b'Education matters communication and that includessay geophysics or mathematics orlong-term social and economic benefits writing. I notice that many of youngerclimate science. Perhaps our debates inof Australian R&D to our country. A generations are not highly skilled inparliament on climate change over thenascent understanding of this may have writing their lingua franca let alonepast two decades would have employedentered the consciousness during the English, even if it is their native language.fewer grandiose epithets and moreCOVID 19 crisis; our epidemiologists, Science and many other research areasreasoned discussion if persons withimmunologists and virologists were at now use English as the primary meansbetter content, or sector knowledge werethe forefront of scientific and practical of communication. Yet, we do not trainpresent. knowledge on the topicbecause the our scientists in the finer attributesR&D community was prepared, coherent, of writing in a language that is bothSo, it would benefit our country ifand innovative. We should similarly facile and effective in communicatingpeople in roles of importance betterprepare our R&D communities in earth nuances of the field. My excellent highunderstood science, engineering, socialsciences, environmental science, climate school English teacher used to drum twoscience and technology. Wouldntscience and clean energy, as well as in words into us: concise and precise. Thisit be great if at least 10% of ourthe allied health and social sciences, for remains good advice. parliamentarians had a background inthe future ahead.the natural sciences? Most politicians the focus for universitiesare skilled professionals, and skilled inWe have also tended to cauterise our must be oncritical thinking,the art of politics. However, this doestechnology-related fields including not always mean they have contentthe trades best served with on-the-job validation/verification ofknow-how that draws on an intuitiveapprenticeships or training. This omission facts and assessment ofunderstanding of geophysics, or ofover the past decade or so has become methodologies all embeddedclimate science or other key disciplinesevident in the energy sectorparticularly in our complex world. Many politiciansin Australiaas we transition to a more within a broad perspective ofin our government circles will seekdiverse and less centralised approach to history and culture. advice from such professionals, butenergy generation and use. Some states sometimes the advice is only as goodin Australia are addressing this gap in MP: What do you think industry andas the question you ask. What Imskills training in key regional locations, government organisations expect fromgetting at is that people with sectorbut there is much more to be done.graduates? How do they see their newknowledge can have very valuable team members or recruits? input as practitioners in governanceHydrogen, particularly whats IM: Well, I cant really speak forprocesses, whether at federal, state orknown as green hydrogen, recruitment from undergraduateregional/local levels. More model-Tis important because it will education because Ive not been involvedtype professionals in our leaders of the futurewe do have some todayhelp meet challenges in those in that part of higher education. Ive would perhaps better prepare ourindustries with hard-to-abate only been involved in education atcommunities for the challenges ahead.postgraduate level. So, in terms of thegreenhouse gas emissionsbasic skills that postgraduates shouldMP: What must we change in the gain, the primary and critical skill is aeducation system to provide theIn both the technical skills and the capacity for critical thinking withoutnecessary specialists for the energyprofessions, the energy transition will prejudice. For me, that is the core reasontransition? still require electricians and plumbers as to do a higher degree, particularly a PhD.well as electrical, mechanical, civil and To show that you can think about andIM: In general, I consider that ourprocess engineers, and many scientists. explain a problem, to identify what mightAustralian university system requiresThe training will be slightly different but be a possible solution, to then prosecutesubstantial change. To elaborate on allrelated to this energy transition. In other a means proving or disproving thatthe reasons and the extent of changewords, the learning will be about new possible solution and finally, to explainwould take another day of conversation.technologies, new systems and the safety the learnings to others (i.e., to educate). However, to be concise, may I suggestand procedures required for a just and one example: changes to universitysustainable energy transition. I might add, I think if postgraduates go through thatcurricula are much too slow to addressthis is nothing newthe curriculum for a process successfully, then finding a job inthe exponential rate of change ingeology degree or a power engineering any market is quite viable. In my view, weknowledge, or to compete with the waydegree granted in 1965 would be quite dont train people to do a PhD in ordernew knowledge is now readily accessibledifferent to that of todayso, our to become a clone of the supervisor orto many. So, the focus for universitieseducators are used to, and required to, to view working in a university as themust be on those skills mentionedadapt to changing community standards. only option; because that fundamentalearliercritical thinking, validation/ My concern is about the pace of training in critical and rational thinkingverification of facts and assessment ofadaptation now required.as well as in communication is verymethodologies all embedded within a valuable. These skills are needed in allbroad perspective of history and culture.MP: What kind of specialist do we need to walks of life. But this shiftto encompass rapidlydevelop a hydrogen economy?transforming fieldsneeds to occur at In an earlier role, I would often pose aa rapid pace at all levels of our higherIM: I see hydrogen and the hydrogen rhetorical question to higher degreeeducation sector. economy as part of the overall clean students: wouldnt it be great if oneenergy story. Hydrogen, particularly day we had a Prime Minister with a PhDAdditionally, we have failed to effectivelywhats known as green hydrogen, is in [insert STEM field] ? Sometimes, Iddemonstrate to our political cohort theimportant because it will help meet 29 PREVIEW AUGUST 2023'