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  • In defence of the supracrepidarian; or, what Thompson did on his holidays

    By Anne Locker The electrical engineer and physicist Silvanus Phillips Thompson had an impressive and varied professional career. He became a professor at the University of Bristol in 1878 in his late twenties. He was the first Principal of Finsbury Technical College , where he also worked as Professor of Physics alongside William Ayrton. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1891 and was President of the Institution of Electrical Engineers in 1889, the same year it elected its first woman member. Thompson was well known for his publications, including Elementary Lessons in Electricity and Magnetism (1881), Dynamo-Electric Machinery (1888) and Calculus Made Easy (1910) – the last book is still in print. What makes him a likeable as well as impressive figure is that he took the…

  • Nothing in modern life is possible without fuel

    Fossil fuels have both created modern civilisation and risk destroying it. What to do? Decarbonising the power we use to drive our societies is a critical part of the response to climate change and the requirement to reduce our collective carbon footprint. The most visible aspect of this is in transport and what fuels it. Removing the carbon from our power can be done (amongst other technologies) with electric batteries, hydrogen as a fuel, hydrogen fuel cells, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Hydrogen poses a host of research challenges Hydrogen is a key choice for decarbonising large vehicles (the IET’s ‘Destination Net Zero’ report has more detail on this), offering as it does advantages across land- based and maritime transport, with a longer-term potential for aviation. It could…

  • A flight of fancy - 25 minutes that changed humanity

    On this day in (engineering) history… It is a winter’s afternoon in Paris. The sun is shining, there isn’t a breath of wind in the air. These are significant, because of what is about to take place. The date is 21 November, 1783, and at 2PM Jean-François Pilatre de Rozier and François Laurent, the marquis d’ Arlandes will become the first people to fly. De Rozier, a doctor and the Marquis, an aristocratic military officer will rise some 3,000ft (910 metres) and cover five and a half miles in 25 minutes of floating through the air. The landing spot was just outside Paris, at Butte-aux-Cailles. The Brothers Montgolfier The main focus of the story isn’t De Rozier and Laurent, but two brothers who made their living by manufacturing paper. Jacques-Étienne and Joseph-Michel Montgolfier were…

    EngX Editorial
    EngX Editorial

  • Removing carbon from buildings, easier said than done but not impossible

    Building carbon out of the built environment requires a huge shift in culture and perspective. But, like so much else, it is an engineering problem with an engineering answer. Buildings don’t immediately spring to mind when we think of the carbon in our atmosphere. They may not have engines, but the structures that make our built environment create vast volumes of carbon. Achieving net-zero carbon will be very difficult without including the built environment in our calculations. Net-zero is the idea any or all greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted during the activities of an organisation should be balanced by removing a similar volume of carbon from the atmosphere. It is a huge challenge, yet if we are to avoid the worst effects of climate change, achieving net zero will be vital. Construction…

  • Hydrogen, hybrids, batteries, and beyond: renewing flight with renewable power

    Powered flight has relied on fossil fuels for 120 years. Changing to renewable energy is not easy…but possible Aircraft have been a vital part of our lives and economy for decades. Because of climate change many of the things we have come to take for granted in the last 60 years are up for grabs. While aviation is not the largest contributor to the atmospheric carbon load, it is growing as demand for air travel increases. Applying renewable power sources to aircraft is tricky. Consequently, there needs to be considerably further development and more variety in the types of drive used to get an aircraft into the sky. One solution would be electricity provided by batteries. The catch is that any aircraft must be weight conscious, but batteries are, and remain, heavy. Nor do they last long…

  • The voice of the nation clears its throat

    The BBC’s beginning was cramped and crowded, with few people hearing it. That wouldn’t last long… On this day in (engineering) history… By Stephen Phillips The year is 1922 and sometime this afternoon, November 14 th , a small group of people will climb the stairs to the top floor of London’s Marconi House . Waiting at the top is a small box room containing a desk, microphone and piano. History hasn’t counted the steps, but will mark what these people are about to do. At 6pm, Arthur Burrows will read the news followed by a weather forecast, after which the broadcast will end, to return the same time tomorrow. This will mark the first broadcast of a London radio station called 2LO, known today as the British Broadcasting Corporation. Let’s rewind to 1894, when British physicist Oliver…

