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.

  • What Would You Be If You Weren't An Engineer?

    ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ is something that we’re all asked when we’re young. But how many of us are true to our answer back then? How many of us know what we really want to do at such an early stage in life and have actually stuck to that plan?  What if we made a mistake? What if we missed our true calling? What if…?   I have to confess that I really didn’t know what I wanted to do when I was young. I went through phases of wanting to work with animals, wanting to travel, wanting to be a translator for the European Parliament (bizarre I know!). However, I’ve had a lot of interesting roles during my working life, learning and experiencing a great deal, and come into contact with some amazing and inspirational people. If I’m honest, I wouldn’t change that for the world!  But…

    Lisa Miles
    Lisa Miles

  • Diplomas In Management And Leadership With The IET And CMI

    The IET and CMI have worked together to produce a customised programme for Incorporated and Chartered Engineers, meaning candidates are except from 50-60% of the usual programme. These fast track programmes allow delegates to learn important ideas, techniques and overall competencies that will improve effectiveness and performance within a team or organisation. As well as the Diploma which can be obtained from completing one of these courses, the cost of the course will also include the fast track application to become a Chartered Manager should you wish to pursue this afterwards.   We host three different levels of the CMI course, and below is a general overview of each course: CMI Level 5 Diploma in Management and Leadership (for Incorporated Engineers and Chartered Engineers) - The Level…

    Former Community Member
    Former Community Member

  • Swindon Network at the 2017 Royal International Air Tattoo

    This is a quick pictorial report of the IET Swindon stand at RIAT 2017. Included are shots around the stand and a visit from the Duke of Gloucester.

    Ken Mills
    Ken Mills

  • Victoria YP relaunched the Leadership Programme 2017

    The Victoria Young Professionals Committee relaunched the Leadership programme in 2017 after the inaugural programme concluded in 2014. Leadership programme v2.0, as it is affectionately known, has been revamped in terms of timing and content. The candidates selected represent a variety of engineering disciplines from local universities. Workshops are held prior to committee meetings and include: understanding what is leadership, motivation and delegation, managing conflict, and project management. Each candidate was also given access to a dedicated mentor to support them through their journey. Candidates are integrated to the YP committee and are able to put the skills learnt into practice by organising the annual PATW heats. The culmination of the programme sees the students develop their…

    Former Community Member
    Former Community Member

  • IET CC-EMEA Community Volunteers Conference (CVC) 2017 At Dubai UAE

    The  IET Islamabad Local Network  was invited by the  IET Communities Committee Europe Middle East Africa (CC-EMEA)  on their bi-annual event "Community Volunteers Conference (CVC)" held at Dubai UAE from 8th July to 9th July 2017.   Mr.Nouman Abid Chuhan , Secretary, represented the IET Islamabad Local Network in this conference whilst representatives of other Local Networks under jurisdiction of the IET CC-EMEA Region also attended this Conference.  It was a great event, attended by around 20 LN Reps or Volunteers, CC-EMEA Members, YPCC Members, CRC Members, a Trustee Mr.Tom and IET Staff (total 50 participants approximately).  Everybody was so excited to participate and interact.  It was obvious because just before this CVC, mostly have been working virtually or remotely, even did not meet…

    Nouman Abid Chuhan
    Nouman Abid Chuhan

  • What The Railway TPN Are Looking At In The 2017-18 Session

    The Railway TPN have been working on their plans for the 2017-18 session and have submitted these to the TPN leadership group.   Keep a look out on the pages for the event details as they happen, but we thought we would give you a peek at what we are looking to do: Events Cyber Security in Rail Energy Saving in Trains Management of safety assurance Railway Lecture and Dinner 2018 Suporting EMC in Railway with the EMC TPN Future of monitoring systems in infrastructure (including Water) and Telemetry with the Control & Automation TPN Young Professional  Events Early Career Professionals Best railway Paper 2017 Technical Visit - Simulator (Ilford, Midlands) Technical Visit - Tramlink Croydon Crossrail 2 Talk Online content relating to Exec Team talks- Intro to….  For YP audience IMechE Rail Seminar…

    Lynsay Callaghan
    Lynsay Callaghan

  • What The Safety TPN Are Looking At In The 2017-18 Session

    The Safety TPN have been working on their plans for the 2017-18 session and have submitted these to the TPN leadership group.   Keep a look out on the pages for the event details as they happen, but we thought we would give you a peek at what we are looking to do: Events -  Data Safety - full day event -  Ethics of Safety - full day event -  Software tools available for Functional Safety Suporting/Sponsoring -  Supporting the IET System Safety & Cyber Security Conference   -  Supporting the MoD/ESAS and hosting awards-  The Environmental and Safety Assurance Symposium (ESAS) is the MOD’s flagship Symposium focusing on Equipment Safety and Environmental Management.  -  Ethics of Safety -  Aviation Safety  - supporting Aeorspace TPN -  Software tools available for Functional Safety Other Areas…

