Ability and Creativity : Their Role in Science and Technology

In addition to exceptional abilities and domain-specific aptitudes, frequently creativity potentials are used to explain high achievements in science and technology. In the Guilford tradition, research focuses increasingly on convergent versus divergent thinking, that is, a suspected dichotomy between intelligence and creativity. Despite important insights from this about relationship of ability and creativity, a number of important questions remain unanswered. These relate not only to conceptualization and measurement problems regarding the hypothetical constructs "scientific ability" and "creativity", but also their diagnosis and nurturance in childhood and adolescence. It would appear that, in view of current research paradigms, the role of ability and creativity needs to be redefinded in order to more reliably predict and explain excellent achievements in science and technology. Advances are mostly expected from synthetic approaches. Thus, I will be presenting new theoretical models and empirical research results. Finally, consequences for the prediction and promotion of mathematical-scientific and technical talents will be discussed including the consideration of sex-related problems.