A simple question from two young boys during load-shedding has inspired a North-West University (NWU) academic to develop an educational game and write a poem that brings together science, motherhood and innovation.
Dr Moleboheng Mokhele, a senior lecturer at the NWU and researcher in the Research Unit for Self-Directed Learning, has turned an everyday family experience into a creative learning tool called Renewable Rangers.
Her journey has also inspired a poem, “The Story of Renewable Rangers”, which features in the second edition of the BUA! Poetry Anthology.
The poem reflects her journey from microbiology to early childhood science education, innovation and entrepreneurship. It also marks her efforts to rediscover her writing voice in an age of artificial intelligence (AI). The idea began at home when her sons, Wavhudi and Rivhavhudi, asked a question during load-shedding: “"Mummy, why must we always sit in the dark in South Africa?”
Rather than explain the energy crisis in the country in technical terms, Dr Mokhele told them a story about renewable energy. She introduced them to solar panels, wind turbines and water as a source of electricity.
Their curiosity soon turned into drawings and play. One son drew a wind turbine before he could spell the word, while the other made solar panels from play dough. These simple activities later inspired Renewable Rangers, an educational carpet game that teaches children about renewable energy through movement, storytelling and play.
The game also introduces African cultures, languages, indigenous knowledge systems and environmental challenges. It aims to make science accessible while recognising children's identities and everyday experiences. For Dr Mokhele, the project shows how ordinary experiences can inspire meaningful research and innovation. “Innovation does not always begin in a laboratory or a boardroom. Sometimes, it begins with a mother responding to a child's question,” she said.
Her academic journey began in microbiology before she moved into education, focusing on early childhood science, technology, engineering and mathematics. She believes children should learn about science from an early age through practical activities that connect with their surroundings.
Her work on Renewable Rangers has also introduced her to product development, intellectual property and entrepreneurship. Beyond developing educational products, Dr Mokhele has discovered another way to share knowledge through poetry.
She said her contribution to the anthology carries deep personal meaning because it connects her professional work with her experiences as a mother. The poem also reflects her growing concern about the influence of AI on academic writing and personal creativity. Although she recognises the benefits of AI in research and writing, she became concerned about depending too much on these tools.
“I found myself questioning whether I was still trusting my own writing voice enough,” she said.
This prompted her to make a personal commitment to rebuild her confidence as a writer. She explained that poetry offered her the freedom to express ideas and emotions without the strict rules of academic writing. Unlike journal articles and research proposals, poetry allowed her to focus on personal experiences, imagination and storytelling.
“Poetry offered me another language,” she said.
Writing “The Story of Renewable Rangers” helped her revisit the human experiences behind her research. It allowed her to capture her children's curiosity and the challenges of living in a country affected by energy insecurity. Dr Mokhele believes universities should encourage researchers to share knowledge beyond academic journals and lecture halls.
She said meaningful ideas often emerge from homes, communities and everyday conversations. Her experience has also challenged the belief that science and creative writing belong in separate worlds.
“I can be a scientist and still appreciate the beauty of language. I can be a researcher and tell stories. I can be an educator and create,” she said. As she explores innovation and entrepreneurship, Dr Mokhele hopes to develop learning resources that encourage children to think critically, ask questions and find solutions. She also hopes her journey will inspire other academics to embrace creativity while maintaining their own voices in a changing digital world.
For her, the greatest reward would be seeing children develop the confidence and imagination to shape their future. “Sometimes, the most extraordinary journeys begin with the simplest question,” she said. What started as a conversation during load-shedding has become a reminder that science, motherhood and storytelling can inspire innovation and open new paths for learning.
Dr Moleboheng Mokhele has combined science, motherhood and creative writing to develop Renewable Rangers, an educational game that inspired her poem in the second edition of the BUA! Poetry Anthology.
