The poster above shows a re-imagined take on two artworks by Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797), 'An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump' and 'A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery'. These two artworks consecutively show a philosopher demonstrating how an air pump works by sucking out the air from a glass container in which a bird is trapped, and a philosopher lecturing on our universe using a metal orrey. In both of the artworks Joseph Wright tried to capture the 'curiosity' of human kind toward the unknown of nature through science. Artist and science historian Argha Manna re-imagines the artwork by demonstrating a female protagonist who frees the bird instead of caging it, representing a modern approach to science. The art also shows astronomers, philosophers, thinkers, and writers of multiple genders and sexualities. The children are seen interacting with a few of them and are fascinated with the science around them. A stark contrast to the original ( An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump ) by Joseph Wright, where the children are terrified by the scientific demonstration.
Curiosity in Research and Practice
Curiosity is the drive to learn and seek new experiences. It is frequently sparked by awe or ambiguity and can lead to the discovery of new ideas, knowledge, and new opportunities. It is a powerful motivator for people to seek new knowledge or experiences to widen their perspectives. Being inquisitive pushes people to think outside the box and consider alternative viewpoints, which can improve creativity and problem-solving abilities. Because learning and discovery may be inherently satisfying, curiosity can also be a source of pleasure and contentment.
Curiosity is a fundamental human drive that motivates individuals to seek new information and experiences. Two decades of research on curiosity have highlighted the need to explore, question, and motivate children’s curiosity to make them more critically reflective and build their desire for intellectual search. Research outcomes have shown that curiosity is strongly linked to improved learning outcomes, as curious individuals are likelier to engage with and retain information (Loewenstein, 1994; Kang et al., 2009).
In addition, fostering curiosity in the workplace has been linked to increased creativity, innovation, and problem-solving skills, resulting in improved performance and productivity (Litman et al., 2005; Hennessey & Amabile, 2010). It has been found to stimulate cognitive processes, such as divergent thinking and information search, associated with creative problem-solving and innovation. In particular, individuals with a high level of curiosity tend to ask more questions, experiment with new approaches, and take more risks, which can lead to innovative solutions. Curiosity has also been linked to greater resilience in uncertainty, which is a key factor in the innovation process.
Curiosity as a tool can play a vital role in school education, and research has shown that curiosity enhances learning and retention of information. Policy reform for educational frameworks is currently exploring the possibility of using curiosity in the classrooms to improve learning outcomes. This exciting development offers practitioners new insights into leveraging curiosity to optimize educational outcomes for both students and teachers.
Promoting a culture of curiosity in schools and organizations is crucial to encourage exploration, experimentation, and learning. Understanding the mechanisms of curiosity informs pedagogy and workplace practices, allowing for designing tailored interventions that promote engagement, retention, and learning. By nurturing curiosity in these contexts, we explore how to foster interest in learning novel information that can persist throughout an individual's lifetime.
Important dates
Abstract submission is now closed.
Selected abstracts notified by: 20 July 2023
Submission of the full poster: 25 July 2023
Registration fee
School Students: 1000 INR
College Students / Education Professionals: 2000 INR
School Teacher / Principal / Director: 2000 INR
Faculty and Academic Professionals: 3000 INR
Industry / Business Professionals: 5000 INR
The fee includes conference materials, access to conference events, snacks, and lunch.
Highlights of the conference
Exhibition for practicing professionals
We invite practicing professionals to showcase their products and brands at the conference exhibit for our upcoming Curiosity Conference! This conference is a unique opportunity to showcase the product and services to researchers, educators, policymakers, and like-minded practicing professionals. This conference is a hub of innovation, bringing together the brightest minds in research and industry to discuss the latest advancements and discoveries. The exhibition will allow you to introduce your products and services to potential collaborators, customers, and partners and share their expertise with others in the field. Click below to book an exhibition space.
