I know I should avoid all the Olympic clichés now the event is well and truly over, but I really think the hydro industry, both in the UK and abroad, could learn a lot from these amazing games.
The general public really got behind the Olympians and there was an outpouring of passion for the standout stars. There is talk of increasing emphasis on sports in schools, with whole new generations inspired by such stars as US swimming sensation Michael Phelps and the UK's golden girl Jessica Ennis. What the hydro industry needs todo is just take a pinch of this inspiration and use it to interest a while new generation into engineering.
We need to work towards showing the young stars of the future just how amazing a career in hydro could be. But how could this be achieved? Some ideas I've heard during recent conferences include taking students on tours of major projects to show them the different areas they could work in, as well as offering mentoring programs to allow the ageing workforce to share their experiences and skills. Other ideas include emphasizing the international side of the industry, showing students how they could eventually work on major international projects.
One of the best ideas I've heard though is going into schools and sharing the benefits of hydro - whether through competitions, lessons or site tours. Lets get those stars of the future into the industry today!
