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Rebecca Gillick
1 minute read time.

Our press office is always looking for members and volunteers who can represent the IET in the media and share expertise that makes sense of engineering and technology news to the public.

Journalists and new outlets regularly contact us in the hopes of finding a subject expert to provide background information, a quote, or be interviewed (TV/radio) on a specific topic that’s being spoken about in the news. This could include explaining technical terms in simple digestible language.

The media is also always on the lookout for those working on new innovations that are making a wider impact to the public, or those who have faced adversity to succeed with a great story to tell.  

 

(Above features IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year 2024 Titi Oliyide CEng MIET in a broadcast studio ahead of interviews on International Women's Day March 2024; previous YWE winner Sophie Harker speaking on Notts TV about exam results August 2024, and David Lakin, Head of IET Education speaking on Local TV Ltd on exams also)

Topics that come up time and time again include AI (ethics, regulations, its role in healthcare, environmental impact, chat bots, data centres), cyber security, nuclear fusion energy, nuclear reactor design, heat pumps (ground source and air source), hydrogen for home heating, hydrogen transport, smart and immersive technologies, smart cities, gigafactories, autonomous vehicles, aerospace, satellites, robotics, retrofit, and telecommunications – so we’d love to have more of our global membership be IET spokespeople.

As a press office, we offer support and guidance to all of our spokespeople when a media opportunity arises. From a full briefing to providing key messages that you can weave into an interview, we’re on hand every step of the way to support you. We also often get direct requests for specific spokespeople, helping to build your profile.

If you’re interested in becoming an IET spokesperson and would like more information, please let me know – I’d love to hear from you!  

  • Yes, I could, if asked. I was interviewed by R4 in 2010 on Oil Depletion, and have explained our ERoEI energy predicament ever since 2004 in talks to many institutions. One thing I'm not sure about is why this needs to be a public response ?     

  • Just wanted to add, this is something I've helped the IET with over the past year and I'd definitely recommend supporting this if you have the bandwidth to do so.

    It's a really fun experience from the perspective of getting to do something out of the ordinary in your day but also really helps the public get an understanding of technology interest in an unbiased way. Rebecca and the team do a brilliant job in supporting you throughout the process and training you on this.

  • I've had some brilliant experiences, always expertly supported by Rebecca and the comms team, when I've been asked to represent the IET on a fairly wide array of local and national mainstream media. Personally, I really enjoy the chance to share the knowledge we have within the IET with presenters and their viewers/ listeners. And the training is very helpful to give you confidence you're not going to step on any booby traps when it comes to answering questions on the spot

  • in reply to Lisa Miles

    Thanks Lisa! It's very exciting when we can place our experts in the media Slight smile

  • I turn into a huge 'fangirl' whenever I see an expert from the IET on the news Slight smile I've also spied some of our members and volunteers (and staff too) on TV in various programmes. I remember when I spied   on a programme about the history of communications one evening and I've also spied our very own  from the IET Library a number of times in various programmes too! 

    Makes me very proud to play even just a very small part in our Institution Blush

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