  • Silicon Retinas to Realistic Display Tech - turns out that measuring the human experience is also the difficult part

    I'm assuming that many people in the audience were in the same boat I was at the start of Professor Maria Martini's talk. Expecting a deep talk that started with the hardware replicating the way that the eye and brain see and moving onto the application and display technology that made use of the output from those sensors. Instead our, or at least my, expectation was completely flipped. Not to say that Prof Martini's talk didn't cover the expected topics, but that it dived deep into the unexpected as well. The talk started off with the a brief history of cameras (camera obscura of Leonardo da Vinci) and moving pictures (Zoopraxiscope of Eadweard Muybridge), then moving quickly into a top level, but quite detailed review of the biology behind human vision. It then jumped quickly into the initial…

  • One operating system to rule them all… From nervous beginnings to world domination with one system

    On this day in (engineering) history… by Stephen Phillips It is the evening of November 10, 1983, at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. A young man of 28, although he speaks and dresses considerably older, is addressing a product launch event that, eventually, will profoundly change the way people work and interact with computers. The Plaza was playing host to the unveiling of Microsoft’s Windows 1.0. Like so many stories, this one doesn’t have its roots in that wintery New York night. It goes back to the comfortable warmth of Nevada in November, when Gates visited COMDEX, a major trade show held in Las Vegas. Whilst there, he saw Visi On , a software produced by VisiCorp. What caught Gates’ eye was the something we don’t even think about now; a ‘windowed’ user interface. It was a…

  • What is the IET doing around AI?

    Even though there has been a seemingly dramatic rise in people talking about AI and it being reported in the news, AI has been around for a long time and already underpins much of what we do day to day, from household gadgets to helping us send emails. Our latest research shows that the surge in AI has left a third of people fearing the unknown, yet the reality is that we already have three times as many daily interactions with AI than we realise. To give people a better understanding, we’ve exposed the daily hidden touch points with AI that many of us aren’t aware of. With the potential to help people with improved healthcare, safer transport systems and tailored, cheaper and longer-lasting products and services, the opportunities AI represents are profound, across sectors and industries…

  • Powered flight becomes more than just entertainment

    On this day in (engineering) history… By Stephen Phillips The short life of Philip Orin Parmelee took a turn in September 1912 when he was taught to fly an aeroplane by the inventors of powered flight, the Wright Brothers. Two months later, today, 7 November 1910, 23 year old Philip would pilot the very first commercial flight and the first flight to carry freight, between Dayton and Columbus, both in the great state of Ohio. The Wright Model B Beside Philip in the pilot’s position was his cargo ten bolts of silk, weighing in at 45.4kg. It was tightly wrapped in brown paper and strapped to the body of the Wright Model B plane. It had to be because this was an open bodied wooden frame, with canvass coverings to make the wings and control surfaces. There was an engine with propellers…

  • Car-Free Sunday: Navigating the 1973 Oil Crisis

    In the autumn of 1973, the world experienced a seismic shift as the oil crisis struck. Triggered by a series of geopolitical events, oil-producing countries, primarily OPEC members, decided to cut oil production and impose an embargo on the United States and other Western nations. The aftermath was a surge in oil prices and widespread panic, leading to fuel shortages and long lines at petrol stations. Amidst this turmoil, 50 years ago today the Netherlands took a bold and unique step to address the oil crisis: they introduced 'Car-Free Sundays' on the 4th November 1973. Motorised vehicles were banned from Dutch roads, paving the way for a remarkable Sunday where the country's roads were overtaken by cyclists, pedestrians, and roller skaters. The objective was to conserve fuel and reduce…

  • How many engineers does it take to review an application for professional registration?

