I like to think of the world as problems that have not yet been partnered with a
that have not yet been partnered with a
that have not yet been partnered with a solution so for instance when your car’s
solution so for instance when your car’s
solution so for instance when your car’s low on petrol what do you do pull it out
low on petrol what do you do pull it out
low on petrol what do you do pull it out when your battery on your phone is dead
when your battery on your phone is dead
when your battery on your phone is dead what do you do charge it and I’ll let
what do you do charge it and I’ll let
what do you do charge it and I’ll let you say you are flipping through the
you say you are flipping through the
you say you are flipping through the newspaper and you come across an article
newspaper and you come across an article
newspaper and you come across an article about the worldwide drought now what do
about the worldwide drought now what do
about the worldwide drought now what do you do
you do
you do probably nothing really most of us are
probably nothing really most of us are
probably nothing really most of us are taught to just simply continue to the
taught to just simply continue to the
taught to just simply continue to the next headline or go to the next article
next headline or go to the next article
next headline or go to the next article because we are taught not to consider
because we are taught not to consider
because we are taught not to consider the bigger issues let’s leave that to
the bigger issues let’s leave that to
the bigger issues let’s leave that to the more educated scientists am i right
the more educated scientists am i right
the more educated scientists am i right Eric Brian Johnson once said the main
Eric Brian Johnson once said the main
Eric Brian Johnson once said the main fuel to speed the world’s progress is
fuel to speed the world’s progress is
fuel to speed the world’s progress is our stock of knowledge the brakes is our
our stock of knowledge the brakes is our
our stock of knowledge the brakes is our lack of imagination I like to think it’s
lack of imagination I like to think it’s
lack of imagination I like to think it’s also our lack of inspiration to join the
also our lack of inspiration to join the
also our lack of inspiration to join the dots between these big issues and a
dots between these big issues and a
dots between these big issues and a solution we live in an era of growth and
solution we live in an era of growth and
solution we live in an era of growth and innovation that is unprecedented some
innovation that is unprecedented some
innovation that is unprecedented some people like to call it the second
people like to call it the second
people like to call it the second Machine Age and I like to call it the
Machine Age and I like to call it the
Machine Age and I like to call it the age where seven point something billion
age where seven point something billion
age where seven point something billion of us have a potential so vast at our
of us have a potential so vast at our
of us have a potential so vast at our fingertips if we don’t continue looking
fingertips if we don’t continue looking
fingertips if we don’t continue looking at the big issues in life we will
at the big issues in life we will
at the big issues in life we will continue loving with them if we don’t
continue loving with them if we don’t
continue loving with them if we don’t look at solving the drought we will
look at solving the drought we will
look at solving the drought we will continue living in drought stricken
continue living in drought stricken
continue living in drought stricken areas I remember as a child always being
areas I remember as a child always being
areas I remember as a child always being told that we as humans only use 1/10 of
told that we as humans only use 1/10 of
told that we as humans only use 1/10 of our brain power
our brain power
our brain power and I know now that to do extraordinary
and I know now that to do extraordinary
and I know now that to do extraordinary things we don’t even have to use one
things we don’t even have to use one
things we don’t even have to use one fraction more than that we just have to
fraction more than that we just have to
fraction more than that we just have to use what we have do you know that in a
use what we have do you know that in a
use what we have do you know that in a simple smartphone you have more
simple smartphone you have more
simple smartphone you have more computing power then the computers used
computing power then the computers used
computing power then the computers used during the Apollo moon landing you have
during the Apollo moon landing you have
during the Apollo moon landing you have access to never-ending ideas research
access to never-ending ideas research
access to never-ending ideas research data yet what do we use this for nothing
data yet what do we use this for nothing
data yet what do we use this for nothing really as a nine-year-old if I was
really as a nine-year-old if I was
really as a nine-year-old if I was interested in the thrust of an airplane
interested in the thrust of an airplane
interested in the thrust of an airplane or combustion of a car’s engine I just
or combustion of a car’s engine I just
or combustion of a car’s engine I just asked my mother I didn’t actually open a
asked my mother I didn’t actually open a
asked my mother I didn’t actually open a book or a website or ask my science
book or a website or ask my science
book or a website or ask my science teacher because we once given a grade
teacher because we once given a grade
teacher because we once given a grade for it if we don’t see a possible reward
for it if we don’t see a possible reward
for it if we don’t see a possible reward what’s the point of wasting your time on
what’s the point of wasting your time on
what’s the point of wasting your time on it it was only until I was 13 years old
it it was only until I was 13 years old
it it was only until I was 13 years old and I was diagnosed with bellagio which
and I was diagnosed with bellagio which
and I was diagnosed with bellagio which is a parasite induced disease and a few
is a parasite induced disease and a few
is a parasite induced disease and a few months later bacterial meningitis which
months later bacterial meningitis which
months later bacterial meningitis which is quite literally the inflammation of
is quite literally the inflammation of
is quite literally the inflammation of the membranes surrounding your brain and
the membranes surrounding your brain and
the membranes surrounding your brain and spinal cord I remember lying in my
spinal cord I remember lying in my
spinal cord I remember lying in my hospital bed thinking to myself if this
hospital bed thinking to myself if this
hospital bed thinking to myself if this is the immense pain that my brain can
