Latest Insights from the EngX Community

  • Volunteer Spotlight: John Lorriman

    John Lorriman’s volunteering journey with the IEE and IET spans more than 50 years and reads like a passport full of memorable stamps. From local networks and mentoring to global accreditations and international travel, John’s story is one of curiosity, commitment and a genuine passion for helping others succeed. A lifetime of volunteering I joined the IEE in 1970, straight out of Cambridge, when I was working as a Production Foreman at GEC Telecommunications. Volunteering soon became a natural extension of my professional life. In 1977, when I became Controller of Training at GEC Telecoms, I was encouraged to take on a role with what is now the IET Birmingham Local Network. I later chaired the network, became a Fellow in 1987, and went on to chair the Coventry & Warwickshire Local Network…

  • Volunteer Spotlight: Aaron Russell’s Journey into Space Engineering

    From early doubts about whether engineering was even an option, to chairing the IET’s Satellite Technical Network, Aaron Russell’s career has taken an unexpected path. Along the way, volunteering with the IET has helped him find purpose, community and a way to support the next generation of engineers. Aaron Russell never expected to find himself working in space engineering. As a teenager, he had been told that STEM was “probably a pipedream”. His exam results did not reflect his curiosity or capability, something that only made sense years later when he discovered he was dyslexic. At the time, the message felt clear: engineering was not for people like him. Instead, he imagined a future in accounting or business, subjects that aligned with his love of numbers and understanding how things…

  • Why Mainstream Blockchain needs Data Privacy (Central London Network Evening Lecture)

    Blog Post by Central London Network volunteer Phil Snuggs Blockchain is a modern technology and still in its infancy The November Central London Network Evening Lecture at Savoy Place was a deep dive into Blockchain by , founder &CEO of Appliedblockchain . This was Adi’s second time with us, the previous lecture being 6 years ago. Adi indicated that this is a subject that will grow rapidly as it is understood more by technical and entrepreneur users. Initially I was sceptical by the subject and thought this topic would be more jargon busting technology with the onset of AI. The presentation by was engaging and interesting to the point you had to listen and take notice. The fundamental change is that the US Government is driving Blockchain now and global governments are taking notice…

Latest IET EngX News

  • From Space Stories to Smart Systems: April on EngX

    April on EngX brought together a thoughtful mix of emerging technologies, industry insight and personal journeys. From a closer look at how 5G networks are evolving behind the scenes to fresh perspectives on the continuing influence of broadcast media, the blogs this month highlighted both the pace of change and the importance of understanding the fundamentals. Alongside these, inspiring career stories and reflections on the history of space exploration added a more human dimension, while discussions across the forums explored automation, energy systems and real‑world engineering trade‑offs. Here’s a look at some of the content that stood out this month: Blogs worth a read Massive MIMO: the brains behind 5G networks This detailed post from Soubhagya Ranjan Mohapatra explores how Massive…

    Lisa Miles
  • March Highlights on EngX: AI Insights, Inclusive Voices and Engineering Impact

    March was a month packed with fresh technical thinking, practical guidance, and human‑centred stories across the EngX community. From deep dives into industrial AI to personal reflections from engineers shaping their workplaces, here’s your roundup of what captured attention and sparked conversation this month. AI in Manufacturing: Why So Many Initiatives Stall One of the most thought‑provoking reads this month came from Dr Paul Johnson , whose article AI in Manufacturing: Why Most Initiatives Fail & How to Deliver Real Engineering Value explores why organisations continue to struggle with turning AI investment into meaningful operational outcomes. Johnson illustrates this through a real‑world predictive maintenance example where an AI model successfully identified early warning signs…

  • February Highlights on EngX: AI shifts, cyber reality checks, and conversations that got us thinking

    February on EngX brought another lively mix of thought‑provoking blogs, practical engineering discussions and broader reflections on how technology is shaping the world we work in. From unravelling sustainability terminology to exploring the foundations of AI, assessing the UK's cyber readiness and reflecting on the potential of hydro sites for pumped‑storage energy, the community continued to share knowledge and support one another. Here’s a round‑up of what caught the eye this month. Blogs worth a read ClimateTech, CleanTech, DeepTech… what’s the difference? Dr. Mohammad Harris tackled an issue that resonates across engineering and sustainability circles, the confusing overlap between terms like climate tech, clean tech and deep tech. Speaking from industry experience, he explained…