    Professional registration is a huge achievement, and we see lots of questions in the career development forum from members in various stages of the process. Some of the most frequent questions are about the process, so what does it take to see an application from start to finish? As a peer review process, every stage is supported by volunteers. To start, ideally a draft application will be shared with a professional registration adviser (PRA) or Industry Representative (IR). These volunteers understand the review process and can advise on how best to clearly demonstrate competence in the application. They can also help applicants prepare for interview if they need one. Once an application is submitted, it's checked for completeness by staff, then reviewed by a panel of assessors with…

  • The Governance of Artificial Intelligence and the EU AI Act

    With Artificial Intelligence (AI) being a hot topic, there have been many debates over safety and security both developing and using this type of technology. This blog focuses on the implementation of control, the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act (AIA) [1], and how this could impact innovation. As previously discussed in this blog series, AI is a tool that can be used by many people to solve or assist in many different problem spaces and industries. Though the tool itself is neither good or bad, it is key to have frameworks or acts in place to ensure that the development of these systems are ethically appropriate, safe, secure and comply with existing laws on fundamental rights. Though there have been many frameworks to ensure that regulations are in place, a team of AI experts were brought…

  • The Birth of Broadcasting: John Logie Baird's groundbreaking Television Transmitter

    On this day in Engineering history, we celebrate the pioneering work of John Logie Baird, a Scottish inventor, engineer, and innovator who played a crucial role in shaping the world of communication and entertainment. On 30 October 1925, Baird successfully demonstrated the first television transmitter, marking the birth of television as we know it today. John Logie Baird was born on August 13, 1888, in Helensburgh, Scotland. From a young age, he displayed a keen interest in engineering and inventing. His fascination with transmitting moving images was the driving force behind his journey into television technology. On 30 October 1925 he achieved the first-ever demonstration of a working television transmitter. He used a Nipkow disk, a rotating perforated disk he had invented, to scan a…

  • 9th Particle Accelerator Engineering Network annual meeting

    The 9 th Particle Accelerator Engineering Network annual meeting took place at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory on the 6 th October. The network was jointly created by the IET, IMechE, IoP and STFC and is hosted by the IET as one of their technical networks. This years meeting had 120 delegates from all areas of engineering of particle accelerators. This years keynote talk was by Ste Gallimore who leads the Target design section at ISIS who was talking about the recent ISIS target upgrade, which was followed up with a talk from ISIS target technician Justin Miles giving the upgrade from a technicians viewpoint. Over the lunch break there was an early career engineer poster competition which included PhD students, year in industry students, technicians and graduate engineers. The PAEN…

  • Q+A on Artificial Intelligence with IET Head of Technology Strategy, Dr David Smith

    We're excited to introduce Dr Gopichand Katragadda as the IET's 142nd President! A seasoned technologist and executive leader, Gopi is the Founder of Myelin Foundry – an AI company with a vision to transform human experiences and industry outcomes. He’s also an Independent Director of Bosch India Limited and ICICI Securities and a member of the NASSCOM governing council for the Centre of Excellence for Data Science and AI. Gopi’s presidential address, Engineers and AI: the key to delivering a resilient future, will take place at 6.30pm GMT on Tuesday, 21 November 2023. You can join us in-person at IET London: Savoy Place, or tune in online via YouTube. Register online and find out more via our website . Ahead of the talk, we caught up with IET Head of Technology Strategy and Product…

  • The End of an Era - Concorde's Last Commercial Flight

    On this day in Engineering History (October 24) in 2003, the world witnessed the end of an era in aviation history as the iconic Concorde made its last commercial flight. The supersonic marvel had captured the imagination of aviation enthusiasts and travellers for nearly three decades, and its farewell marked a bittersweet moment in the history of flight. The Birth of a Supersonic Dream The story of Concorde began in the 1960s when British and French engineers joined forces to create a supersonic passenger aircraft. The result was a technological masterpiece, capable of flying at over twice the speed of sound. In 1976, Concorde made its debut, offering travellers an unprecedented way to traverse the Atlantic in just three and a half hours. Concorde quickly became a symbol of luxury and…

  • Can Project Management and Augmented Reality deliver a Transformative Partnership?

