Welcome to the Community Insights blog!

This blog features posts from and about the EngX community. Want to contribute? Read our blogging guide to help you get started.

  • Competition to Uncover Space Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow

    Young people have the chance to win £10,000 in a competition to come up with ideas on how to use satellite data to improve life on Earth. The SatelLife Challenge, run by the UK Space Agency, is looking for inspirational ideas from those aged 11 to 22, linking satellite and space data and its application to everyday life. Examples could include using satellite data to tackle loneliness amongst elderly people, looking at changes to green spaces in your town and identifying exercise routes based on traffic flows.   The competition, which aims to support the development of science, data handling and technological skills, is split into three age groups, offering five prizes of £5,000 for each age category with an overall winner receiving £10,000. The judging panel will be made up of experts including…

    Deborah-Claire McKenzie
    Deborah-Claire McKenzie

  • Automated Inspection Technology Systems in Glass Plants

    We have an event on the Wednesday 22nd February on the topic of Automated Inspection Technology Systems in Glass Plants.  Please see attached poster.

    Rob McDonald
    Rob McDonald

  • Sorry I Can’t Hear You, I’m On The Train…

    It’s a problem we’ve all come across – losing signal when we’re travelling by train or car; in fact it was a problem I faced on my way up to Birmingham last week. Luckily the event I was going to was focussed on solving this very issue – Antennas, Propagation & RF Technology for Transport and Autonomous Platforms. Around 50 delegates met at the IET’s Midlands venue, Austin in Birmingham to hear from a variety of speakers on the topic, including 4 keynotes: -Our first speaker was Dr Anil Shulka from QinetiQ, UK. He highlighted the importance of the networks, pointing out that trains were now a workspace for people, so connectivity is of the upmost importance -Our second keynote presentation was a double act from Dr Marta Martínez Vázquez and Dr Daniel Martini from IMST GmbH. They tag-teamed…

    Former Staff Member
    Former Staff Member

  • Young Rail Professional Awards 2017

    Young Rail Professional Awards 2017 It is that time of year and the Young Rail Professional, YRP, is looking to celebrate individuals who have demonstrated commitment to the railway industry, be it via their outstanding ability, inspiring others or simply doing something extraordinary through the Young Rail Professional Awards, This year to recognise more talented professionals, the awards are being expanded and will now be presented in three categories: •    Young Rail Professional of the Year - presented to a young professional who has demonstrated an outstanding contribution to the rail industry during the last 12 months. •    Young Rail Professional's Apprentice of the Year - presented in recognition of the talent and outstanding commitment of a rail industry apprentice. •    Young Rail…

    Lynsay Callaghan
    Lynsay Callaghan

  • IET Vision & Imaging Journals

    The Vision & Imaging Network has excellent links with the IET's three related publications: IET Biometrics, IET Image Processing and IET Computer Vision which run a series of Special Issues throughout the year. For more information on past and upcoming Special Issue topics, published papers and how to submit a paper, please click on the links below. IET Biometrics   IET Image Processing IET Computer Vision

    Former Staff Member
    Former Staff Member

  • Meet The Committee - Bill Ellis, Tayside District

    William G Ellis, Representative for Tayside BSc (Hons) Electronic Engineering – Robert Gordon’s Institute of Technology, Aberdeen, 1969 - 1973   Now semi-retired but runs his own part-time utilities consultancy business and is also a STEM Ambassador.   Previously: Worked with Ferranti in Edinburgh designing test equipment for radar systems. Thereafter, enjoyed a 24 year career with Scottish Hydro Electric (now SSE) based initially at Cruachan Power Station in Argyll and latterly based at several locations in Perth. During this time, areas of responsibility were electronic control systems, telecommunications systems and HV generators, transmission and distribution systems.   Member of the Scotland North Committee of the Institution of Engineering and Technology since 1989 to present. Has organised…

    Lynsay Callaghan
    Lynsay Callaghan

  • Confused About CPD Or IPD?

    The window to submit your 2016 CPD returns opened on 3rd January 2017 . Since we opened the window for CPD returns, there have been a few people asking questions about the differences between IPD and CPD and what can be counted as CPD.  The answer is really that any development you are doing, be that working toward professional registration (generally considered Initial Professional Development or IPD) or wider career development (generally considered to be Continuing Professional Development or CPD), any completed activities can be recorded on Career Manager as CPD Activities, and any future plans you have can be recorded as either mapped UK-SPEC or CPD Objectives with planned actions against them. As a Professional Development Community Member, we hope that you've already discovered the benefits…

    Kathryn Bain
    Kathryn Bain

  • Are you interested to volunteer at the IET Victoria Network?

