The gin-ius mind?

At work I volunteered to give some third year undergraduate biology students a snapshot of our work in South Sudan. They had all selected a conservation module so were receiving a tour of the building to meet 'real' people working in the field.

I gave some spiel to three different groups and in two found it hard to rouse much in the way of response, energy or eye contact. Perhaps I overwhelmed with something hugely outside of their comfort zone, but mention of South Sudan should have stirred something in the far reaches of people who have watched any news in the last few years. What happened to the incessant oneupmanship and displays of knowledge in groups of students? This was a huge feature of daily life that I had to endure when I led expeditions of gap year students. I am positive I tried hard at university to lap up information whilst emitting at least some form of facial expression, even if the subjects went over my head.

My colleague Tim, a communications specialist and a hilarious blunt northerner, speculated that life lived through a screen has dulled people's ability to interact. If these are the finest minds the country is cultivating, I think he's nailed it.

My faith in the future of humanity was restored by an evening with Leigh, who confirmed that some of her A Level students are quizzical engaged types.

We stuffed ourselves with pie and sticky toffee pud and jammed to the 80s classic Gloria at the dinner table. Leigh teaches Spanish and whipped out this delicious Galician gin. I pledged to pick some up in duty free, which I could do after the upcoming trip to celebrate a safe return from Juba.

Given that I could have fathered these undergrads (just) and considering the above moaning about 'the youth of today', the generation gap has never been more apparent.