Reframe the Question to Reinvent the Answers

What has Einstein got to do with the world's oceans? Everything. This weekend is World Oceans Day and this year's theme is 'together we have the power to protect the oceans'.

The oceans are essential to food security and the health and survival of all life, power our climate, and are a critical part of the biosphere. The official designation of World Oceans Day is an opportunity to raise global awareness of the current challenges faced by the international community in connection with the oceans.

A commonly known problem is the scale of plastic rubbish in the global seas. One such region alone, known as the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch", is estimated to be from 700,000 square kilometres (270,000 sq mi) to more than 15,000,000 square kilometres (5,800,000 sq mi) large.

I thought it was a great opportunity to resurface an interesting young guy's attempt at solving this problem. It's a wonderful example of Einstein's often cited: "We can't solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them".

To date, many great concepts and ideas had focused on moving vessels and nets to help try clean up the masses of plastic debris in the oceans. But a few years ago, a then 17 year old, Boyan Slat, reframed the question: why move through the oceans if the oceans can move through you? There was born the idea of 'passive' system he designed.

Reframing the question is almost always guaranteed to create an entirely new set of (often better) answers.

So, take a look at the clip below, and get inspired to think of what tough questions you can reframe.

Click below to follow me on Linkedin, find me on Twitter, or sign-up to my email list. If you enjoyed this post, check out my book 'Heart to Start' or some previous articles:

- Three Reasons to Steal, Not Copy. Here's How and Why
- Why Are We OK With Outsourcing Ethics and Morality?
- What I've Learned from Two Years with Richard Branson

Prof. V. N. Sharma

Former Hon.Director-Administration and Assessment

9y

Thanks Derek for awakening all.Oceans not only form a big unit of ecosystem but its' saviour.

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Gary Thierfelder

Network Support Technician at BBT

9y

No Matter what "E" you mail, the MC still get's Squared.

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Lauren Owen

Associate Director at bSwift

9y

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Hassan Samarraie

Founder at Sam Networks Ltd

9y

this is great. one important thing is to watch a film called pirate of silicon valley

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Nikolai Kopelev, Ph.D., MSIS

Leader. Motivator. Relationship Builder. Procurement Expert. Information Professional.

9y

Thank you, Lorand Kedves, for the clarification, but, apologies, I still do not see a link between pollution, which is a disaster of XX! century, and Einstein's philosophical comment that, IMHO,is a a lot broader. Also, I would be grateful for an explanation of your pout "this article and the lecture show absolutely zero understanding of Einstein's words" - what exactly were you trying to say?

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