Think outside the box
Don't be tied down to the teoretical and academical sources. Every day, watch one TED Talk about innovative and ingenious ideas, and think of putting some of them to practice yourself. Read scientific magazines, like Wired and Discovery, and spend some time on StumbleUpon and tweet feeds; participate in groups and forums on science and technology. Try to get a sense of what is being done, and try out some of your own crazy ideas!