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  • Howe the world profoundly changed and became better dressed

    On this day in (engineering) history… September 10, 1846 - Elias Howe is granted a patent for the sewing machine. Boston, Massachusetts, 1839. At the famous and highly regarded machine shop belonging to Ari Davis, a young man approaches Davis for advice or encouragement on a project of his, a knitting machine. Davis pointed out that the inventor was wasting his time, that he should be working on a sewing machine instead because there was money in it. The inventor was not convinced, but a witness to that discussion had an idea that was crystalised when he stopped working because of a painful disability. Elizabeth, his wife, took on sewing work to bring in a little money. Watching her work, Elias Howe decided he could make Elizabeth’s job easier by inventing and patenting the sewing machine…

  • Members in Berkshire celebrated for their achievements!

    Hello, I’m Julie Hudson and I am a Local Network Manager for the IET. My role is to guide and support a portfolio of local networks in the UK. Earlier this year I was very pleased to help the Berkshire network organise a professional recognition event. The purpose of this event was to celebrate the achievements of members in Berkshire who had achieved professional registration or fellowship with the IET. What is professional registration and fellowship? Professional registration can not only enhance your career, it also demonstrates that you have reached an internationally recognised standard of competence. There are four categories of Professional Registration; Chartered Engineer, Incorporated Engineer, Engineering Technician and ICT Technician and each category follows a variation…

  • Empowering Young Minds Through Technology: The Mission of Technology Books for Children

    In a world increasingly driven by technology, it's crucial to provide children with the tools they need to navigate and understand the digital landscape. The charity Technology Books for Children , founded by Beverly Clarke MBE, is dedicated to this mission. By encouraging reading for pleasure on tech topics, the charity aims to encourage enjoyment of technology and play a part in fostering the next generation of digital citizens. The Inspiration Behind the Charity The idea for Technology Books for Children was born from Beverly’s observations while as a teacher, leading computing education nationally and while writing her tech-themed children’s book series, The Digital Adventures of Ava and Chip . She noticed that many children saw technology as distant and complex, something reserved…

  • Check out this video recap of the IET’s Young Professional Committee recent meeting in Hong Kong!

    Back in May, the IET’s Young Professionals Committee met for their second in person meeting of this current session. The group gathered at the IET’s Hong Kong office, where two days’ worth of meetings took place. They also had the opportunity to visit the facilities for both the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE) where they got to see the newly opened Electric Cars workshop and a glimpse of the university’s solar car project, Sophie 6. As well as the Sha Tin Water Treatment Works which supplies 30% of Hong Kong’s clean water. To cap off the trip, a sharing session with the Hong Kong Young Members Section was held, where both groups were able to network and share their insights. Watch the video to see more about their trip: engx.theiet.org/.../7367.2024_2D00_06_2D00_20-Hong…

  • Cyber security in critical industries: challenges, solutions, and the road ahead

    In an era of rapid digital transformation, cyber security has emerged as a paramount concern, particularly for critical industries such as energy, healthcare, and transportation. As we approach the IET’s Cyber Security for Critical Industries 2024 conference, it is essential to delve into the latest cyber security challenges and explore how building resilient and responsive systems can help mitigate these risks. The evolving cyber security landscape The cyber security landscape is in a constant state of flux, with new threats emerging and existing ones becoming more sophisticated. Ransomware attacks, third-party vulnerabilities, mobile malware, and zero-day vulnerabilities in supply chains are among the significant challenges companies face today. Moreover, the relentless growth in cloud…

  • The dawn of the jet age - The day that began with a flight into the future

    On this day in (engineering) history… August 27, 1939 - First flight of the Heinkel He. 178 An odd sight would have greeted anyone seeing today’s routine test flight at the Heinkel aircraft company’s Marienehe airfield in Rostock, Germany. The aircraft made a noise resembling a whistling howl. It had a strange opening at its nose and no visible means of propulsion. What the gathered company designers and engineers were studying closely, was the first flight of a turbojet-powered aircraft – the jet age has just arrived. Take off Replica of Heinkel He. 178 in the arrival hall of Rostock-Laage airport. Source: Wikimedia Commons The pilot was Erich Warsitz , who had already test-flown an experimental rocket-powered plane, the Heinkel He. 176 two months earlier. He wrote: “…As the aircraft…

