What’s the secret to creativity? It’s not rocket science, say these NTU inventors who share tips on fuelling that “eureka” moment
by Derek Rodriguez / Visual puzzle by Vivian Lim
Challenge the status quo
“Creative problem solving requires you to think differently and be openminded. Don’t be afraid to be the outlier and dare to challenge the status quo. Against conventional wisdom, we used a nanomaterial as a drug instead of as a drug-carrier.”
– Asst Prof Dalton Tay, whose trojan horse approach kills cancer cells without drugs. He has also used orange peels to extract precious metals from spent batteries to create new ones.
“Don’t assume what everyone else assumes. When you’re researching something, identify the hidden assumptions and considerations and check that they are valid. Take an approach that is off the beaten path. For example, we applied new learning materials, devices and fabrication methods to robots to mimic the way humans think and feel.”
– Assoc Prof Nripan Mathews, who developed a way for robots to recognise pain and self-repair.
A “big leap idea” grows from little ideas
“As a team leader, it’s important to keep your eye on the problem that you’d like to solve in the long term, but allow your teammates flexibility and freedom to come up with ways to move the needle on that problem in the short term. This way, they can follow their curiosity and capitalise on their strengths, yet still be part of a larger mission, which should result in a more innovative, productive and healthy team.”
– Prof Kimberly Kline, whose team developed a peptide that makes drug-resistant bacteria sensitive to antibiotics again.
“Gather your friends from different disciplines, huddle together and brainstorm together candidly, and don’t be afraid of challenging each other openly. When we did that, our little ideas fed off one another and grew into one grand big thought that made perfect sense.”
– Dr Long Yi, who led the research team that developed an energy-saving smart window using hydrogel-based liquid.
Persist down that unconventional path
“We are all capable of thinking out of the box. All we need is to be challenged and motivated to go the extra mile for that flash of inspiration. Find what motivates you.”
– Prof Chen Xiaodong, who inspires students and young inventors through his own innovations, such as a device to communicate with plants using electrical signals.
“Try out your ideas, no matter how crazy or ridiculous they may look! We used 3D printing technology to turn purees into palatable dishes that are visually appealing and nutritious.”
– Asst Prof Zhang Yi, who is behind a new method of 3D printing pureed food for patients with swallowing difficulties.
Harness technology
“Most of the solutions to real life problems aren’t rocket science. The key is to analyse the nature of the problem with an ‘out of the box’ mind. The solution often involves technology that already exists but the innovation is in applying it in unexpected ways.”
– Prof William Chen, who created antibacterial gel bandages from discarded durian husks
“To come up with a creative solution in robotics, start by thinking about how the process would be done manually, and what you can achieve with the use of robots. When we were thinking of how to quickly disinfect surfaces, we saw that it was both labour-intensive and repetitive. With our robot, a human operator could control the disinfection faster and from a safe place.”
– Prof Chen I-Ming, creator of numerous robots, including one that helped disinfect the NTU campus during the COVID-19 outbreak.
This story was published in the Oct-Dec 2021 issue of HEY!. To read it and other stories from this issue in print, click here.
