The Creative Education Foundation is proud to announce that Alex Thabane, MSc, PhD Candidate in Health Research Methodology at McMaster University, has been selected as the 2026 Ruth B. Noller Research Grant Awardee.
The Ruth B. Noller Research Grant honors the legacy of Dr. Ruth B. Noller—whose groundbreaking work shaped the scientific study of creative thinking—by supporting early‑stage research that expands our understanding of creativity in meaningful, actionable, and innovative ways. Each year, the grant recognizes a project that demonstrates strong potential for impact, originality, methodological rigor, and contribution to the field.
About the Awardee
Alex leads a creativity research program in the Department of Surgery at McMaster University, where he is advancing a growing body of work on creativity in medicine, surgery, and artificial intelligence. His research has been published in leading journals including Creativity Research Journal, Scientific Reports, BMJ Open, PLOS One, and JAMA Otolaryngology.
In addition to his scholarly contributions, Alex has mentored more than 15 students at the undergraduate and medical levels on creativity research projects, helping to build the next generation of creativity scholars. He has presented his work at major conferences such as APA Division 10, the Dubai MENA Spine Conference, and the MIC Creativity Conference, and has delivered talks on creativity in the McMaster School of Business. His writing also reaches a global audience through his blog and newsletter, The Time Capsule.
Alex is particularly committed to bringing creativity science into the fields of medicine and surgery to improve patient outcomes—an emerging and high‑impact frontier in creativity research.
About the Awarded Project: The INSPIRE Study
Alex’s project, The INSPIRE Study, is a landmark, multi‑year, international investigation into creativity among surgeons. Although surgery is often viewed as a highly structured and risk‑averse field, history shows that creative breakthroughs—from anesthesia to minimally invasive techniques—have transformed patient care. Yet very little scientific research has explored what makes a surgeon creatively effective. The INSPIRE Study aims to change that.
This ambitious, mixed‑methods, global study will examine:
- personal, cognitive, and motivational factors that contribute to creative achievement in surgeons;
- cultural and geographic differences in how creativity is perceived and expressed;
- and the characteristics of highly creative surgeons, identified through both quantitative and qualitative methods.
With more than 500 surgeons already recruited across six countries, the study is poised to become the largest and most comprehensive investigation of creativity in surgery ever conducted.
Why This Project Embodies the Noller Grant
Alex’s research exemplifies the spirit of the Ruth B. Noller Grant by:
- expanding creativity research into the medical domain;
- exploring an original and under‑studied area with global relevance;
- using rigorous methodology to generate publishable, generalizable insights;
- building international partnerships that strengthen the field;
- and, laying the groundwork for future tools, interventions, and training programs that cultivate creativity in high‑stakes environments.
With Gratitude to Our Reviewers and Committee
This process is made possible through the thoughtful, volunteer service of our blind review panel, whose expertise and care ensure fairness, rigor, and alignment with Dr. Noller’s legacy. We extend our sincere thanks to:
Walter Stevenson
William Shephard
John S. Frederick
Serap Gurak‑Ozdemir
Diane Foucar‑Szocki
We also express deep appreciation to the members of the Noller Committee, whose stewardship guides this program each year:
Tim Hurson
Elizabeth Monroe‑Cook
Jean Bakk
Branko Broekman
Yardena Montague‑Rand
A special note of gratitude goes to Karina Loera, who chaired the committee with exceptional efficiency and grace, and to Jamie Robinson, whose exemplary work supported the process from start to finish.
What’s Next
Alex will join us at CPSI 2026, where he will share early insights from the INSPIRE Study and connect with our global creativity community. Throughout the year, he will participate in a series of interviews documenting his progress, reflections, and the influence of CPSI on his work.
We are thrilled to support Alex’s research and to continue advancing Dr. Noller’s legacy of scientific inquiry, creative thinking, and global impact.
Please join us in congratulating Alex Thabane, our 2026 Ruth B. Noller Research Grant recipient!