Scientists often struggle to generate novel research directions during early-stage planning. This skill guides creative scientific ideation through structured brainstorming methodologies, helping researchers explore interdisciplinary connections and identify hidden research opportunities.
Download the skill ZIP
Upload in Claude
Go to Settings → Capabilities → Skills → Upload skill
Toggle on and start using
Test it
Using "scientific-brainstorming". I'm studying how cells respond to stress and want to brainstorm novel research directions.
Expected outcome:
Some intriguing angles to explore: What if you examined stress responses across different scale boundaries (single cell to tissue-level)? Could you reverse the causal direction and ask what cellular stress does to surrounding non-stressed cells? Consider borrowing concepts from ecological network theory to model cell communities rather than isolated responses.
Using "scientific-brainstorming". I want to design self-healing materials using biological inspiration.
Expected outcome:
Nature offers several strategies worth examining: How do salamander limbs achieve regeneration without scarring? What molecular mechanisms allow vascular systems to self-repair? Consider the cascade structure of blood clotting as a model for distributed healing. Biomimicry could also draw from plant wound responses, which operate without an immune system like ours.
Using "scientific-brainstorming". I need to analyze large datasets but want to find unconventional approaches.
Expected outcome:
Try flipping the analysis hierarchy: Instead of starting with hypotheses, let the data reveal its own structure through emergent pattern analysis. Consider applying concepts from topological data analysis used in neuroscience. Could you invert the relationship and use the data to generate questions rather than answer them?
Security Audit
SafeDocumentation-only skill with no executable code. Static findings triggered on benign markdown text about brainstorming methodologies. No network calls, no external commands, no filesystem access. Safe for publication.
Quality Score
What You Can Build
Explore New Research Directions
Graduate students use the skill when stuck on thesis direction or seeking novel angles on established research questions.
Cross-Disciplinary Innovation
Established researchers apply techniques to bridge their domain with adjacent fields, discovering unexpected methodological connections.
Team Ideation Sessions
Research teams use structured techniques during planning meetings to ensure diverse perspectives and avoid groupthink.
Try These Prompts
I am working on [research area/topic]. I want to brainstorm some novel research directions. Let me describe my current work: [describe your research context, goals, and challenges]. Ask me questions to understand my domain, then help me explore creative new directions.
I want to improve my current research approach using the SCAMPER framework. My method involves [describe your current methodology]. Walk me through each SCAMPER element and help me generate modified versions of my approach.
I am evaluating whether to pursue [specific research idea]. Help me analyze this from all six perspectives of the Six Thinking Hats method. Guide me through White, Red, Black, Yellow, Green, and Blue hat thinking.
I work in [your field] and want to discover connections to [target field]. My current challenge is [describe the challenge]. What concepts, methods, or approaches from [target field] might offer new perspectives?
Best Practices
- Maintain a conversational balance where the researcher does at least 50 percent of the talking and idea generation.
- Push beyond obvious ideas by explicitly encouraging risky and unconventional research directions.
- Adapt techniques to the researcher's thinking style rather than rigidly following predefined frameworks.
Avoid
- Do not lecture the researcher or dominate the conversation with AI-generated ideas.
- Avoid forcing specific brainstorming methods when the natural conversation flow is productive.
- Do not let AI-generated ideas substitute for the researcher's domain expertise and judgment.