Latest Partner News

  • Josie Harries discusses how Domino is working to increase support for women in the workplace

    Encouraging women to choose careers in STEM subjects has been top of the agenda for many years – but what fresh ideas can you introduce within the workplace to attract and support female employees? At Domino, we are committed to improving the gender ratio in leadership roles within a business to 40% by 2030. This target, endorsed from Board level down, now stands at 25%, from a starting figure of 18%. Support networks Recently we re-launched our Women@Domino global network to promote inclusion within the business and facilitate the sharing of ideas and experiences, as well as networking, mentoring, events and training. Gender was also one of three key areas in our new Inclusion & Diversity strategy. The network is not limited to female employees; male colleagues are encouraged to participate…

  • Road to Engineering event introduces children to the world of engineering

    BAE System's Submarines Academy for Skills and Knowledge (SASK), Barrow-in-Furness successfully hosted the 6th Road to Engineering event which took place over three action-packed days. Over 200 children from the Furness area participated in the event which aims to inspire future careers in Engineering. This year's theme was 'Adapt and Change' following the British Science week theme. Supporting the event were the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, Barrow District of Associate Engineers and the Royal Institute of Naval Architects who contributed valuable insight, merchandise and STEM packs for schools. Stephen Rowe, Project Director of Engineering Transformation said, "It was a privilege to attend the Road to Engineering event and…

  • H&MV Engineering appointed as principal designer and contractor for the Thorpe Marsh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)

    H&MV Engineering has been appointed as principal designer and contractor for the delivery of the 400 kV grid connection and electrical infrastructure for the Thorpe Marsh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) – the largest of its kind in the UK and among the largest in Europe. This landmark project, led by Fidra Energy and backed by major investment from EIG and the UK Government’s National Wealth Fund (NWF), has now reached financial close with construction commencing immediately. Located on the site of the former Thorpe Marsh coal-fired power station in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, the 1,400MW / 3,100MWh facility will be capable of exporting over 2 million MWh annually, supplying clean energy to approximately 785,000 homes. Once operational in mid-2027, it will be three times larger than…

Latest articles from E+T Magazine

  • Norway trials electric ferry that glides above water and will slash emissions

    An electric ferry that uses hydrofoil technology to glide on top of the water offers a low emission alternative to diesel ferries, according to researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Norway’s lengthy Trondheim Fjord is surrounded by many small towns and villages, and two ferry services and two express boat services operate daily to transport passengers across the fjord. A new electric boat dubbed ‘Frosta’ is being trialled to replace current diesel-powered services. Using ‘wing-like’ hydrofoil technology that lifts the boat’s hull out of the water, the vessel can reduce 80% of the water resistance on the hull, making it very energy-efficient. The boat’s electrically-powered engine, capable of cruising speeds of around 25 knots, only emits about 112g…

  • Drone ‘numberplate system’ unveiled in £46.5m safety push

    A numberplate system for drones that is designed to make the skies safer has been announced by the government as part of a £46.5m funding package. Drones have the potential to cause major disruption in areas with sensitive airspace such as military facilities and airports. In December 2018, two drones flew into Gatwick Airport’s airspace, forcing the closure of its main runway and causing 48 hours of chaos for thousands of passengers. Anti-drone tech was later installed at the airport in a bid to prevent another incident. A new system called Hybrid Remote ID is set to be deployed. This will see drones sending out their ID and location during flight so nearby devices can pick it up, sharing flight details through an online system that authorised people can access to see historic flight data…

  • UK airlines given leeway to cancel undersold flights amid jet fuel price surge

    Airlines have been given more flexibility to cancel or consolidate undersold flights as concerns mount over the rising price of jet fuel brought about by the US war with Iran. The government is planning to introduce temporary measures to make scheduling more flexible for flight operators in order to minimise disruption to Britons planning to go on holiday in the summer. As well as moving passengers on to similar services much earlier, airlines will be able to cancel flights that have not sold a significant proportion of tickets in order to reduce wasted fuel from flying near-empty planes. Under normal rules, airlines must use at least 80% of their allocated slots during a season to keep them for the following year. If they fall below this threshold, those slots can be reassigned to another…