is the immense pain that my brain can
is the immense pain that my brain can endure
endure
endure just imagine the possibilities if this
just imagine the possibilities if this
just imagine the possibilities if this powerful machine is used to something
powerful machine is used to something
powerful machine is used to something more productive after my recovery I
more productive after my recovery I
more productive after my recovery I continued with this train of thought I
continued with this train of thought I
continued with this train of thought I started researching the make up of
started researching the make up of
started researching the make up of insignificant daily objects like a
insignificant daily objects like a
insignificant daily objects like a wristwatch for instance and after a
wristwatch for instance and after a
wristwatch for instance and after a while I realized that understanding how
while I realized that understanding how
while I realized that understanding how these objects work wasn’t quite enough
these objects work wasn’t quite enough
these objects work wasn’t quite enough for me I wanted a little bit more so I
for me I wanted a little bit more so I
for me I wanted a little bit more so I started to research the idea of the
started to research the idea of the
started to research the idea of the rhino poaching which is South African
rhino poaching which is South African
rhino poaching which is South African wool
wool
wool this is and is still now enduring I saw
this is and is still now enduring I saw
this is and is still now enduring I saw that no solution has actually been
that no solution has actually been
that no solution has actually been created that could solve the problem
created that could solve the problem
created that could solve the problem effectively so I starts to look at
effectively so I starts to look at
effectively so I starts to look at information statistics data and really
information statistics data and really
information statistics data and really understand the problem and I didn’t
understand the problem and I didn’t
understand the problem and I didn’t started to search just a while longer
started to search just a while longer
started to search just a while longer but this time not for in for stats but
but this time not for in for stats but
but this time not for in for stats but in the nature of thermochromic dials
in the nature of thermochromic dials
in the nature of thermochromic dials that I could believe that I believe
that I could believe that I believe
that I could believe that I believe could be the solution if applied to
could be the solution if applied to
could be the solution if applied to rhino horn would only die the horn a
rhino horn would only die the horn a
rhino horn would only die the horn a color once the Rhinos dead allowing it
color once the Rhinos dead allowing it
color once the Rhinos dead allowing it to still camouflage which current dyes
to still camouflage which current dyes
to still camouflage which current dyes have not been able to do I haven’t
have not been able to do I haven’t
have not been able to do I haven’t actually been able to further the
actually been able to further the
actually been able to further the research into this idea but I believe
research into this idea but I believe
research into this idea but I believe that when I thought about this it was
that when I thought about this it was
that when I thought about this it was important in my journey from joining the
important in my journey from joining the
important in my journey from joining the dot to a problem to come to a solution
dot to a problem to come to a solution
dot to a problem to come to a solution I continued like this and obviously I
I continued like this and obviously I
I continued like this and obviously I came across the idea of the drought
came across the idea of the drought
came across the idea of the drought which South Africa and 66% of the world
which South Africa and 66% of the world
which South Africa and 66% of the world was experiencing I realized that there
was experiencing I realized that there
was experiencing I realized that there was actually no solution being put into
was actually no solution being put into
was actually no solution being put into the agriculture industry
the agriculture industry
the agriculture industry so I decided to take my turn in it and I
so I decided to take my turn in it and I
so I decided to take my turn in it and I must admit I hit a few stumbling blocks
must admit I hit a few stumbling blocks
must admit I hit a few stumbling blocks I didn’t come up with a solution at
I didn’t come up with a solution at
I didn’t come up with a solution at first until I saw my older sister change
first until I saw my older sister change
first until I saw my older sister change her baby daughter’s nappy and was
her baby daughter’s nappy and was
her baby daughter’s nappy and was surprised at how much liquid a low-cost
surprised at how much liquid a low-cost
surprised at how much liquid a low-cost diaper could absorb these are what are
diaper could absorb these are what are
diaper could absorb these are what are called super absorbent Parliament’s
called super absorbent Parliament’s
called super absorbent Parliament’s which are essentially powders that can
which are essentially powders that can
which are essentially powders that can retain large amounts of water relative
retain large amounts of water relative
retain large amounts of water relative to their own weight and if applied to
to their own weight and if applied to
to their own weight and if applied to the soil of a plant when rain does fall
the soil of a plant when rain does fall
the soil of a plant when rain does fall create a reservoir of water and through
create a reservoir of water and through
create a reservoir of water and through a pair of droughts
a pair of droughts
a pair of droughts would allow the plant to sustain its
would allow the plant to sustain its
would allow the plant to sustain its life ultimately acting as a Spanish for
life ultimately acting as a Spanish for
life ultimately acting as a Spanish for water so I did a bit more research and I
water so I did a bit more research and I
water so I did a bit more research and I realized that these were being applied
realized that these were being applied
realized that these were being applied in the agro
in the agro
in the agro Ultra industry but because they were not
Ultra industry but because they were not
Ultra industry but because they were not by degradable chemical based and they
by degradable chemical based and they
by degradable chemical based and they were expensive
were expensive
were expensive we had a possible solution that was not
we had a possible solution that was not
we had a possible solution that was not solving the problem so I decided to
