About Us

Human ingenuity is defined by professor Hansen and a team of researchers as the aptitude and ability to solve problems through experience, with originality and imagination (Hansen, 2008).

The team’s first project set out to improve understanding of the traits of inventive people. The response to that pilot study was promising and led to the study of human creativity, particularly its existence as a concept and human disposition. A study of 8 year old children is currently underway in Canada and Norway with expansion planned Finland, England, and the Northern Regions of Canada. Our belief is that the roots of human creativity and ingenuity are best thought of in a cultural rather than human capital context. No one person or group can be thought of as more or less creative than another because any invention or ingenious act takes place in a cultural context (at a time and place that must concurrently inspire and acknowledge the innovation).

Building on our research experience with inventors, especially in technical professions and occupations, we have partnered with the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario to explore the issue apprenticeship retention in Ontario. Trade training policy and practice is an area of need across Canada. The three year project involves a sample of apprentices, half of whom will participate in a series of collaborative resilience-building workshops, the other half will be monitored over the course of their apprenticeship until 2014. Attrition in Ontario is currently up to 40% in the first year of study/practice.

In the spirit of cooperation and international comparative learning we welcome imaginative ideas, stories, and experiences that move the study and practice associated with ingenuity forward. You can contact us at hirg@uwo.ca.

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