    Lynsay Callaghan
    Lynsay Callaghan

  • A&P events during the summer - roundup

    Summer is traditionally a quiet time for the network, but that doesn’t mean the wide Antennas and Propagation community isn’t still thriving! There are a number of events going on over the next couple of months including:   The UK-China Emerging Technologies (UCET) workshop – 7 th -9 th August, University of Glasgow UK This workshop will facilitate knowledge sharing and explore joint collaborations between various participants from UK and China universities through lectures and field visits covering various areas in the supply chain of the emerging technologies and integrated systems.   Find out more here   The URSI General Assembly and Scientific Symposium 2017 – 19 th - 26 th August, Palais des Congrès de Montréal, Canada This conference is an opportunity to learn about recent advances in…

    Former Staff Member
    Former Staff Member

  • "Architecture For Complex Systems" Speaker Announcement: Jonathon Holt - Rolls-Royce

    A Gas Turbine Complex System Architecture Case Study: Turbine Tip Clearance Control Jonathon Holt, Rolls-Royce   Abstract Gas turbine engines are very complex systems containing many disparate and challenging technology elements. The need to manage emergent behaviours when these elements are integrated is paramount. This presentation will outline the presenter's systems integration experiences using the example of a civil aircraft engine turbine tip clearance control system, designed to control the clearance of white hot turbine blades rotating at up to 15,000 rpm from white hot stators, to within a fraction of a millimetre.   Biography Jonathon Holt  has a Mechanical Engineering Degree from the University of Manchester in 1986. He spent 10 years working in robotics in the UK nuclear electricity…

    Former Community Member
    Former Community Member

  • IET Engineering Open House Day 2017 - Dumfries House Morphy Richards Engineering Education Centre

    Morphy Richards Engineering Education Centre, The Great Steward of Scotland's Dumfries House Trust, Dumfries House Estate, Cumnock. KA18 2NJ. Date:  28th July 2017 Time:  10.30 - 15.30 Join us for the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Open House day at Dumfries House, on 28th July, in partnership with the IET. Delve deeper into the wonders of engineering by meeting local engineers, attending exciting presentations and trying out hands on activities. Doors open at 10.30 with activities running till 15.30. This event is free to attend, and no need to book, just turn up. https://www.engineer-a-better-world.org/whats-on/ About:  Following the success of the last two years, the IET's Engineering Open House Day returns this summer. Taking place at venues across the UK on Friday 28 July…

    Lynsay Callaghan
    Lynsay Callaghan

  • IET Engineering Open House Day 2017 - Aberdeen Science Centre

    Aberdeen Science Centre in partnership with Shell  Aberdeen Science Centre, 179 Constitution Street, Aberdeen, AB24 5TU  Date:  29th July 2017 Time:  10.00 - 16.00 Join us for the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Open House day at Aberdeen Science Centre, on 29th July, in partnership with Shell and IET. Delve deeper into the wonders of engineering by meeting local engineers, attending exciting presentations and trying out hands on activities. Doors open at 10.00 with activities running till 16.00. This event is free to attend.. Website page  - http://aberdeensciencecentre.org/events/iet-open-day/ Link to facebook event -   https://www.facebook.com/events/1730867043873177/ About:  Following the success of the last two years, the IET's Engineering Open House Day returns this summer…

    Lynsay Callaghan
    Lynsay Callaghan

  • MAJOR EVENTS OF THE IET TT LN OCT 2016 TO JUNE 2017

    1.     OCTOBER 2016 -  ELECTION OF THE NEW IET TT LN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE  AN ELECTION WAS HELD IN OCTOBER 2016 AT THE FOOD COURT, GRAND BAZAAR MALL IN OCTOBER  2016 AND THE FOLLOWING PERSONS WERE NOMINATED AND ELECTED TO FORM THE  NEW EXECUTIVE MEMBERS  OF THE IET TT LN  FOR THE YEAR 2016-2019  AS FOLLOWS:  - DAVID DRAKES - CHAIRMAN -  AHMAD MOHAMMED - VICE CHAIRMAN  - ANTHONY CHADEE - TREASURER  - JENNIFER H. MARAJ - SECRETARY  - GERALD MENDES - COMMITTEE MEMBER -  COLIN CHASE - COMMITTEE MEMBER 2.  The PM9 Seminar -  Project Management Practices - In the Caribbean Theme: Project Management in Practice UWI, 3rd December 2016   The IET TT LN attended the Ninth Public Seminar on “Project Management Practices in the Caribbean” held on Saturday 3rd December 2016 held at UWi, St. Augustine, Trinidad…

