DREAMING BIG CAN ONLY BENEFIT US ALL

AUSTRALIA has once again proven its innovative spirit with the launch of the first COVID deterrent surface spray – Viroclear, further evidence that we are a nation of pioneering and creativity.

In the medical sphere we are seeing many world first achievements. It is fascinating to see our brightest minds explore ways to combat challenges such as COVID-19 and the myriad of solutions to mitigate the continued spread through rapid testing solutions and vaccines to now surface sprays.

We Aussies are a creative bunch. From the boomerang, fridge, ute, and Hills Hoist to Aspro, Wi-Fi and Google Maps, we’re responsible for countless inventions used in everyday life worldwide.

Looking back over the years, some of our scientists and inventors have changed history and dramatically improved – if not saved – the lives of millions worldwide with their discoveries in Penicillin-based antibiotics by Howard Florey (alongside Alexander Fleming), the bionic ear, lithium medical treatment for bipolar disorders, ultrasound scanners, and the black box flight recorder are just a few world pioneering discoveries and inventions.

Australian-Aboriginal man, David Unaipon is known as “Australia’s Leonardo” for his contributions to science and the Aboriginal people. His inventions included a tool for sheep-shearing, a centrifugal motor, a multi-radial wheel, and mechanical propulsion device. Unaipon appears on Australia’s $50 note.

There is much truth and logic behind the notion that necessity is the mother of invention, and how many times have we all had a dream about something complex and solved the issue in our dreams? How many times have we gone to bed with a problem or challenge on our mind to awake with a solution that is the beginning of a new creation? It makes me wonder whether science and the inner spiritual life ever collide or cohere? Can they work together? While many may doubt the correlation, I feel there are enough instances in the history of science where the process of discovery has occurred in a mystical or a revelatory manner that we can no longer dismiss out of hand.

After all, Einstein’s dreams produced the theory of relativity. Dmitri Mendeleev saw the Periodic Table in a dream. Paul McCartney discovered the tune for Yesterday in a dream and many renowned poets, artists and writers see their works unfold from dreams. I am certain researchers reflect on how difficult problems at times seemed to be suddenly resolved, or an important vision occurred after a dream or time of meditative reflection.

Many studies on sleep creativity have shown that sleep can facilitate insightful behaviour and flexible reasoning. Beyond a reliance on these unique dream experiences, we need to nurture research and development more, so that backyard inventions can also benefit from the support provided by government to research departments within universities and institutes.

We need to facilitate stronger links between academia, industry, and public service to incentivise individuals and companies to be more innovative-active. To encourage and inspire innovators across our nation, to usher in the next wave of visionaries. And to cultivate a shared vision to build on our nation’s ingenuity and nurture in every mind of our next generation to dream BIG!