solving the problem so I decided to
solving the problem so I decided to emulate a commercial si P but make it
emulate a commercial si P but make it
emulate a commercial si P but make it biodegradable and make it low-cost
biodegradable and make it low-cost
biodegradable and make it low-cost ultimately looking at my solution to a
ultimately looking at my solution to a
ultimately looking at my solution to a problem I started to read a few academic
problem I started to read a few academic
problem I started to read a few academic journals and understand what
journals and understand what
journals and understand what characterized a commercial si P and
characterized a commercial si P and
characterized a commercial si P and after a little bit of more research I
after a little bit of more research I
after a little bit of more research I realized the exact same properties can
realized the exact same properties can
realized the exact same properties can be seen in our very own orange peel
be seen in our very own orange peel
be seen in our very own orange peel which has the same pectin and polymer
which has the same pectin and polymer
which has the same pectin and polymer chains as commercial si PS so I started
chains as commercial si PS so I started
chains as commercial si PS so I started to conduct a few experiments make a few
to conduct a few experiments make a few
to conduct a few experiments make a few mixtures in the kitchen and I realized
mixtures in the kitchen and I realized
mixtures in the kitchen and I realized that my product wasn’t coming even close
that my product wasn’t coming even close
that my product wasn’t coming even close to a commercial si P and I could have
to a commercial si P and I could have
to a commercial si P and I could have touched the project out altogether but I
touched the project out altogether but I
touched the project out altogether but I decided not to I decided instead of
decided not to I decided instead of
decided not to I decided instead of taking something out let’s add something
taking something out let’s add something
taking something out let’s add something let’s make it better
let’s make it better
let’s make it better let’s explore another method of
let’s explore another method of
let’s explore another method of polymerization so I decided to explore
polymerization so I decided to explore
polymerization so I decided to explore motion polymerization which is the
motion polymerization which is the
motion polymerization which is the addition of an oil to bind a polymer
addition of an oil to bind a polymer
addition of an oil to bind a polymer chain and I thought the addition of an
chain and I thought the addition of an
chain and I thought the addition of an avocado skin would be perfect
avocado skin would be perfect
avocado skin would be perfect so I conducted a few more experiments in
so I conducted a few more experiments in
so I conducted a few more experiments in the garage and the kitchen I decided to
the garage and the kitchen I decided to
the garage and the kitchen I decided to give it one more shot I had a lot of
give it one more shot I had a lot of
give it one more shot I had a lot of mixtures my mom wasn’t very happy but I
mixtures my mom wasn’t very happy but I
mixtures my mom wasn’t very happy but I knew that I was possibly at the brink of
knew that I was possibly at the brink of
knew that I was possibly at the brink of something amazing and after a while I
something amazing and after a while I
something amazing and after a while I realized around three five six months
realized around three five six months
realized around three five six months actually that I had created a product
actually that I had created a product
actually that I had created a product that capsule more moist retained more
that capsule more moist retained more
that capsule more moist retained more water and allow the growth of a taller
water and allow the growth of a taller
water and allow the growth of a taller and healthier plant then commercial si
and healthier plant then commercial si
and healthier plant then commercial si PS I decided to enter my project into
PS I decided to enter my project into
PS I decided to enter my project into the Google science fair which is an
the Google science fair which is an
the Google science fair which is an international
international
international competition open to teenagers across the
competition open to teenagers across the
competition open to teenagers across the world to allow them to showcase the
world to allow them to showcase the
world to allow them to showcase the innovative ideas that can make their
innovative ideas that can make their
innovative ideas that can make their community better I ended up winning the
community better I ended up winning the
community better I ended up winning the Google science fair and the Community
Google science fair and the Community
Google science fair and the Community Impact Award for the Middle East and
Impact Award for the Middle East and
Impact Award for the Middle East and Africa
so one could say it all started with a
so one could say it all started with a dirty diaper but I like to say it
dirty diaper but I like to say it
dirty diaper but I like to say it started on that hospital bed when I
started on that hospital bed when I
started on that hospital bed when I realized I have a machine in my brain
realized I have a machine in my brain
realized I have a machine in my brain just as powerful as my favorite
just as powerful as my favorite
just as powerful as my favorite scientists and if they can use it to do
scientists and if they can use it to do
scientists and if they can use it to do amazing things well so can i and the
amazing things well so can i and the
amazing things well so can i and the truth is that everyone in the audience
truth is that everyone in the audience
truth is that everyone in the audience has a brain and I’m not saying you don’t
has a brain and I’m not saying you don’t
has a brain and I’m not saying you don’t use it because just to come here today
use it because just to come here today
use it because just to come here today you have to but I am saying that you can
you have to but I am saying that you can
you have to but I am saying that you can use it to solve the world’s biggest
use it to solve the world’s biggest
use it to solve the world’s biggest issues and I like to live by the wall of
issues and I like to live by the wall of
issues and I like to live by the wall of words of Albert Einstein when he says
words of Albert Einstein when he says
words of Albert Einstein when he says the important thing is not to stop
the important thing is not to stop
the important thing is not to stop questioning
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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