Unleashing Superpowers: A week in Sicily with the Eureka Institute of Translational Medicine

Recently, we were in Ortigia, a tiny island off the coast of Siracusa, Sicily. Nath and I were invited by the Eureka Institute for Translational Medicine to facilitate a workshop around creative thinking, for 30+ participants from all over the world. Scientists, doctors, professors, some of the greatest minds in their respective industries, who are literally inventing new ways to save the world. 

We arrived jet-lagged and joyful, and promptly got ourselves lost in the alleys and archways of this beautiful ancient town. Streets so skinny only half a car would get through, friendly cats everywhere, and third-floor locals leaning out over their little balconies to take in the sunrise.

 We found a corner cafe and sat in the doorway eating croissants and drinking espresso. We sat in the uncertainty of it all - we hadn't met the participants, we had no idea what to expect for the week. How can we help someone before we  know  them? 

 The Eureka team told us that they have what they call a "hidden curriculum." Beneath the surface of a robust translational medicine program, they are also building strengths around critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity. We were brought in for these strengths, and once we got started, our work together became a glorious melting pot of all the things we love to facilitate: 

Art. Communication. Language. Story. Patient experience. Even superpowers.

The participants were placed into groups of five, and they didn’t yet know each other well. The room hummed with curiosity, laughter, and a bit of nervous energy. Each person was asked to share their individual superpower, the unique quality or skill they bring to the world. The answers ranged from deeply thoughtful to delightfully quirky: “nerdy board gamer”, “photographic short term memory”, “rope climbing ninja”, “great sense of direction”, and even “healing with song”.

Once they’d shared their superpowers, the groups dove headfirst into their collective creativity. Their challenge was to collaboratively craft a movie synopsis, a blockbuster narrative where all their superpowers could coexist, shine, and save the day. As they worked, the room exploded with energy, ideas bouncing back and forth, creative plots unfolding, and unexpected heroes emerging.

After crafting their stories, each group described their movie poster vision. Nath and I captured their creativity through photographs, which Nathan transformed into actual movie posters. The results were striking, visual embodiments of teamwork, imaginative storytelling, and the magic of collaboration.

The beauty of this exercise wasn’t just in the fun (though the laughter was contagious). The real brilliance lay in the hidden curriculum it brought to life. In the process of sharing superpowers and creating their movie synopses and posters, participants experienced first-hand the profound power of creativity, effective communication, critical thinking, and seamless collaboration. Without realising it, these accomplished professionals were building essential skills in mutual understanding, and collective problem-solving.

The activity highlighted that we all have something extraordinary to contribute, and when we bring our diverse superpowers together, we create possibilities that surpass anything we could imagine alone. This hidden curriculum, the subtle yet powerful lessons in collaboration and creative thinking, left everyone feeling more connected, inspired, and ready to tackle future challenges.