    J. Maraj
    J. Maraj

  • IET James N Kirby Award Presentation Dinner 2017

    IET James N Kirby Award Presentation Dinner was held on 29th May 2017 hosted by the IET SA & NT Local Network. Rod Hook and Rob Pitelen, IET SA & NT Network Chairman The James N Kirby Award is presented to someone who has achieved outstanding eminence, distinction and public recognition in his or her sphere of Engineering activity. The IET Australian Forum is proud to present Rod Hook with the James N Kirby Award for 2017. The James N Kirby Award consists of a silver medal bearing the Coat of Arms of the IET together with a framed certificate citing the achievements of the recipient. The recipient is required to present a paper relating to his or her sphere of activity which is subsequently published. Rod is a highly respected and experienced leader having been involved in initiating and delivering…

    Former Community Member
    Former Community Member

  • It's All About Being Smart These Days...

    Last week the South Island Local Network was lucky enough to have Graham Ault as a speaker on Smart Approaches to Distributed Generation, Connection, and Operation. Graham was out from the UK to be a keynote speaker at the EEA conference, and whilst in NZ he went to several cities to give presentations for the IET.  I thoroughly enjoyed the presentation he gave in Christchurch, and was pleased to meet a number of engineers based in the city, as well as catch up with people I already knew.  If you're interested in looking at the content of the presentation, Graham has kindly allowed us to share it on this blog post, so please take a look! If you'd like to receive an invite to future events run by the IET (and you're an IET member), check your settings in MyIET, to make sure we're allowed to…

    Karla Smith
    Karla Smith

  • Last Call For IET YWE Applications

    In 2016, the IET proudly announced Dr Jenni Sidey as the IET YWE Award winner.  Since then, Jenni has gone on to win the Royal Academy of Engineering - Young Engineer of the Year Award and most recently; she was named Canada's newest astronaut by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) competing with 3,772  candidates for one of two spots! We are thrilled to have had an opportunity to work with Jenni and look forward to more opportunities with her in the future. Jenni is already an exceptional  role model for then next generation and wider community.  No doubt she will continue to go on to do more amazing things, creating a platform for women to come. Congratulations, Jenni!  2016 has been an incredible year for you.  The IET is so proud of you. Could you be the next Young Woman Engineer of the Year…

    Former Community Member
    Former Community Member

  • Annual Healthcare Lecture 2017 - Professor Kevin Warwick Announced As Keynote

    We're delighted to confirm that Professor Kevin Warwick will be joining us at the 2017 Annual Healthcare Lecture in September. Professor Warwick is Emeritus Professor at Reading and Coventry Universities and his research areas are artificial intelligence, biomedical systems, robotics and cyborgs. His talk, ' Neural Implants for Therapy and Enhancement ', will discuss the topic of implants connected into the brain and how they can be employed both for therapeutic purposes and also for enhancement. He will discuss the present and future uses of cochlea implants and deep brain stimulation. He will also consider the BrainGate both for therapy and human enhancement, in order to extend the human nervous system across the internet and to create new forms of communication. Biohacking will also be investigated…

  • "Architecture for Complex Systems" Speaker Announcement: Tim Rabbets and Louise Walker - QinetiQ

    A multi-disciplinary perspective on the architecting and engineering of certain complex engineered systems Tim Rabbets & Louise Walker, QinetiQ   Abstract This paper introduces the broad ‘landscape’ of systems engineering and architecting indicating some of the different genres which take into account system scale and applicable engineering abstraction.  Key notions of system complexity, architecture (and design), together with different genres of systems engineering and architecting are introduced and related.  Within this ‘landscape’ true multi-disciplinary approaches are positioned and related to more ‘standard’ practices.  Some areas of application of systems engineering and architecting in which the authors have experience are overlaid. The paper then draws on case studies to illustrate…

    Former Community Member
    Former Community Member

  • IET Coventry and Warwickshire at the West Midlands Big Bang

    Over 4000 young people with many teachers and parents attended the West Midlands Big Bang at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry. The local network organised a stand to which most of the attendees came. Many hundreds of LED torches were made and most created miniature lightning with out Van Der Graaf Generator. Many learned about PAT testing and examined our eight plugs to identify mistakes in wiring and fuse ratings. We also welcomed to the stand Academy Racing from WMG with their winning F1 In Schools miniature car. Academy Racing won the UK finals and have been asked to represent the UK at the International Finals in Kuala Lumpur. Thay need to raise a large sum to be able to fly to Malasia and donations, however small, are welcomed. Please make cheques to WMG Academy for Young Engineers and send to…

    Derrick Willer
    Derrick Willer

  • Exciting “Girls In STEM” day at The Space Studio, Banbury Academy.

