Dr Ahmed Mohamed Al Abbasi, Associate Professor of Gifted and Creative Education at the College of Education, Administrative and Technical Sciences at the Arabian Gulf University (AGU), has recently presented a scientific paper at the annual conference of the American Psychological Association (APA) held in Seattle. The paper, titled “Towards a Better Understanding of Multiple Creativity among High School Students”, was delivered during a session focused on cognitive creativity, featuring contributions from researchers around the globe.

The scientific paper examined the history of the phenomenon of multiple creativity and the potential for individuals to excel in various fields. Citing figures such as Ibn Sina, whose scientific contributions spanned medicine, philosophy and astronomy, as well as historical luminaries like Leonardo da Vinci and Marie Curie, Dr Al Abbasi explored whether such phenomena could be observed among high school students, especially in an era that increasingly emphasises specialisation.

Dr Al Abbasi employed a scale of creative activities and achievements—comprising eight dimensions—to gauge multiple creativity within the research sample. The results indicated that certain gifted students were capable of demonstrating creative accomplishments in multiple disciplines when compared to their non-gifted peers, particularly in interdisciplinary areas such as art and music. The findings suggested that interests and hobbies in one domain can significantly enhance creative expression in others. For instance, Einstein famously stated that without music, he would not have been able to develop the theory of relativity.

Among the key recommendations of Dr Al Abbasi’s scientific paper, which is accessible via the ResearchGate website, was the importance of encouraging students to engage in diverse hobbies that foster the development of their creative ideas, as well as the integral role of extracurricular activities in achieving creative productivity. 

It is noteworthy that the APA conference is the largest gathering of psychologists globally, encompassing 54 specialisations and attracting more than 10,000 researchers and scientists from various countries each year. The administration of the AGU is committed to supporting its academic staff in participating in such esteemed scientific forums, highlighting the university’s regional and global scientific and research contributions.