  • Electric Vehicles and the Evolution of Automotive Manufacturing Processes

    Electric Vehicles and the Evolution of Automotive Manufacturing Processes The automotive industry is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the rapid advancement and adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). This shift not only signifies a move toward sustainable transportation but also necessitates significant changes in manufacturing processes. As the world pivots to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change, the rise of EVs has catalysed an evolution in how vehicles are designed, produced, and assembled. This article explores the implications of this evolution, focusing on the technological, economic, and environmental aspects of automotive manufacturing in the era of electric vehicles. Technological Innovations in EV Manufacturing Electric vehicles are fundamentally different…

  • Supporting Foothold – The Benevolent Fund of the IET

    Foothold is the Institution of Engineering and Technology Benevolent Fund . It is an independent charity that has been supporting engineers for over 130 years. I am asking for help today to raise awareness of Foothold and the fantastic work it does to support the most vulnerable members of our engineering community. Originally founded in 1890 as the benevolent fund of the IEE, s ince the formation of the IET from the IEE and IIE in 2006 it has continued to provide support to IET members as their benevolent fund. What does Foothold do? As an IET member, Foothold is your charity. Foothold’s mission is to support engineers and their families around the world to thrive, so they never have to face life’s challenges alone. It does this by providing a multitude of services to IET members and…

  • Unlocking the Power of Predictive Maintenance - Part 2: Navigating Data Challenges in Predictive Maintenance

    In our previous post, we unveiled the exciting world of Predictive Maintenance, exploring its potential and practical applications. If you didn’t read it already, the link is here (Unlocking the Power of Predictive Maintenance - Part 1: The Promise and Challenges of Predictive Maintenance). In this post, we dive deeper into the data itself. We will uncover the intricacies of the data involved, the challenges it presents, and the crucial steps needed to begin building predictive models. The Collected Data Once we’ve gathered the data, we need to start processing it. Whilst pre-processing to clean the data is essential, here we will just focus on the additional key aspects critical to Predictive Maintenance. Often, we need to reduce the data volume whilst preserving quality and features…

  • Gray’s Anatomy of a Payphone

    On this day in (engineering) history… August 13, 1889 - William Gray of Hartford, Connecticut patents the payphone You're having a bad day. Your spouse is seriously ill, and you need to get help. You need a phone, but don't have one. Ask a neighbour…they won't let you use theirs. You go out searching for a phone, any phone to use. But nobody has one, and those that do refuse your pleas to call a doctor. What do you do? If you're William Gray, you invent and patent the payphone. Everyone's nightmare William Gray's father, Neil, thought his son needed a respectable job, so he sent him to work at a drug store. The druggist told Mr Gray the young man spent his time in the basement tinkering with anything he could get his hands on and should try something else. Next, this son of Scottish…

  • Hitting the top...unaided!

    Rock Engineering and Nick Wilson are breaking down barriers to help make life better for people with disabilities. Disabled Adventurer, Nick Wilson, became the first to reach the highest point accessible on Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) ‘unaided’ in an engineered powerchair - the RockClimber on Friday, July 12, 2024. After a three-hour hike from Llanberis car park, he reached one thousand metres of the 1085-metre route. A pinch-point on the final ridge blocked progress when the chair proved too big to move through the narrowing. After a team discussion, Nick and Rock Engineering co-owners Elliot Dason-Barber and Andrew Miller, agreed they had achieved their goal. Nick Wilson with Elliot Dason-Barber and Andrew Miller of Rock Engineering at the top of Yr Wyddfa, 12 July, 2024. Source: Rock Engineering…

  • Where there’s wheels, there’s a way

    Wheelchair user takes on Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) 'unaided' thanks to engineering team's first-of-its-kind power mobility chair. Wednesday, 5 June, Llanberis, north Wales: It is a damp, rain-threatened grey morning in the north Wales village of Llanberis, at the foot of Yr Wyddfa (Mount Snowdon), the highest peak in England and Wales. Mental health campaigner and disabled adventurer Nick Wilson is about to attempt the arduous climb to the summit - using a unique, tailor-made powered mobility chair - the RockClimber . He is determined to become the first disabled person to reach the top of Yr Wyddfa unaided. The importance of this word, 'unaided,' will become clear later on. Climbing, the Rock Engineering way The team at Rock Engineering has boosted Nick's attempt on Yr Wyddfa. Their extensive…

