The Sonophilian

Birgit Gebhardt, an independent trend researcher for whom the future of work is paramount, questions what makes us human. Is it our emotions, our communication skills, or perhaps the ways we learn, grow, and explore in our work and personal spaces? Is it a mixture of all these factors combined?

Creativity and insight are tightly bound in nature. They go hand in hand. The research into insight problem solving is an ongoing endeavor, one which inherently requires innovative methods and a constant vigilance to our senses. Dr. Amory Danek, a cognitive psychologist and researcher at Heidelberg University, is this year’s recipient of the Sonophilia Foundation Research Stipend for her exceptional contributions to the field of insight problem solving.

We often consider a Eureka moment to be the peak of solving any given problem, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. This a-ha experience is only the consequence for a complex concept known as insight. Maxi Becker, a post-doctoral researcher at the Humboldt University of Berlin and an honored recipient of the Sonophilia Foundation Research stipend, is particularly adept at breaking insight down so that this multifaceted phenomenon can be more readily understood.

With 30 years of experience as a stereographer, a VFX and VR supervisor for such clients as Warner Brothers, Disney, Pixar, and Paramount, Angus has in the past worked on Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, No Time to Die, King Kong and Gravity. It was through this work that a more holistic approach to his creative projects took root. His career in the film industry was a stepping stone that helped pave the way for ootiboo.

Yoga is about channeling our energy and manifesting our personal experience of creativity. For Nadja Dinzl, life is a game of balance. Being a yoga instructor and an HR lawyer at the University of Vienna, she knows a thing or two about what it takes to offset seemingly polar aspects of her existence, both in a physical and a spiritual sense. In her search for something to quiet her mind in a very fast-paced and oftentimes tumultuous era, Nadja discovered a branch of yoga that changed everything for her.

Having tried and failed several times in his endeavors, Bruce’s success story is multifaceted, and his work is tridimensional. First, he actively mentors approximately 15 startups from around the world in various topics and fields, such as machine learning, VR treadmills, location-based services for warehousing, medical devices, and medical learning. This component stemmed from his own experience being mentored as a young man; he now wants to help others in the same way.

Bruce is particularly passionate about the mission and structure of the Sonophilia Foundation. From being introduced to many kinds of people with vastly different perspectives to being able to engage in discussions about issues and ideas, Bruce loves listening to other people express themselves. Although he admits he has no particular knowledge about the arts, he finds special value in collaborating with artists and musicians to help spark innovative thinking. Essentially, it’s the family feel that he finds so refreshing. “My area is in where technology can assist, how technology can provide you with better learning and better understanding, how, for example, Roman Lipski (Sonophilian), uses technology that takes his art and makes it into different kinds of art and then gives the artist inspiration… Whenever I'm hanging around the Sonophilians, I get this family feeling that everybody just wants to chit chat… That's why I'm excited to be part of it."

Breaking taboos and lifting the veil of ignorance will be the shining light in a world fighting to remain in darkness. The scope and popularity of the porn industry are rarely discussed openly, although porn is enjoyed by a vast majority. As the co-founder and creative director of the Porn Film Festival in Vienna, as well as the creative director at the Transition International Queer & Minorities Film Festival, Jasmin Hagendorfer has approached this sometimes awkward and uncomfortable topic with confidence and spunk.

The Universe is constantly sending out signals for creativity and inviting us to choose an organic, sometimes winding, path in life. Having immersed herself in the study of evolutionary patterns for decades, Eve Konstantine has led what she calls “the life of a seeker”. Questions about who we are as a species, what our purpose is here on this planet, and where we’re going have been at the epicenter of her career.

For Yoed Kenett, a professor of cognitive neuroscience based at the Technion Israel Institute of Technology, asking questions is what makes the world go round. He explores associate thought knowledge and how creativity works in the brain. In a nutshell, he believes that what matters is the questions themselves rather than the answers.

Creativity, to Theo, is a leadership model. In the contexts of novelty and value creation, he believes creativity emerges from both divergent and convergent thinking processes. In essence, he reflects on what creativity itself predicts, rather than the other way around. This impression ties back into his commitment to the emerging role of the artist in the world, as a creativity-based leader in fields both within and outside of the arts.