    Over 80 girls from local secondary schools enjoyed a full day of STEM activities organised by the new iSTEM Banbury Hub at the Space Studio, a remarkable section of the Academy devoted to STEM and the planets, stars and galaxies of outer space.   Introduced by the Mayor of Banbury, the keynote speaker, Orla Murphy, IET Young Woman Engineer 2016, talked of her choice to become an engineer in infotainment at Jaguar Land Rover because of her love of both engineering and music.   Abi Hirons, aged 16, from Academy Racing, the F1 In Schools UK winning team, enthralled the girls with her role in the design, testing and racing of their miniature car. She looks forward to competing in the International Finals in Kuala Lumpur in September.   The girls were then involved in STEM workshops and the day…

    Derrick Willer
    Derrick Willer

  • Mystic Meg And The 5G IoT Spectrum (IET Berkshire).

    Focusing on the theme of field based technologies; I took opportunity to attend an event hosted by the IET Berkshire network. Dr.Abhaya Sumanasena Managing consultant at Real Wireless and Martin Wren-Hilton Director of Mobile Innovation at TalkTalk discussed how NB IoT was emerging as the chosen technology by cellular operators to provide services within the Unlicensed spectrum. Mystic Meg was pictured - Perhaps demonstrating that the transition to 5G can have many winners ! Particularly, NB IoT was discussed against Lora and SigFox networks. Where, whilst Lora and SigFox may have more use cases, NB IoT is likely to become the preferred choice for carrier grade networks to play within the Low Power Wan (LPWA)  arena. Uplink and downlink speeds were discussed for field based devices, and whilst…

  • International Robotics Showcase: Speaker Highlight

    Speaker highlight: Dr Rob Buckingham   Dr. Rob Buckingham is Director of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and the first Head of the new centre for Remote Applications in Challenging Environments (RACE). Dr.Buckingham was a lead author of the UK’s Robotics and Autonomous Systems 2020 Strategy. Before joining the UKAEA, Dr. Buckingham co-founded and was Managing Director of OC Robotics, which developed and commercialized snake-arm robots in hazardous and confined spaces working in the nuclear sector, aerospace, construction and petrochemicals. He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology and a visiting professor at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory. Dr Buckingham will be speaking at approximately 12:05 on 'Robotics for extreme…

    Gemma Hadley
    Gemma Hadley

  • Do LEOs Dream Of ‘The Grand Tour’? – The Satellite Systems & Applications Network Certainly Do!

    Following on from our World Space Week event which focussed on the theme of ‘Remote Sensing Satellites for Global Sustainability’. If you couldn’t manage to get along to the event, then don’t forget to catch up with our filmed presentations from Dr Vanessa Lawrence CB, Senior Strategic Geospatial Global Advisor and Director, Location International Ltd and Ralph Cordey Earth Observation Key Account Manager at Airbus Defence and Space.   Chris Brunskill, Chairman of the Satellite TPN recently attended the Space UK 2017 conference and together with my colleague Natalie Sullivan has filmed some videos which we’ll share with you in the community group area as soon as they’ve been edited.   The TPN are currently working on their penultimate event of the 2016-17 session which is a joint event with…

    Deborah-Claire McKenzie
    Deborah-Claire McKenzie

  • On the Road with the Automotive & Road Transport Systems Network

    Just recently in May, Dr John Walker, one of the Network Executive Team volunteers organised an extremely popular seminar, joint with ITS(UK) on Behavioural Psychology in Transport in London.  This event sold out before we’d fully advertised it, the power of social media!  As a result of the excellent feedback we had from delegates and the high demand for the event the Network are planning a follow-up event in October 2018.  You can catch-up with the presentations here as they were filmed for iet.tv    The Network’s next event will be a workshop on Connected Corridors on 13 July 2017 at IET Austin Court, Birmingham and will be joint with Highways England.   Don’t miss this excellent opportunity to hear about the latest developments on this project and also give Highways England your feedback…

    Deborah-Claire McKenzie
    Deborah-Claire McKenzie

  • International Robotics Showcase: Speaker Highlight

    Speaker highlight: Professor Andrew Blake   Professor Andrew Blake is Research Director at The Alan Turing Institute. Prior to joining the Institute in 2015, Professor Blake held the position of Microsoft Distinguished Scientist and Laboratory Director of Microsoft Research Cambridge, England. He joined Microsoft in 1999 as a Senior Researcher to found the Computer Vision group. In 2008 he became a Deputy Managing Director at the lab, before assuming the directorship in 2010. Before joining Microsoft Andrew trained in mathematics and electrical engineering in Cambridge England, and studied for a doctorate in Artificial Intelligence in Edinburgh. He was an academic for 18 years, latterly on the faculty at Oxford University, where he was a pioneer in the development of the theory and algorithms…

Community Rules & Guidelines