The Mind and Memory: Exploring Creativity in the Arts and Sciences course begins this month at Cornell University and runs through April. This popular annual offering includes public lectures by distinguished members of the Cornell faculty and other creative people from a wide range of disciplines.

"Creativity is the attribute of the mind that enables us to make new combinations from often unfamiliar information," said Joyce Morgenroth, associate professor of dance and Mind and Memory instructor. "As is true of all learning, creativity is dependent upon memory – a memory that is genetic and social as well as personal and experimental."

Lectures are Mondays from 2:55 to 4:10 p.m. in 155 Olin Hall and are free and open to the public. This year's speakers and their topics are:

• Feb. 2 – Jane Marie Law, Cornell professor of Asian studies: "Meditation in Exile: Implications of Sand Mandalas in the American Museum Setting."
• Feb. 9 – Mary Gilliland, poet, Cornell writing instructor, "Walking Out of Oneself: Poetry and Labyrinths."
• Feb. 16 – Katrin Mueller-Johnson, Cornell graduate student in psychology, "False Memories."
• Feb. 23 – David Feldshuh, Cornell professor and artistic director of theater, film and dance, "Creativity and the Actor."
• March 1 – Joyce Morgenroth, Cornell associate professor of theater arts and choreographer, "Training Intuition."
• March 15 – Harry Greene, Cornell professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, "Tracks and Shadows, Field Biology as – Katy Payne, visiting fellow at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, naturalist and writer, "Elephants, Mind and Memory."
• April 5 – Virginia Utermohlen, Cornell associate professor of nutritional sciences, TBA.o April 12 -- Buzz Spector, professor and chair of the Cornell Department of Art, "Art and the Land: of Memory and Place."
• April 19 – Paula Horrigan, Cornell associate professor of landscape architecture, "Creating Landscapes: Real and Imagined."
• April 26 and May 3 –Student works. TBA.

For more information on Mind and Memory, contact course leader Morgenroth at jdm9@cornell.edu or (607) 254-2744 or Bruce Levitt, faculty chair of the Cornell Council for the Arts, at bal5@cornell.edu or (607) 254-2739.