Scope of the conference
The two-day conference brings together researchers, educators, teachers, and professionals to facilitate conversations exploring the role of curiosity in research and practice and its importance in driving innovation and progress across various fields. The attendees will be able to learn, collaborate, exchanges ideas, and form partnership with others in the area through workshops, talks, exhibitions, and poster sessions.
Workshops
Get hands on training on improving curiosity in classrooms and workplaces
Keynote
Learn about the current research and programs on curiosity.
Poster session
Meet researchers and professionals working on curiosity.
Speakers
Kou Murayama, Professor, Hector Institute for Empirical Educational Research, University of Tübingen
Kou Murayama is a Professor of Educational Psychology at the Hector Research Institute of Education Sciences and Psychology. In 2020, he was awarded the prestigious Alexander von Humboldt Professorship. He is also the Co-Director of the LEAD Graduate School & Research Network.
Michiko Sakaki is a Tenure Track Assistant Professor for Educational Neuroscience and Cognitive Psychology. Her research aims to understand how emotion affects cognitive processing, such as memory, attention, and decision-making.
Lynn Borton, Producer and Host, Choose to be Curious
Lynn Borton is a facilitator with over 30 years of experience in strategic governance and change management in the non-profit sector. She hosts and produces the award-winning radio show and podcast called Choose to be Curious, which explores curiosity's role in our work and lives. Lynn synthesizes the study of curiosity into a path toward innovation, learning, well-being, and connection.
Perry Zurn, Provost Associate Professor, American University
Perry Zurn is a Provost Associate Professor of Philosophy at American University. He is a Fellow at Cornell University and a Visiting Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania. Zurn's work revolves around curiosity, as showcased in his book "Curiosity and Power: The Politics of Inquiry" (2021) and co-authored book "Curious Minds: The Power of Connection" (2022). He has also co-edited various publications, including "Active Intolerance" (2016) and "Curiosity Studies" (2020), and is involved in translating and editing works by Michel Foucault.
.jpg)
Parimal Bhattacharya is a bilingual writer, most recently, of Field Notes from a
Waterborne Land, which is featured in this year’s Venice Architecture Biennale and was
longlisted for the recent Tata Literature Live Non-fiction Book of the Year Award. His more
than a dozen books, written in Bengali and English, fall in the indeterminate category
between fiction, memoir, history and travelogue, and cover a range of subjects, from the
struggles of a central Indian tribe to the dreams of Andrei Tarkovsky. Parimal is an associate
professor in the Postgraduate Department of English, Maulana Azad College, Kolkata.
Argha Manna, Artist in Residence, IIT Gandhinagar
Argha Manna, a cancer researcher turned comics artist from India, combines his artistic and research skills to explore historical perspectives of scientific development and social issues. He bridges the gap between academic research and visual storytelling. Notable projects include 'Famine Tales from India and Britain' and a comic book on Ant Network Theory. Argha collaborates with institutions like the University of Exeter, the British Library, and MIT to translate complex scientific concepts into comics, particularly focusing on infectious disease research. His storytelling philosophy emphasizes a blend of text, images, and comics, featured in Nature India.
Manish Jain, Founder, Center for Creative Learning, IIT Gandhinagar
Manish Jain is a Teaching Professor and Principal coordinator of the Center for Creative Learning at IIT Gandhinagar. He graduated from IIT Kanpur in 1993 with a degree in Electrical Engineering and has completed courses in EECS at Stanford. He has created 1000+ activities, trained 10,000 teachers, and worked with 50,000 students, focusing on making learning engaging and inspiring. His recent programs, 3030STEM and 2020 Lamp Series, attracted an audience of 1 crore people across India.
Ipsa Jain, Faculty, Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology
Ipsa Jain is a scientist-turned-science communicator. She works with visual media to tell stories of science. She makes images, zines, and books. She is interested in sharing critiques of the scientific enterprise. In her current work, she is trying to devise ways to empower citizens with the scientific method via public engagement. She is based in Bangalore and is currently working at Srishti Manipal Institute.
