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The keynote titled **"Collective Problem Solving in Music, Science, Art and Software"** by **Jessica Kerr** at **RubyConf 2019** explores the theme of collaborative problem-solving across various domains, drawing connections between historical and contemporary practices in music, science, art, and software development. The presentation beings with the examination of the **Florentine Camerata**, a group of innovators in 16th-century Florence who aimed to reform music, emphasizing the need to balance words and music to enhance emotional expression.

**Key Points Discussed:**  
- **Historical Significance of the Florentine Camerata:**  
  - Composed of multidisciplinary individuals (musicians, poets, scientists) who collaborated to create a new musical form, leading to the invention of opera and the Baroque era.  
  - They sought inspiration from ancient Greek practices and utilized a laboratory-like environment for creative discussions and music performances.

- **Invisible Colleges:**  
  - Dr. Ruth Katz’s paper highlights how the Camerata exemplified an 'invisible college' similar to modern scientific collaborations, where individuals engage in mutual learning and critique to advance their work.

- **Historical Collaborations in Science:**  
  - The speaker compares historical collaborative efforts, like those of Benjamin Franklin in the study of electricity, to the contributions of coffeehouse culture in London during the Enlightenment that facilitated scientific and artistic advancements.

- **Modern Collaboration in Art:**  
  - The presentation discusses the salons of Paris, where artists and thinkers exchanged ideas that sparked movements like cubism led by figures like Picasso and Gertrude Stein.  
  
- **Agile Software Development Practices:**  
  - Kerr draws parallels to software development, reflecting on pivotal teams and movements such as ThoughtWorks and the Spring framework that emerged from collaborative efforts to deliver quality software efficiently.

- **The Importance of Culture and Mindset in Collaboration:**  
  - Emphasizes the need for a supportive culture that encourages knowledge sharing and collective growth, citing Gregory Bateson's principles of systems thinking and his daughter's concept of 'symmathesy.'  
  
**Conclusions and Takeaways:**  
- Successful teams are characterized not just by their outstanding members but by the strength of their collaborative dynamics, leading to remarkable outcomes.  
- Building a flourishing team environment requires focusing on not just technical skills but also on the richness of interpersonal interactions and nurturing a culture of collective recognition.  
- The evolution of societies is tied closely to the collaborative spirit, with programming emerging as a new medium for artistic expression that parallels historical creative movements.  
- The talk concludes with an invitation to embrace the interconnected nature of modern endeavors in software development to create a significant impact in society.

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