    If you are passionate about raising awareness of science, engineering, and technology and want to be more engaged, then this could be the perfect opportunity!  Visit our website to find out more about: a list of volunteering positions, what a LN is; what we’re looking for in a volunteer; how you could benefit, and how to apply.

    Former Community Member
    Former Community Member

  • Are you interested to volunteer at the IET WA Network?

    If you are passionate about raising awareness of science, engineering, and technology and want to be more engaged, then this could be the perfect opportunity!  Visit our website to find out more about: a list of volunteering positions, what a LN is; what we’re looking for in a volunteer; how you could benefit, and how to apply.

    Former Community Member
    Former Community Member

  • Are you interested to volunteer at the IET Tasmania Network?

    If you are passionate about raising awareness of science, engineering, and technology and want to be more engaged, then this could be the perfect opportunity!  Visit our website to find out more about: a list of volunteering positions, what a LN is; what we’re looking for in a volunteer; how you could benefit, and how to apply.

    Former Community Member
    Former Community Member

  • Are you interested to volunteer at the IET South Australia & Northern Territory Network?

    If you are passionate about raising awareness of science, engineering, and technology and want to be more engaged, then this could be the perfect opportunity!  Visit our website to find out more about: a list of volunteering positions, what a LN is; what we’re looking for in a volunteer; how you could benefit, and how to apply.

    Former Community Member
    Former Community Member

  • Are you interested to volunteer at the IET Queensland Network?

    If you are passionate about raising awareness of science, engineering, and technology and want to be more engaged, then this could be the perfect opportunity!  Visit our website to find out more about: a list of volunteering positions, what a LN is; what we’re looking for in a volunteer; how you could benefit, and how to apply.

    Former Community Member
    Former Community Member

  • Are you interested to volunteer at the IET NSW Network?

    If you are passionate about raising awareness of science, engineering, and technology and want to be more engaged, then this could be the perfect opportunity!  Visit our website to find out more about: a list of volunteering positions, what a LN is; what we’re looking for in a volunteer; how you could benefit, and how to apply.

    Former Community Member
    Former Community Member

  • Are you interested to volunteer at the IET Brunei Network?

    If you are passionate about raising awareness of science, engineering, and technology and want to be more engaged, then this could be the perfect opportunity!  Visit our website to find out more about: a list of volunteering positions, what a LN is; what we’re looking for in a volunteer; how you could benefit, and how to apply.

    Former Community Member
    Former Community Member

  • We Are Recruiting Volunteers For Our Networks, Are You Interested?

    If you are passionate about raising awareness of science, engineering, and technology and want to be more engaged, then this could be the perfect opportunity!  Visit our website to find out more about: a list of volunteering positions, what a LN is; what we’re looking for in a volunteer; how you could benefit, and how to apply.

    Former Community Member
    Former Community Member

  • From Baird To The Digital Age

    On the 27th of January the IEEE held a whole day event "From Baird to the Digital Age" at the Royal Institution.  The previous day, the 26th, they had unveiled a plaque outside 22 Frith Street to commemorate John Logie Baird's first public demonstration of his television system there on the 26th of January 1926.  The session on the 27th comprised a number of talks, preceded by introductions by Ali Hessami the Chair of the UK and Ireland Section and Karen Bartleson the current President of the IEEE.  The talks started with Donald McLean discussing Baird's achievements, followed by Iain Logie Baird (JLB's grandson) who talked about Baird the person, and the morning session was completed by a short video showing the plaque unveiling the previous day.  In the afternoon there were four talks.  The…

    Graham Turner
    Graham Turner

  • Your community needs your help!

    The volunteers in Barcelona are looking for ideas and suggestions for activities to organise in the future. For a flavour of the sorts of events that have been organised in the past, please do take a look at our blog section   We'd very much appreciate your help by completing a short survey, which should take no longer than 10 minutes.  This will help us with our forward plans, and we look forward to seeing the results! Link to the survey If you have any questions at all, please email me direct Joanne Longton Community Manager

    Joanne Longton
    Joanne Longton

  • What Is Happening In The Districts - Aberdeen

    After the first Scotland North meeting of 2017, I thought I would give you an insight into what happens behind the activities that you see advertised – and there is a lot. For those that don’t know the layout of the Scotland North Committee, the area is split into districts that each have a representative on the Scotland North Committee.  The Committee pulls together the event plans for the year and submits the budget.  The Scotland North Committee organises events in Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness, Perth, Thurso, Orkney, Shetland, Stornoway.  These events cover a range of engineering, management and general interest. So, what has been happening in the districts over the past few months, what happens behind the scenes?  This week I have focused on the Aberdeen district. Bit of background for those…

