The Imagination Retreats consist of discussions with some of the world’s most imaginative thinkers in a wide range of fields, from psychology to comedy, physics, or spirituality, among others. The aim of the retreats is to further understand how imagination operates within specific domains—and ultimately, how to cultivate this critically important capacity in all people. Through these exciting conversations, we hope to learn more about how we can support young people to develop imagination within their domain, and cultivate imagination in society more broadly.
Spirituality Imagination Retreat
Philadelphia, PA August 19-21, 2017 Participants Roy Baumeister Roy F. Baumeister is one of the world’s most prolific and influential psychologists. He has published well over 500 scientific articles and more than 30 books. In 2013, he received the highest award given...
Psychology Imagination Retreat
Union League, Philadelphia November 20-22, 2015 Media Reports Scientific American Participants Roy Baumeister Roy F. Baumeister is one of the world’s most prolific and influential psychologists. He has published well over 500 scientific articles and more than 30...
Polymath Imagination Retreat
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania July 6-9, 2017 Participants Stanley Fish Professor of Law, English, Criminal Justice, Political Science, and Humanities, NYT Columnist, Award-winning author. Harvey Friedman Professor of Mathematics and Philosophy, Inventor of “Reverse...
Physics Imagination Retreat
Cambridge, England Philip Ball Science Writer Philip Ball is a freelance science writer. He worked previously at Nature for over 20 years, first as an editor for physical sciences (for which his brief extended from biochemistry to quantum physics and materials...
Neuroscience Imagination Retreat
Philadelphia, PA December 2-4, 2016 Media Reports Is the Default Mode of the Brain to Suffer? Participants Jessica Andrews-Hanna Jessica Andrews-Hanna received her M.A. in Neuroscience at Washington University in St. Louis in 2006, her Ph.D. in Psychology at Harvard...
Music Imagination Retreat
Curtis Institute of Music Philadelphia, PA January 9th, 2017 Participants Paul Bryan Paul Bryan leads a distinguished career as both performer and educator. A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and Temple University where he studied trombone with Glenn Dodson...
Leadership Imagination Retreat
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania June 23, 2017 Participants Maureen Donker First elected to the Midland City Council in 2007, Maureen was elected Mayor by her fellow Council members in 2009. She is the City’s first female mayor, and dedicated to making Midland — her...
Futurist Imagination Retreat
Palo Alto, California May 3-4, 2016 Media Reports BoingBoing Participants Stuart Candy Professor of Design in Strategic Foresight & Innovation and Digital Futures at OCAD University in Toronto Dr. Stuart Candy is an experiential futurist on a mission to bring...
Engineering & Applied Mathematics Imagination Retreat
Philadelphia, PA February 3-5, 2017 Participants Danielle Bassett Danielle S. Bassett is the Eduardo D. Glandt Faculty Fellow and Associate Professor in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania. She is most well-known for her work blending...
Education Imagination Retreat
Philadelphia, PA March, 2016 Media Reports Imagination Man Participants Angela Duckworth Cofounder, Character Lab; Professor of Psychology, Penn ANGELA DUCKWORTH (Co-Founder, Character Lab, Professor of Psychology, UPENN) is a professor of psychology at the University...
Comedy Imagination Retreat
Philadelphia, PA August 19-21, 2017 Participants Aisha Alfa Born in Nigeria, raised in Canada and now making her home in Los Angeles as a comedian, actor and host, Aisha Alfa has come a long way after a career as a soccer player. Her most recent accomplishments have...