Date: Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:52:29 -0500
From: Shelly Glashow 
To: Dr Veljko Milutinovic 
Subject: Re: Three questions for the major newspaer of the nation


    1. How you define inventivity and creativity?

    Unventivity, of course  is the ability to invent as creativity is the ability to create,
    but that is not the intent of your question.
    Both have two prerequisites; training and imagination.
    Artists must learn to draw, composers must study music, engineers
    or scientists must spent many years developing their skills...
    but imagination is more difficult to acquire, if indeed it can
    be acquired. However, imagination is often and easily destroyed
    by improper or inadequate education.


    2. What was the major catalyst which enabled the inventivity to happen
       in the case of invention that brought the Nobel Prize to you?

    Having encouraging parents, attending excellent public schools
    and resarch universities, choosing inspiring mentors.


    3. For small nations (like Montenegro or Serbia),
      what are the things to do to induce inventivity and creativity
      among young people?

    Provide excellent schooling to as many
    citizens as possible, especially to those who are evidently gifted.
    Encourage them to attend world-class universities (possibly abroad)
    and provide them  career opportunities within their countries.
    Take the risk that some of those educated abroad may not return.