| Founded | 2005 |
|---|---|
| Location | Tempe, Arizona |
| Focus | Thinking and providing scholarships to students |
| Website | www.davincithinking.org |
The Leonardo da Vinci Society for the Study of Thinking was founded in 2005 to promote excellence in thinking and the teaching of thinking skills. The Society was conceived by Dominic Pistillo, founder and former President of the University of Advancing Technology (UAT) in Tempe, Arizona.
The da Vinci Society is a not-for-profit foundation – a “thinking think tank,” if you will. The goal of the Society is to help create a better tomorrow by fostering better thinking and the teaching of thinking skills globally. The Society’s Board of Directors identifies the world’s greatest thinkers, whose contributions to society deserve widespread public attention, and engages them in the creation of new knowledge in the study of thinking. To nurture tomorrow’s leaders, the Society encourages scholars and young people in the study and development of thinking skills.
Nominees are evaluated for their unique and significant contributions to the fields of Thinking by a selection committee within the Society. A thinker is chosen each year by the selection committee to be honored during an invitation-only awards luncheon, inducted into the da Vinci Society and is awarded the prestigious The da Vinci Medallion. The annual luncheon attracts community intellectual, political and commercial leaders from Arizona and around the globe.
Nominees have included those in the fields of physics, psychology, organizational effectiveness, invention and evolutionary biology. Selection criteria for new inductees include positive works in the community and recognized evidence of revolutionary thinking.
While visiting the University of Advancing Technology to be honored, inductees provide feedback on curriculum, speak to UAT students regarding how thinking influences innovation, and collaborate with da Vinci committee members to develop new ways to improve and expand the skill of thinking in daily practice.
In 2005, the inaugural chair was awarded to Professor Edward de Bono, for his work in the field of creative thinking and in the direct teaching of thinking as a skill.
Award recipients include:
UAT's overarching Mission is to educate students in the fields of advancing technology to become innovators of the future. Our Vision is that by following our Mission, we will help ensure societal advancement by cultivating thinking innovators for an increasingly technology-driven world. Every alumnus is recognized as an exceptional thinker, advancing society through the ethical use of technology.
Improving cognitive skills and sharing knowledge are central to our purpose as a university. UAT will not only be a reference but also a starting point for the creation and sharing of knowledge. We have developed a suite of courses, required skill sets, and activities throughout the educational experience that cultivate the graduate's ability to think and innovate effectively in all situations.