Somdatta Karak develops content and builds platforms that make science and technology accessible to young people of India. She is trained as a life scientist with her doctoral training in sensory and motor neurosciences from the University of Goettingen. Since then, she has worked in education as a Teach for India fellow and science communication. In her current role, she leads science communication and public outreach at CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad. She also co-leads Superheroes Against Superbugs, an educational and public engagement initiative on antimicrobial resistance in India.
Aditi Kothiyal, Assistant Teaching Professor, Center for Creative Learning, IIT Gandhinagar
Aditi Kothiyal is an assistant teaching professor at the Center for Creative Learning, IIT Gandhinagar and co-PI of the Project on Holistic Reimagining of Engineering Education, IIT Gandhinagar. Her research focuses on designing making-based interventions for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) learning. In her work, she uses a range of educational technologies, from toys made with easily-available materials to educational robots, while centering making as a pedagogy.
Kushal Sacheti, Founder & President of Centre for Curiosity
Kushal Sacheti is a mentor, business advisor, serial entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Kushal’s philanthropic initiatives include mentoring and advisory roles at several educational institutions and arts and social welfare organizations in India and the United States. He is the Founder and President of the Center for Curiosity (CfC) and sponsored the CfC@UPenn initiative on curiosity at the University of Pennsylvania.
Jaison Manjaly, Professor, IIT Gandhinagar
Jaison Manjaly is Jasubhai Memorial Chair Professor of Philosophy and Cognitive Science at IIT Gandhinagar. His research interests include curiosity, education, and exclusion. He is the Principal Investigator of the Curiosity Lab at IIT Gandhinagar, which aims to develop interventions to foster curiosity in the classroom.
Suchitha Champak, Founder, SciRio
Suchitha Champak founded SciRio to change how society views science. They help scientists, academic institutes, and enterprises share their advances in science creatively. At SciRio, she combines capacity building, collaborative projects, and unexplored markets to engage the public effectively. After working at the Indian Institute of Science and Centre for Human Genetics, she left the lab to prove that science is for everyone. She envisions a future where science and society co-evolve to empower everyone. She is a TEDx speaker, and news outlets like The Assam Tribune and BioPatrika have profiled her as a scientist-turned-entrepreneur. She also helped create proactive policies for science communication in the newest version of India's STI Policy.
.png)
The Foundation for Advancing Science and Technology
The Foundation for Advancing Science and Technology (FAST India) is a non-profit institution of excellence dedicated to building capacity and advancing policy solutions that foster scientific enquiry and research, and facilitate the creation, dissemination, and translation of new scientific knowledge. FAST India works with a variety of stakeholders to develop and strengthen the science ecosystem in India in order to advance scientific research and its translation into economic value and social good. It has five key verticals – policy and research, government support, institutional strengthening, corporate sector engagement, and science communication.
Curiosity Research
Understanding the social, behavioral, and neural aspects of Curiosity
Curiosity and Education
Strategies and techniques for encouraging learning and exploration among school children.
Curiosity and Innovation
Driving innovation and performance in the workplace by building a culture of curiosity
Sub-themes
-
Inquiry-based learning
-
Neuroscience of Curiosity
-
Memory and learning
-
Uncertainty and decision-making
-
Building Curiosity in schools
-
Science Communication for building curiosity
-
Mindfulness and Curiosity
-
Interpersonal curiosity
Inquiry-based learning
Inquiry-based learning is a pedagogical approach that encourages students to ask questions, investigate, and seek answers to problems. It involves a process of exploration and discovery that allows learners to engage with the content actively, make connections between concepts, and develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Uncertainty and decision-making
Uncertainty is a crucial aspect of curiosity research because individuals seek information and experiences to reduce uncertainty and increase their understanding of the world. However, uncertainty can also make decision-making more difficult, particularly when the stakes are high. Researchers can inform decision-making approaches by encouraging exploration and learning while minimizing potential risks by understanding how individuals process and respond to uncertainty. These insights would be valuable in various contexts, such as education, healthcare, and business, where decisions can have significant consequences.
