Sid Parnes

Dr. Sidney J. Parnes
Born(1922-01-05)January 5, 1922
DiedAugust 19, 2013(2013-08-19) (aged 91)
Known forCreative problem solving techniques

Sidney J. Parnes (January 5, 1922 – August 19, 2013) was an American academic who was professor at Buffalo State University (located in Buffalo, New York) and the co-founder of the International Center for Studies in Creativity. The center is housed within Buffalo State University, one of the few places in the world that offers a Master's of Science degree in creativity. The department also now[when?] offers a distance learning version of the degree to students around the world as well as an undergraduate minor in creative studies.[1]

Parnes was a lifetime trustee of the Creative Education Foundation (CEF).[2] He joined the CEF in 1955 to help develop a comprehensive educational program for the Creative Problem Solving Institute, which is the world's longest-running international creativity conference.[citation needed] In 1966, CEF's founder, Alex Osborn died, leaving Parnes to head the foundation.[3]

Parnes and Alex Osborn developed the Creative Problem Solving Process (CPS), a structured method for generating solutions to problems.[4] This method is taught annually at the International Center for Studies in Creativity,[5] the Creative Problem Solving Institute[6] and the CREA Conference in Europe.

  1. ^ "Sidney J. Parnes, leader in creativity, creative studies - Obituaries". The Buffalo News. August 28, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  2. ^ "Board of Trustees". Creative Education Foundation. Archived from the original on October 9, 2007. Retrieved December 22, 2007.
  3. ^ "History of the Creative Education Foundation". Creative Education Foundation. Archived from the original on October 9, 2007. Retrieved December 22, 2007.
  4. ^ Hurson, Tim (2007). Think Better: An Innovator's Guide to Productive Thinking. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill. p. xi. ISBN 978-0-07-149493-9.
  5. ^ "ICSC Course Descriptions". International Center for Studies in Creativity. Archived from the original on December 7, 2007. Retrieved December 22, 2007.
  6. ^ "Creative Problem Solving Institute". Creative Education Foundation. Retrieved December 22, 2007.