The inspiration:
At it’s heart the material chemistry project is a form of collaborative bunjee jump to see if we can discover new materials and realise alternative environmental solutions for coping with the 3 million tonnes of plastic waste that this country produces each year. It is also about new audiences, and importantly, about capturing the imaginations and ideas of the next generation.

What it is:
Running along side this work is a second initiative, in collaboration with Creative Partnerships – a challenge to the young to generate and articulate "ideas that can change the world". We plan to work globally with schools over a 7-year period by creating direct links between the young and the institutions that are at the cutting edge of new technology and change. The emergent themes young people are creating ideas around are: Technology, Environment, Compassion, Money and The Impossible Dream.

What it is doing now:
The project has been piloted in a number of schools across the UK, and is now in the process of being handed on to a TV station run by young children called Chew TV – see www.chewtv.comTogether with guidance from Creative Partnerships, this project will take on a new life determined by the generation for whom it was created. The next round of ideas are being selected for development by a panel of young people and experts in January 2009. Ideas that can change the world now also has a Facebook community. Why not sign up and join a growing family of entrepreneurs, scientists, inventors, artists, thinkers, IT guru’s and millionaires! All project updates, debates and events will be posted here regularly.

A cookbook, film, audio CD and catalogue of “How to have ideas that can change the world” are available from Rehana Mughal at Creative partnerships email your interest to [email protected]

   
 
Photograph by Olivier Föllmi/ RAPHO
“Ideas that can change the world gives young people in schools throughout England the opportunity to develop their ideas and share their thinking with experts including entrepreneurs, scientists, artists and engineers. It addresses all curriculum areas, supporting young people to think about all our futures.”
Rehana Mughal, National Office

Creative Partnerships, August 2006