Marlburians challenged to activate ideas

Inspiration to innovate can come anywhere at any time. It can come from a bike ride along a greenway. It can come from a glass of water. It can come from empathy for a friend.

Likewise, ideas can come to anyone of any age. Problem-solvers – entrepreneurs – break moulds. Youth as well as adults experience light-bulb moments.

Students in Marlborough and beyond are discovering the power of their intuition through a challenge reaching a crescendo this month. The Ripyl Innovation Competition has young people putting thoughts into action.

A developer of business and financial literacy curricula, Ripyl organises competitions such as the Future City Challenge, which started in April and continues through 24 June. FutureFX, a Marlborough charity with the same affinity, supports it locally.

Marlborough Boys’ College is an early adopter. Head of Technology Faculty Rebecca Hembrow has students hard at work finalising their pitches. They have until 5pm on the 24th for her to submit videos presenting the proposals.

“I believe in authentic learning, creative problem-solving, and helping young people connect their ideas with real-world impact,” Rebecca said – perspectives that dovetail with organisers’.

The competition, FutureFX’s Kelvin Watt noted, “is not just about having a clever idea. It is about helping young people understand how ideas become viable, how money decisions shape outcomes, and how innovation can be used to solve problems that matter.”

Project proposals
Future City Challenge ideas coalesce around the United Nations’ 17 goals for sustainable development. Those address poverty, hunger, health, education, water, energy, economic growth and, yes, innovation.

MBC students’ proposals are “incredibly impressive”, Rebecca said, “from initiatives aimed at improving student rubbish disposal through gamified solutions to the vision of creating a pump track in Blenheim for local youth.”

That is just the tip of the innovative iceberg.

Keegan Ireland conceived a carbon filter to remove chlorine from drinking water. Year 9 classmate Ethan Spencer envisioned a device for lawnmowers to keep debris out of waterways.

Lakyn Cowdrey considered how to take pests from native plantings – and a school-store card for students from lower-income families. Diaan Stassen, a year 11, looked at improving bike paths.

“We want to give back to our community,” Keegan explained, “help our community become a more sustainable place.”

In the framework of the contest, what would they consider success entailing?
“That my idea actually gets to people and helps people,” Lakyn replied. “That would be pretty good success.”

Check ripyl.net/competitions to register or for more details.