A clawed plastic catching tool, an exam worry buster and filter wind turbines could be some of the next inventions to help make the world a better place according to a new generation of children across the UK.
Disney UK has this week revealed the winner of its Dream Big, Princess invention competition. The winning invention, The Magic Magnet Plastic Catcher, was designed by seven-year-old Hanna from London, to help clean plastic from the oceans and save our planet.
The search for ideas was launched after new research commissioned by Disney UK, as part of its Dream Big, Princess campaign, revealed that over 90 per cent of children wished they could invent something to help make the world a better place.
The poll of over 1,000 4 – 14 year-old girls and boys asked children to identify the issues they most want to fix or improve in the world, ranging from cleaning the ocean, to world hunger.
The research also found that children are becoming more socially conscious with 64 per cent feeling that they have the power to make the world around them a better place. Almost half (48 per cent) of all children polled also said they are prepared to stand up for the things they believe in, with 23 per cent having already campaigned about things they care about at school. Nine per cent of children have even written to the Prime Minister or their local MP to ask that they look into an issue they are worried about.
Understanding that these issues are front of mind for a generation of socially conscious children, Disney partnered with invention experts, Little Inventors, to inspire them to share ideas that could help change the world. Harnessing the qualities of the Disney Princesses, from Ariel’s curiosity to Merida’s bravery, children were encouraged to use their incredible imaginations to come up with invention ideas with no limits.
Talking about her invention, Hanna said “Rubbish in the ocean causes big problems for sea life big and small, and also makes the ocean really dirty and poisoned. The Magic Magnet Plastic Catcher helps by catching rubbish like plastic from the water using its jagged claws and presses the rubbish automatically so that it won’t float around and pollute the ocean. Because my invention is on the ocean floor and can detect any live creatures, the sea will still look pretty and no sea life that lives around it will be harmed!”
To recognise her work, Hanna has received a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork of herself brought to life by Walt Disney Animation Studios legendary animator, Mark Henn, who animated Ariel, Jasmine, Tiana, Mulan, and Belle.
Runners up included The Turtle Attraction, designed by Sophia, aged ten from Maidenhead, The Shopolator 2019, designed by Griselda, aged nine from Erith, The SATs Conqueror, designed by William, aged ten from Hartlepool, and The Filter Wind Turbine, designed by Klaudia, aged 11 from Leeds.