    The dynamic field of project management is continually evolving, with innovative technologies playing a crucial role in its transformation. Augmented reality (AR) is one such technology that is reshaping project management practices. Augmented reality when properly integrated into project management practices offers the ability to delve into a projects applications, it’s benefits, and identify potential challenges. By enabling project managers and teams to ‘visualize’ data, enhance communication, and streamline processes, augmented reality the author suggests that AR is proving to be a transformative tool for project success. Project management is the backbone of successful business programme and associated operations. Whether it's constructing a building, developing software, launching a…

  • Technologies for Healthcare 4.0: From AI and IoT to blockchain

    Congratulations to Book Editors, Karthik Ramamurthy, Suganthi Kulanthaivelu, Kulandairaj Martin Sagayam , Soumi Dutta and Paryati and to all of their chapter contributors on the publication of this new IET book: Technologies for Healthcare 4.0: From AI and IoT to blockchain About the book There are a growing number of challenges in handling medical data in order to provide an effective healthcare service in real-time. Bridging the gap between patient expectations and their experiences needs effective collaboration and connectivity across the healthcare ecosystem. The success of joined-up care relies on patient data being shared between all active stakeholders, including hospitals, outreach workers, and GPs. All these needs and challenges pave the way for the next trend of development in…

  • Calder Hall: Powering the Nuclear Energy Revolution

    In the heart of Cumbria, England, lies Sellafield, a site of immense historical and engineering significance. One of its most iconic landmarks is Calder Hall, often referred to as the birthplace of commercial nuclear power. Calder Hall was conceived during a time when the world was beginning to recognise the potential of nuclear energy. In the aftermath of World War II, as nuclear technology rapidly developed, the UK sought to harness this newfound knowledge for peaceful purposes. The government's Atomic Energy Authority (AEA) saw an opportunity to generate electricity on a large scale using nuclear reactors Construction and Design Construction on Calder Hall began in 1953, and it was completed in just four years, a testament to the dedication and expertise of the engineers and workers…

  • Deep Learning in Medical Image Processing and Analysis

    Congratulations to Book Editors, Khaled Rabie, Chandran Karthik, Subrata Chowdhury and Pushan Kumar Dutta and to all of their chapter contributors on the publication of this new IET Book: Deep Learning in Medical Image Processing and Analysis About the book Medical images, in various formats, are used by clinicians to identify abnormalities or markers associated with certain conditions, such as cancers, diseases, abnormalities or other adverse health conditions. Deep learning algorithms use vast volumes of data to train the computer to recognise certain features in the images that are associated with the disease or condition that you wish to identify. Whilst analysing the images by eye can take a lot of time, deep learning algorithms have the benefit of reviewing medical images at a faster…

  • A day in the life as one of the many stars at the UK Space Agency

    Join us as we embark on "A Day in the Life of an Engineer." Through this blog series, we aim to inspire, inform, and celebrate the remarkable individuals who are shaping our world one innovation at a time. Whether you're a fellow engineer, a student aspiring to enter the field, or simply curious about the fascinating world of engineering, these posts will offer a glimpse into the passion, ingenuity, and relentless pursuit of excellence that define the life of an engineer. For the first in this series we spoke to Dr Mamatha Maheshwarappa MSc PhD MIET, to find out more about a day in her life as an Aerospace Engineer at the UK Space Agency. What is your name and job role? My name is Mamatha Maheshwarappa. I’ve been an engineer for over twelve years. At the moment, I work for the UK…

  • October is Black History Month

    Black History Month takes place in October every year and is an annual commemoration of the history, achievements and contributions of Black people in the UK. Here at the IET we’re committed to reflecting and representing the diversity of the engineering community. We are a professional home for every engineer and technician and want to include everyone whatever their background. If you are interested in supporting IET Education in raising awareness of Black History Month or would like to use some of our teaching resources and materials in schools then have a look at how we can help you. Celebrating black engineers poster Highlighting black engineers throughout history and celebrating their contributions to the world of STEM. Posters and careers packs to download (theiet.org) Inclusivity…

  • The Sphere: Welcome to the new era of concert venues.

    I couldn’t say I was a big U2 fan back in the 80’s, although saying that, I did (and maybe still do somewhere) have copies of their albums, War, The Unforgettable Fire, The Joshua Tree, and Rattle and Hum. By the early 90’s I’d moved on and about to enter the ‘Dance/Techno’ phase of my musical tastes but I’d still argue that my taste in music is very eclectic. However, I’m currently re-evaluating my U2 fan status after catching glimpses of their latest concert at the newly opened concert venue, ‘The Sphere’ in Las Vegas. For those of you who haven’t had their FYP’s on socials flooded with viral videos of this spectacular building (both inside and out) The Sphere is the latest addition to the Las Vegas Skyline. Conceived in 2018 The Sphere is an 18,000 capacity entertainment arena on the…

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