On October 12th, we hosted another vibrant Culture Café at the URI MENA office in Amman.
Our two volunteers, Corinna and Florentine, led an exciting workshop titled “Boost Your Imagination,” combining science and play to spark creativity and encourage out-of-the-box thinking.
The session kicked off with a brief explanation of what imagination is and why it’s so vital.
Imagination is our mind’s ability to create images, ideas, and concepts that don’t exist in the present moment. It helps people solve problems, plan for the future, and even daydream.
We highlighted four key benefits of imagination: enhancing innovation and problem-solving, boosting emotional well-being, improving communication and empathy, and increasing adaptability.
How does Imagination work in the brain?
We also explored how imagination works in the brain.
Multiple regions, known as the “default mode network,” collaborate when the mind is relaxed, explaining why ‘aha’ moments often happen when we’re not actively searching for solutions. The main mental processes involved in imagining are Mental Imagery, Memory, Future Thinking (Prospection), and Divergent Thinking. We also touched on different types of imagination: creative, episodic, and emotional. Ultimately, imagination is the foundation for all creative endeavors, leading to more original ideas and innovative solutions.
Let's get creative!
Following the theory, it was time for action!
The participants engaged in several fun exercises to stretch their imaginations:
Chain of Association: To warm up, we played a quick-fire word game where each person says the first word that comes to mind after hearing the previous one.
Imagination Relay: In this collaborative storytelling game, participants drew random words from a jar and built a wild, imaginative story together, from a climbing trip to a swan party.
Mind Map Mashup: In groups, participants had to creatively connect two random concepts—Outer Space and Urban Gardening. The result? Ideas like space flowers and organic markets in space!
Improv Scene: To finish on a playful note, teams drew random words for locations, emotions, and objects and used them to create hilarious improv scenes.
The café was a fun, interactive space where participants could let their imaginations run wild, leaving everyone feeling inspired and full of fresh ideas.