Imagination and Innovation: Call for papers

Issue 14 of eSharp will explore the potential of the human imagination in generating innovation, creation and new developments. From technological advances to the formation of various media, the inventive capacity of the human mind has shaped our history and our world in countless ways.

As a creative force, imagination produces developments in a broad variety of contexts, which range from human systems and societies to the landscapes which we inhabit. Enquiries into the nature of ‘imagination’ itself by philosophers, theologians and psychologists from various periods have enhanced our understanding of this entity. Reforms in the fields of Education, Medicine and Politics rely on ‘thinking outside the box’, while rapid growth in media and intellectual property requires new legislation and legal expertise.

This issue invites contributions which explore creative responses to the challenges encountered by humanity throughout its collective existence, with reference to progressive movements in technology, policy, education and art.
Subjects may include, but are not limited to:

• the fantastic or imaginative in art and literature
• literary and/or pictorial representations of the human imagination
  - the history and development of concepts concerning the imagination
• innovation and education
• creativity and the use of the imagination by children
• legal responses to media and communications development
• technological innovation and emerging industries
• the social implications of new technologies
• election campaigns and their appeal to the voter’s imagination
• marketing, advertising and the use of imagination in business

Submissions must be based on original research and should be between 4,000 and 6,000 words in length. These should be made in Word document or RTF format. Please ensure that you accompany your article with an abstract of 200 to 250 words and a list of three to five keywords to indicate the subject area of your article.

A full online list of guidelines and our style sheet are available. Submissions and enquiries should be sent to submissions@esharp.org.uk.

The deadline for submissions is 1 September 2009