Glenwood Learner works on solution to ocean pollution
The Ocean Hero Challenge, held by Mind Blown League, encouraged young people to tap into their inner innovators and affect climate change with their creations.
ON Saturday, flash thunderstorms at uShaka Beach did not deter young innovators from Durban and surrounds from challenging each other for a nurdle hunt using their own creative prototypes.
Organised by Mind Blown League, the education gaming company that boosts climate change and STEM education using tabletop and mobile games, the Ocean Hero Challenge was an opportunity for these young people tap into their inner innovator.
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Glenwood High School’s Grade Eight learner, Karthigai Rambujan, clinched the top spot with his ingenious gadget, ‘The Anteak’, by successfully collecting the most nurdles in competition time.
Nurdles, the small but hazardous plastic pellets threatening marine ecosystems, found a formidable adversary in The Anteak.
Karthigai’s innovative solution, featuring a double-sieve mechanism, first separates larger debris and then meticulously removes beach sand, leaving only the elusive nurdles.
Kwanda Mchunu, education officer at the South African Association for Marine Biological Research, commended all finalists and said, “It’s innovations like these that give us hope for a cleaner, healthier ocean.”
Singa Madlala from the Lilitha Environment and Development Foundation echoed these sentiments, highlighting the value of engaging young minds in hands-on, playful learning.
Reflecting on his achievement, Karthigai shared, “This was an incredible experience. I wanted to create a solution that makes a real difference, and this has inspired me to continue perfecting my innovation.”
Karthigai walked away with the Ocean Hero 2023 Trophy and his invention, The Anteak, will be immortalised in one of the cards in the next GOGI expansion set.
Nireshnee Chetty, co-founder of Mind Blown League, highlighted the significant impact of the Ocean Hero Challenge in supporting climate action and inspiring future green innovators.
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“Our oceans, vital in absorbing carbon dioxide and regulating the Earth’s temperature, are home to a diverse array of life. Marine pollution, notably from plastics, poses a grave threat to ocean health. Addressing these issues is not just about cleaning our oceans; it’s about protecting our planet’s climate balance,” she emphasised.
The Ocean Hero Challenge was also an opportunity for the finalists to earn game points and progress to the Mind Blown League Championship Finals on December 2.
Seventy-five schools in Durban and surrounds have established Mind Blown League clubs and are competing against each other in the climate-change card-collectable game, ‘GOGI: Guardians of Gaia Island’.
For more information on how to get involved in the 2024 Mind Blown League season, contact Nireshnee on 078 593 0585 or visit www.mindblownleague.com
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