Memory and learning
Memory and learning play a crucial role in developing and maintaining curiosity, driven by the desire to learn and understand new information. Strategies such as repetition, active engagement, and mnemonic devices can improve information retention and facilitate learning. Understanding the mechanisms of memory and learning can inform approaches to education and training that promote curiosity, such as designing learning experiences tailored to individual learning styles and incorporating opportunities for active engagement and exploration.
Neuroscience of curiosity
The neuroscience of curiosity investigates the neural mechanisms underlying curiosity, a fundamental drive that motivates humans and other animals to explore and seek new information. Studies have shown that the brain's reward system, including dopamine release, is activated when individuals are engaged in curiosity-driven behaviors. Understanding the neuroscience of curiosity can inform approaches to learning and motivation.
_edited.png)
Mindfulness and curiosity
Mindfulness involves paying attention to the present moment without judgment. This practice helps individuals’ openness to new experiences. Mindfulness also helps individuals regulate their emotions and improve their cognitive flexibility, enhancing their ability to learn and engage with new information. The relationship between curiosity and mindfulness is an interesting aspect to explore.
Interpersonal curiosity
Interpersonal curiosity involves a desire to understand and learn from other people's perspectives, experiences, and ideas. This can involve asking questions, actively listening, and engaging in dialogue with others. Interpersonal curiosity can enhance social connections, promote empathy, and foster cross-cultural understanding.
Building Curiosity in Schools
Developing curiosity involves creating learning environments that encourage exploration, questioning, and discovery. This includes providing opportunities for hands-on learning, encouraging student-led investigations, and integrating interdisciplinary approaches. Strategies for building curiosity can help engage students in learning and promote lifelong learning habits.
Science communication for building curiosity
Science communication refers to communicating scientific information to various audiences, including the general public. Effective science communication helps build curiosity by providing opportunities for individuals to learn about discoveries, ask questions, and engage with scientific ideas.
The Curiosity Conference is supported by the Center for Curiosity (CfC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to exploring the science of curiosity, promoting its practice, and academic and public advancement.
The CfC achieves this goal by designing and producing curricular materials that enhance students' curiosity and promote their integration into schools and colleges. The center's research initiatives incorporate innovative techniques and methodologies to comprehend the science and characteristics of curiosity, identify ways to stimulate it, and examine the association between curiosity and other human endeavors such as creativity, innovation, and leadership. In addition, the center develops and disseminates tools that measure and promote curiosity among individuals of all ages, regardless of their educational environment. The CfC is committed to promoting curiosity in the academic and public spheres by disseminating knowledge and organizing events dedicated to fostering curiosity.
About IIT Gandhinagar
IIT Gandhinagar offers a unique educational experience in India with unmatched innovations in curriculum. The institute promotes critical thinking and an appreciation of the interdisciplinary character of knowledge, with an emphasis on the liberal arts, project-oriented learning, diversity, and globalization. IIT Gandhinagar was founded in 2008 and is located in Palaj, Gandhinagar, Gujarat on the banks of river Sabarmati. IITGN is rated India’s first 5-star GRIHA LD (Green) campus for minimizing the negative impact on the environment. The campus has been declared India’s first 5-star campus for ensuring food safety and promoting healthy eating.
IIT Gandhinagar campus is a beautiful and vibrant place to explore. The campus is serene and peaceful, surrounded by lush greenery and a beautiful river, offering visitors a unique and enriching experience. The architecture of the campus is a blend of traditional and modern styles, making it a visual delight. Its natural beauty, modern infrastructure, and cultural diversity make it one of the most sought-after campuses in India for students and visitors alike.
The campus also offers a range of facilities for visitors, including a well-equipped library, modern sports facilities, and comfortable accommodation options.
Media Coverage
