Robert Mckay

Jambo, More, Hello, Molo

 

"Superficiality is the curse of age". Richard Forster 1976. Is this not a prophetic quote? But he was talking about the 1970s...imagine his reaction now. I joke with the children that I have taught for over 400 years, some believe me. I have taught Science in America and South Africa. People ask me, "Are the students different, is the curriculum different?" The big picture answer is, "No." Teenagers face the same struggles and challenges no matter where they are. This is my starting point. If I can add to their journey towards adulthood, their knowledge and understanding and provide them with skills that will serve them in the future. 

 

I teach Science, specifically a 3 year course focussed on the emerging energy industries.  For example in the early 1990s a lithium battery cost about $8000/kWh. That same battery now costs $100/kWh. A large proportion of that change occured recently. In 2016 there were 27000 to 47000 jobs in battery storage occupations. Ten years later there are 78000 to 93000 positions. Demand for batteries is set to double. This is just one example of the changes in the energy industry. In 2016 Texas had 0.7 GW of installed solar power. In 2026 this had grown to 53 GW. These trends are true for nuclear, natural gas, wind and hydrogen. I tell the students we are still at the Model T Ford stage of this industrial trend and they have a chance to be ahead of the curve.