THERE’S only one month to go for budding young inventors in the Riverina Murray to enter Origin’s littleBIGidea competition for their chance to win a trip to NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in the USA.
Now in its third year, the competition provides a platform for students in grades three to eight to continue Australia’s rich tradition of innovation which has seen the bionic ear, solar hot water, ultrasound, dual toilet flush and Wi-Fi hotspots, amongst others, invented and developed on these shores.
Former host of the ABC’s ‘The New Inventors’ and littleBIGidea ambassador, James O’Loghlin, said while thinking up a new idea or invention is exciting it can be tricky to know where to start.
“I encourage students who are keen to enter but don’t have an idea in mind yet to start by looking at things that already exist,” he said.”Is there something that’s already out there that you can make better, or can you improve an existing product to make it easier to use? Ask lots of questions and remember, no idea is too big or too small.”
Origin CEO Energy Markets, Frank Calabria said judges would be looking for entries based on a demonstration of originality, creativity, practicality, imagination and innovation.
“Innovation is a key to success, and it starts young,” he said. “That is why Origin is encouraging and rewarding children for thinking creatively about how to solve real world problems.”
The top four inventions in each of the three age groups will win a minimum of $1,000 in prizes for their inventor and $500 for their school while the national winner will win an innovation trip to the USA including a visit to the NASA Kennedy Space Centre. Entries close at 11.59pm AEST on Friday, September 30. Go towww.littlebigidea.com.au for details.