  • Reflections on an ‘Electrical Age’

    Guest blog by Madeleine Smith, Emily Raynor, and Isabella Fletcher from the University of Leeds. This is the final in a series of blogs written by Liberal Arts students at the University of Leeds to celebrate the centenary of the Electrical Association for Women (EAW) in 2024. In our previous blogposts on the EAW , our key research resource was the fully digitized EAW journal, The Electrical Age, known initially (1926-1932) as The Electrical Age for Women . Our final post in the project will look at how others can use the fully digitised Electrical Age journal in their research. Unlocking potential We have all thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to read through The Electrical Age to gather and examine information on women’s changing roles and expertise at the dawn of Britain’s mass electrification…

  • The steel and rubber soul of motoring – the VW Beetle

    On This Day in Engineering History July 30, 2003 - The last 'old style' Volkswagen Beetle rolls off the production line July 30, 2003. It is a Wednesday afternoon, another sweltering summer day in the Mexican city of Puebla. In the Hall of Sorrows, a traditional mariachi band is playing 'La Golondrina' (The Swallow), an 1862 song written by Mexican physician Narciso Serradell Sevilla, while he was exiled in France. It tells the story of a migrating swallow, lost and battered by the winds, of how, when The Swallow returns, the singer will make a safe space for the bird to nest beside him on his bed. 'La Golondrina' is sung by Mexicans when they say goodbye to a loved one. This is fitting because the Hall of Sorrows, within the Volkswagen de Mexico plant, is where the very last Volkswagen…

  • Rare books: Geometria and Opera philosophica by René Descartes

    This is a guest blog on René Descartes and some of his works we hold by A-Level student Phoebe Carnell who joined us for her work experience in the IET Library and Archives. Opera philosophica , 1685. A collection of 3 of his most influential works – Mediations on first philosophy , Principles of philosophy and Discourse on the method . All explore the idea of searching for truth in reality using philosophical inquiry and innate ideas (an a priori approach). His work consists of specific rules, such as ‘accept nothing as true that is not self-evident’ which links to his advocation of the scientific method. Most famously, Meditations on first philosophy . This work of his is one that I am most intrigued by, as it contains Descartes explaining what is categorised as having certainty in a…

  • Where next? GenAI's evolution in knowledge, understanding, reasoning and scaling

    Introduction The global economy is fuelled by knowledge and information, the digital sector growing 6x faster than the economy as a whole. AI will act as a further accelerant in boosting the economy and has the potential of being transformative across many sectors. Figure 1 GenAI has wide application However, in realising this promise, GenAI faces a number of challenges: 1) foundational LLMs have a great set of skills and generalist knowledge, but know nothing about individual companies’ products & services; 2) whilst LLMs are great at providing an instant answer, they often misunderstand the question or simply hallucinate in their response; equally, 3) LLMs need to improve in their reasoning capabilities to understand and solve complex problems; and finally, 4) LLMs are compute intensive…

  • Our latest EDI resource explores neuroinclusion at work

    When we published our Neurodiversity in Engineering and Technology report in November 2023, we laid out 7 key commitments that we’re making to improve neuroinclusion across the organisation and wider sector. One of these commitments was to create a toolkit with a focus on practical actions and advice for supporting a neurodivergent person at work. We’re very pleased to now be able to share that resource with you. Read our new toolkit here. Our toolkit, titled ‘Understanding neurodivergence at work’, is aimed at organisations, employers and colleagues of neurodivergent people, as well as neurodivergent individuals themselves. Within, you’ll find important information about different neurodivergent conditions, how the related traits may manifest at work, and what you can do to support them…

  • North Devon Robotics Challenge 2024

    Year 7 teams from five Devon schools met at Petroc College, Barnstaple on Wednesday 20 March to compete in the North Devon Robotics Challenge, sponsored by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and the North Devon Manufacturers’ Association. The event was organised by the IET Devon and Cornwall local network, and supported by Petroc College. The teams of eight boys and girls have been working in pairs on four challenges; three involving programming Edison robots to address engineering challenges, and a fourth challenge to design, on paper, a robot help with an aspect of the local maritime industry. On Wednesday afternoon, the teams came together to show what they had achieved. The first challenge was to program the robot to race around an octagonal course as many times as…