    Lynsay Callaghan
    Lynsay Callaghan

  • Challenges of Ageing Aircraft and how to address them

    A short while ago I attended a seminar organised by the Aerospace Network on the issues of  ‘Addressing Ageing Aircraft Sustainment’ . There were a good number of delegates at the event, who had the opportunity to hear from several different speakers on the various challenges around this topic and how they were addressing them.   The keynote speaker was Air Marshal Julian Young CB OBE, who during his presentation covered the RAF’s awareness of airworthiness and the challenges presented by Ageing Aircraft.  He highlighted the RAF’s fleet composition and some of their examples of Ageing Aircraft such as the Tornado from 1980-2019, Puma 1973-2025 and the Boeing 707 which was originally supposed to last from 1964-2014, but has now been extended to 2042 in its Rivet Joint guise.  Julian also discussed…

    Deborah-Claire McKenzie
    Deborah-Claire McKenzie

  • Meet The Committee - Iain King, Past Chair

    Iain King,  Past Chair With a strong background in Further and Higher Education, Iain is currently Programme and Development Manager for Engineering and Building Technology area at Inverness College UHI. He has curriculum responsibilities that include Foundation Apprentices, Technician Apprentices and the emerging Graduate Apprentices and cover a range of academic areas including: Architectural Technology, Civil Engineering, Electrical Installation, and Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. A member of the IET Scotland North LN Committee for 9 years, his current role being Past Chair.

    Lynsay Callaghan
    Lynsay Callaghan

  • Meet The Committee - John Blacklock, Caithness & Orkney District

    John is a member of IET Caithness & Orkney District committee as part of IET Scotland North Local Network.   He actively promotes the engineering profession to the public through organising events and to schools and colleges by delivering STEM initiatives with organisation such as IET, IMechE, British Science Association, Bloodhound Educational Project.   He develops other engineers through being a Professional Interview Assessor with IMechE and IMarEST as well as being an IMechE; Academic Assessor, Industrial Advisor, MPDS mentor & scheme assessor.   John works for Jacobs from their Scrabster Offices and is embedded within Dounreay Site Restoration Limited to advise and deliver Nuclear Decommissioning projects. His experience and qualifications earned from previous positions with Ministry…

    Lynsay Callaghan
    Lynsay Callaghan

  • Meet The Committee - Prof Andrew Rae, Perth District

    Andrew Rae Andrew Rae graduated from Imperial College in 1987 and joined the High-Lift Section of the Aerodynamics Department at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough. His activities there concentrated on the physics of multi-element aerofoils, largely but not exclusively for civil aircraft, including Reynolds number effects and wake vorticity. Based at the 5m Pressurised Wind Tunnel at Farnborough he was involved in the development and application of wind tunnel corrections and test techniques. He has managed tests at over 30 other major facilities in seven countries and worked on projects for Airbus, Boeing and several Formula 1 teams. He was Deputy Chairman of the Technical & Scientific Board of the European Wind Tunnel Association (EWA) and within this framework was the focus for…

    Lynsay Callaghan
    Lynsay Callaghan

  • Meet the Committee - Kenneth Laing, Hon Treasurer

    Kenneth Laing, Hon Treasurer I have been associated with the IET and IEE serving on the Scotland North committee as an ordinary committee member,  Honorary Secretary and currently Honorary Treasurer.  Too many years ago, I chaired the Aberdeen Younger Members section and served on the national Younger Members Committee.    I worked in the oil and gas industry in operations,  engineering and major projects. My background is in instrumentation including major control and safety systems, fiscal metering, integrity management and project engineering.

    Lynsay Callaghan
    Lynsay Callaghan

  • Meet The Committee - Andrew Mackenzie, Vice Chair & Hon Secretary

    Andrew Mackenzie, Hon Secretary and Vice Chair Andrew Mackenzie is a Chartered Electrical Engineer with a degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and a PGCE (FE).  He worked for 26 years with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and before retirement reported directly to the Chief Executive as Head of Strategy dealing with Best Value, Internal Audit, Performance Management and Strategic Risk.  He chaired the Strategic Risk Committee, was a member of and Clerked the Senior Management Team. Since retiring he lectures in Advance Electrical Engineering and Renewable Energy Technology at the University of the Highlands and Islands and is actively involved in the Western Isles’ STEM issues.  He is Hon Secretary and Vice Chair of IET Scotland North Local Network – as well as being an active crofter…

    Lynsay Callaghan
    Lynsay Callaghan

Community Rules & Guidelines