Prof Dr Jannika Mattes
Institute of Social Sciences

Moderation: NDR 1 Niedersachsen

Leonie (9 years old) strikes the gong,
camera child is Cem-Thies (10 years old).

Computers, aeroplanes, iPods and chocolate with strawberry pieces - new inventions are quickly becoming an important part of our everyday lives. We make calls on mobile phones that didn't even exist 15 years ago. And we can even surf the internet with a smartphone. We travel on high-speed trains and generate electricity with wind turbines.

But where do all these ideas come from? And how do ideas turn into a product that we can buy in the shops?

In this lecture, you will find out why many inventors have to fight hard for their ideas. We also explain what division of labour is and why a lot of testing has to take place before we can buy a new product. And what could making paper aeroplanes have to do with the development of new medicines and engines?

Photo: © Maartje van Caspel/istockphoto.de