  • Engineering Beginnings: My Journey into and within the World of Engineering

    I wrote this blog to encourage all engineers, especially those just starting their careers, to reflect on their journeys. Engineering can achieve incredible things, but it can be tough to find the right fit. It’s worth holding out for the space where your passion and skills truly align. By sharing my story, I hope to show that your unique perspective is a strength. Embrace the challenges, celebrate the victories, and know that your contributions are vital for a more inclusive and innovative future in engineering. I wanted to be a Doctor The year is 2009. I'm standing outside Stevenage Cineworld with a blue crayon clamped between my teeth like a faux cigar and a blazer that's two sizes too big for me. Clearly, my decision-making skills were still in development. At that time, I wanted…

  • Rare books: Recherches Physiques sur le Feu and Recherches Physiques sur L’Électricité

    The IET Library holds two books by the physician, politician, revolutionary and scientist Jean-Paul Marat. Recherches Physiques sur le Feu (1780) and Recherches Physiques sur L’Électricité (1782) are part of the collection of Silvanus P. Thompson purchased in 1917 by the IET. You can find out more about Thompson, his work and his association with the IET here . While Marat is often remembered primarily for his political activities, and particularly his role in the French Revolution of 1789-1799, his scientific contributions, show that he was an innovative thinker, willing to challenge established theories and committed to empirical research methods. Although some of Marat’s scientific theories were eventually proven incorrect, his works on fire and electricity reflect a deep engagement with…

    IET Archives
    IET Archives

  • Young engineers from Fleetwood High School triumph in national engineering challenge final

    Students from Fleetwood High School in Fleetwood, Lancashire have won the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s (IET) national IET Faraday ® engineering challenge, securing £1,000 for their school. The top five school teams from the season league table attended the IET Faraday ® National Final on Wednesday 26 June 2024 at the Silverstone Museum. The other teams included Adcote School for Girls from Shrewsbury, Havelock Academy from Grimsby, St Roch’s Secondary School from Glasgow and St Aidan’s High School from Glasgow. This year’s challenge was in association with Rees Jeffreys Road Fund and National Highways - the government company that oversees the operation, maintenance and improvement of England’s motorways and major A roads. The teams were tasked to design a prototype that…

  • Nanotechnology Applications in Oil & Gas Manufacturing

    Nanotechnology Applications in Oil & Gas Manufacturing The oil and gas (O&G) industry is critical to the global economy, supplying essential energy resources that fuel transportation, electricity generation, and industrial processes. As demand for energy grows and environmental concerns intensify, the industry faces pressure to innovate and enhance efficiency, safety, and sustainability. One promising frontier in this regard is nanotechnology, which involves the manipulation of matter at the nanoscale (one billionth of a meter). This article explores the diverse applications of nanotechnology in O&G manufacturing, highlighting its potential to revolutionise the sector. Enhanced Material Properties: Nanotechnology can significantly improve the properties of materials used in O&G manufacturing…

  • The Whole System: Mobility-as-a-Service - Data mining: the key to making Mobility-as-a-Service work?

    To make this new idea work, travellers and providers will have to pool a lot of data. Making it safe and reliable is a big task The challenges of Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) extend beyond the transport system itself and include protection of individuals’ personal data and agreements on the distribution of revenue. For Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) to work, it will require considerable sharing of data. This will allow MaaS to build a picture of the totality of the traveller’s requirements and plug into the infrastructure of transport service providers, such as journey planning, booking and information. This will give would-be passengers real-time information relevant to each transport service in a particular journey. No getting away from data sharing The dependence of MaaS on data sharing…

  • The Whole System: Mobility-as-a-Service - A MaaS-sive possibility?

    Can a new approach to moving people around be a ‘win, win’ for people, the economy and the environment all at the same time? In a future carbon sustainable, net-zero world, people will still want, and probably need, to travel. This prompts the question, ‘how?’ From a Systems Engineering (SE) perspective, one answer would be Mobility as a Service (MaaS). What is MaaS? The UK’s Government Office for Science (citing the Transport Systems Catapult and UK Parliamentary records) describes MaaS as: ‘digital interface to source and manage the provision of a transport related service(s) which meets the mobility requirements of a customer’. MaaS is a system that provides a single point of organisation for a journey, providing options to use any part of the existing array of transport services…

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