Learn How Creative Thinking can Transform your Research

The topic is creative thinking in research. It offers a deep understanding of creative thinking together with a toolbox and guidelines the student can use to make room for creative thinking and methodology in own research. The systematic use of creative thinking can be particularly helpful in the generation of new ideas, hypotheses, experimental designs and in data interpretation as well as in the communication of research.

Learning objectives:

- To get a firsthand experience with creative thinking and realize the impact it can have on your normal thinking process.
- To understand that the way we think determines what we can be aware of and how we interpret our results
- To understand why and how creative thinking influence knowledge production in research
- To be able to think more flexibly and original, while doing research
- To understand how you can integrate creative thinking in your existing research method – both in theory and in practice

Teaching methods:

The course is organized as a 2-day workshop consisting of a mix of small lectures and exercises that train creative thinking in research. The workshop will focus on getting a firsthand experience with creative thinking in relation to own scientific work. 

There will also be time for reflecting upon how creative thinking can be implemented in own research process as well as collaboration with other researchers. 

After the workshop, participants will have access to literature, extra materials and training exercises to continue training and development of a creative research practice, both individually and in peer groups.

Preparation for the workshop

Bring your research questions and an open mind to think and do different than you are used to. There is no redings before the workshop.

Criteria for assessment:

Assignment where the participant experiment with- and reflect on the use of creative thinking in own research process

Organizers and lecturers: Søren Hansen, sha@plan.aau.dk

Time: April 9 and 10, 2026: 9:00-16:00

Important information concerning PhD courses: 

There is a no-show fee of DKK 3,000 for each course where the student does not show up. Cancellations are accepted no later than 2 weeks before the start of the course. Registered illness is of course an acceptable reason for not showing up on those days. Furthermore, all courses open for registration approximately four months before start of the course..

For external PhD students: This course is a general course and is prioritised for PhD Students enrolled at Aalborg University. If there are available seats, PhD students from other universities will be accepted. You will be notified shortly after the deadline if you have been accepted.

To attend courses at the Doctoral School in Medicine, Biomedical Science and Technology you must be enrolled as a PhD student.
We cannot ensure any seats before the deadline for enrolment, all participants will be informed after the deadline, approximately 3 weeks before the start of the course.

For inquiries regarding registration, cancellation or waiting list, please contact the PhD administration at phdcourses@adm.aau.dk  When contacting us please state the course title and course period. Thank you.