Dr Ahmed Mohamed Al Abbasi, Head of the Gifted Education Department at the Arabian Gulf University (AGU), has contributed to editing the Encyclopaedia of Interdisciplinarity and Transdisciplinarity, by writing a chapter entitled “Multiple Abilities” which explores the phenomenon of individuals who are able to reach creative achievements in more than one field.
Dr Al Abbasi noted that while this phenomenon is more commonly observed in adults, it can also be predicted among students. He referenced a scientific study he conducted that indicated the potential for gifted students to excel in multiple fields, particularly in the secondary stage of education.
The chapter discusses historical examples of individuals who achieved creative success in multiple disciplines, such as Ibn Sina, Al Razi, Da Vinci, and John Dewey. Dr Al Abbasi also highlighted scientists like Galileo and Newton who were able to be creative in different specialisations within the same field.
The Encyclopaedia of Interdisciplinarity and Transdisciplinarity, where Dr Al Abbasi’s chapter will be featured, is set to be published next June by Edward Elgar Publishing. It contains 135 chapters written by 170 scholars from around the world, spanning over 700 pages.
