might write and illustrate a creative non-fiction field guide or write and produce a narrative short film. Someone interested in street art might craft a graphic novel or write a novel or short story collection that explores the conflicts and motivations of an artist drawn to this kind of work.
The Creativity Scholars program is a full-year experience, which includes a sequence of two credit bearing courses, “Lab Lit” in the Fall and a creative writing workshop in the Spring, each of which will satisfy a General Education Requirement. Additionally, Creativity Scholars will engage with the larger intellectual community on campus and beyond through numerous opportunities, including the following:
- Meet with prominent authors, editors, and professionals working in interdisciplinary fields for lunches, dinners, and other special events
- Attend selected events in Chicago, including the Chicago Book Expo, plays at venues like The Raven Theater, including a pre- or post-show talk with members of the production
- Participate in field research at museums and institutions in Chicago, such as the International Museum of Surgical Science, and local to IWU, including Miller Park Zoo and Sugar Grove Nature Center
- Engage with campus groups and events, including the shows of the School of Theater Arts, and Tributaries, the campus creative writing collective
By engaging as Creativity Scholars, we hope students will gain a greater understanding of the value of interdisciplinary studies, and develop a strong set of skills in research, writing, and creative problem solving that they can apply throughout their studies at IWU and beyond.
Admissions to the Creativity Scholars program is based on materials you have already submitted to IWU, and your brief response to the questions in the application. Criteria will be based on your interest in and enthusiasm for investigation and the interplay of multiple disciplines. Students in all majors, and students who are undecided are invited to apply.