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:
It is being run by Creative Partnerships and
will launch in schools across England in 2007.

A cookbook, film, audio CD and catalogue of “ How to have ideas that can change the world” IS NOW AVAILABLE FROM REHANA MUGHAL AT CREATIVE PARTNERSHIPS – schools, community groups, industry experts, businesses and potential mentors of young people’s world beating ideas are invited to request one from Rehana Mughal at Creative Partnerships: Rehana.Mughal@creative-partnerships.com

LAUNCHING AT MICROSOFT/ LONDON, TO AN AUDIENCE OF YOUNG PEOPLE, SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES, ENTREPRENUERS, INVENTORS, SCIENTISTS, ARTISTS, EDUCATIONAL MINISTERS AND PRACTITIONERS ON NOV 13th 2007

A number of schools are now taking part across the UK and we welcome approaches from other schools or businesses who would like to be become involved or who are simply curious to know more.

Ideas that can change the world now 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.

Photograph by Olivier Föllmi/ RAPHO