UJMG1003 Creative Thinking & Idea Generation

Nobody can recall the exact history of compost. Some claim that it started when lightning struck a stack of spoilt cabbage, tea bags, and egg cartons in the rubbish heap behind the former refugee market. Others claim it came from an abandoned research lab, a botched soil restoration operation that simply vanished. One thing is for sure: Compost had a purpose and was alive. It remained silent. It had neither hands nor eyes. It crawled and squelched, leaving behind a track of black, rich earth that even caused fractured concrete to sprout weeds. Banana peels, wilted lettuce, a half-chewed corn cob and a thousand other bits, all swirling together like a living stew, were its ever-changing form. In the bombed-out buildings and slums where people hadn't eaten fresh food in months, compost drifted. Dust made the sky yellow. The taps had ran out of water. Hunger was so commonplace that kids stopped crying about it and instead pressed their tummies in quiet. Compost would then show...

 It wasn't until the day it was gone that I realised how much I relied on water. We're accustomed to the dry air, intense heat, and extended dry spells because we live in a small desert town. However, none anticipated that the water supply would abruptly stop. We turned on the tap one morning, but nothing emerged. Not a warning. No justification. Nothing but quiet. It seemed like a minor hiccup at first. Perhaps a pipe had exploded. It might return in a few hours. But as the hours passed and the sun pounded, the fact that our town lacked access to clean water—not for cooking, drinking, or washing—became apparent. Not for a day, not even. The change in emotion was immediate. At first, many were puzzled. Then annoyed. Panic had set in by noon. The shelves where the bottled water used to be were empty as I observed my neighbour go to the corner store. Tempers rose. What little remained was collected by people. It hit us quickly on a physical level. Sweat did not leave our ...

SeaBloom: How Floating Gardens Can Help Our Oceans Breathe Again Our seas are in danger. Fish, corals, and thousands of other organisms struggle to survive in "dead zones" created when parts of the sea run out of oxygen. Pollution, warming waters, and an excess of nutrients—often from trash and agriculture—disturb the delicate equilibrium that marine life depends on, resulting in this oxygen shortage. Similar to how humans would suffer on land, marine life simply cannot live without enough oxygen. What if we could restore the ocean's ability to breathe? Presenting SeaBloom, a fascinating new technology that has the potential to revitalise these troubled waters and contribute to the restoration of the ocean's health. What Is SeaBloom? SeaBloom resembles a garden that floats on the ocean's surface. It's an effective mixture of tiny phytoplankton, the ocean's natural oxygen generators, and bioengineered seagrass, but it's not a regular garden. Und...

  A World Shaped by Values Respect, empathy, equality, and shared responsibility are the fundamental human principles that underpin everything in my idealised world. These are not merely catchphrases; rather, they form the basis of our way of life, decision-making, and interpersonal interactions. There are few but important laws: treat everyone with respect, preserve the environment, and prioritise cooperation over conflict. Hierarchies that are unfair have no place here. Everyone is not only welcomed, but also celebrated, regardless of their origin, gender, colour, or religion. Leadership in this world isn't about power or popularity. Leaders are selected based on their capacity for humility, unity, and listening. Safe housing, healthcare, and education are rights, not privileges. Your future is not determined by money. Rather, the way forward is illuminated by your generosity, enthusiasm, and purpose. A Glimpse Into This World Local artists have painted murals on structure...