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  • John Logie Baird's birthday

    John Logie Baird's birthday is notable for two things in my mind. One of them is obvious: the pioneering inventor who struggled against the limitations of technology to achieve something incredible (several times!). The other may surprise you: for many years, the IET has produced an annual lecture concentrating on one aspect of the leading edge of technology, and it is called the 'John Logie Baird Lecture'. I'm convinced that if it had been running just under a hundred years ago, then John Logie Baird would have been giving one of the 'James Clerk Maxwell' (perhaps - or who would you nominate?) lectures. Because technology advances on a broad but chaotic wavefront, previous 'JLB' lectures have covered a diverse range of topics: from 3D cinema to the underlying technology behind the Internet…

    Former Community Member
    Former Community Member

  • IET Postgraduate Winners 2013 - Three of the five winners were women!

    IET Postgraduate Winners 2013 - Three of the five winners were women! The IET awards up to five postgraduate scholarships annually, between £2,500 and £10,000. The scholarships are for IET members who have started their doctorate and are intended to reward excellence rather than alleviate financial hardship. They are awarded on a competitive basis: applications are assessed by the IET Scholarships Committee and short-listed applicants are interviewed. ... Alison Gibbings was awarded the IET Postgraduate Scholarship for an Outstanding Researcher of £10,000. Alison is a co-located PhD student at the Advanced Space Concepts Laboratory, University of Strathclyde and the Systems, Power and Energy research division, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow. Her research, which she started in…

    Former Community Member
    Former Community Member

  • IET Local Network Prize - 2013 - Monash University

    Whye Leon Seng was this year's recipient of the IET Local Network Prize at Monash University. Leon graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical and Computer Systems) in 2012, and was the recipient of multiple awards at Monash University in the final year of his Bachelor's degree, including the Graham Beard Memorial Prize, Ian Langlands Medal, Sir John Monash Medal and the University Medal for Undergraduate Academic Excellence. The ceremony was held on 12 June 2013 in the Sir Alexander Stewart Theatre at Monash University (Clayton Campus) as part of the Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering Awards Ceremony, recognising the academic achievements of its students. Rowan Pattieson (YPS Chairperson) presented the award on behalf of IET Victoria, with IET Victoria…

    Rowan P
    Rowan P

  • IET Australia PATW 2013 - Results

    Winner Kelsey Kennedy (University of Western Australia) "Imaging the mechanical properties of breast tissue" Runner-up Nicholas Venables (University of Melbourne) "Bionic vision simulator" You can view photos from the awards dinner by clicking here . Kelsey will now represent Australia in the IET Asia-Pacific Regional PATW Final in Brunei (tentatively to be held in August 2013) . We wish her the best of luck! Victoria will be hosting the 2014 IET Australia National PATW Final in May. We will be endeavouring to publicise the fantastic achievements of the competitors to a much wider audience to make this event an even greater success!

    Rowan P
    Rowan P

  • Cyber Security: Development of a Best Practice Guide for Process Safety Systems

    It is widely recognised that systems accessible over the internet are susceptible to on-line attack. The process control sector has generally controlled the threat through restricting access to critical systems, particularly where the systems provide safety protection or mitigation functions. However, for less critical systems the benefits of remote access for surveillance, diagnostics and upgrade activities makes it difficult to maintain a completely "closed" approach within the overall system architecture. Where control and monitoring systems communicate with safety critical systems, or where safety functionality is not strictly segregated from the control system, then vulnerabilities in the on-line systems could compromise safety functions. Recognising that industry needs to gain the commercial…

    James Inge
    James Inge

  • The Women's Engineering Society - WES

    The Women's Engineering Society (WES ) The IET support the Women’s Engineering Society, and if you haven’t done so already you may also be interested in signing up for the free WES monthly e-newsletter, and getting involved with their campaign to encourage women in engineering.

    Former Community Member
    Former Community Member

  • The IET Young Woman Engineer Of The Year Award

    **Nominations now closed but do try again next year** If you have a colleague who meets our criteria - please read and follow the steps below to nominate her for the 2013 awards . If, on the other hand, you believe you personify the qualities we have described, nominate yourself instead. Your qualities are in demand and we believe the world of engineering would like to see more of you. How will the winners benefit? All award winners will have the chance to claim her award at a prestigious national ceremony in London,which will be covered by both print and broadcast media. All award winners will have the opportunity to attend high profile events and meet the most influential people in our industry. All awards will highlight the winner's achievements to future employers. The YWE winner will receive…

    Former Community Member
    Former Community Member

  • We're At Bird Cage Walk - It's Now A Reality

    For those who haven't noticed, the IMechE and IET are now officially 'co-located'. As Chairman of the London Network, this is of course no surprise to me due to the impact it has on the Savoy Place based events. But even as an ordinary member, I have seen enough notifications, consultations etc. come by to have had my say and to have been made aware. I have even been to one of the open evenings at One Birdcage Walk where tours of the building (and samples of the good catering I must add!) were organised. Nevertheless it always seemed to this event. But it really dawned on me that we are now officially sharing the building, when I bumped in to Nigel Fine, our CEO, leaving the building - calling it his new office :) For those who haven't had the opportunity, go and check out our temporary home…

    Davy Thielens
    Davy Thielens

  • Event Review 2012-3

    We had a very successful calendar of events for the 2012-13 season, covering topics as diverse as the aurora borealis, narrow boats, landmine detection and the Tornado steam locomotive. There was also a sold-out tour of the Glyndebourne Stage at the famous opera house. Here follows a summary of the season's events, with links to slides where available. Many thanks to all those involved in the organisation and delivery of these events. 2nd October 2012 Aurora Borealis Prof Mike Underhill 16th October 2012 Carbon capture and storage - an overviewb Dr Adina Popa 6th November 2012 A 59'6" Narrow boat that can travel as quietly as a canoe Dr Derek Wright 20th November 2012 Glyndebourne Stage Systems Tour Simon Yapp 6th December 2012 Detection of Landmines and IEDs David J Daniels CBE 8th Janurary…

    Laurence Tondelier
    Laurence Tondelier

  • When to use a Mentor and when to use a Professional Registration Advisor

    If your goal is to achieve professional registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng), Incorporated Engineer (IEng), Engineering Technician (EngTech) or ICT Technician (ICTTech) you will probably have many people help you along the way. Two key people you might consider seeking out are a mentor and a Professional Registration Advisor. Here I explain these roles and when to use each one. Mentor The role of a mentor is to guide you towards becoming a competent professional, able to contribute towards your company, the engineering profession and the community. A mentor can challenge you to enhance your performance and provide valuable guidance and motivation. If you are just starting out working towards registration or have got part way through and find yourself stuck on something, then a mentor…

    Former Community Member
    Former Community Member in CEng

  • Triennial Review Of The HSE

    The IET has recently contributed to the Triennial Review of the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The IET submission was generally supportive of the current role, structure and performance of the organisation. You can read about the IET submission or find out more about how the IET contributes to UK Government policy .

    James Inge
    James Inge

  • 21st Safety-critical Systems Symposium Videos

    The Safety Critical Systems Club's 21st annual symposium was held in Bristol from the 5th - 7th February 2013. The IET supported the event and many of the presentations are now available on IET.tv For more details about the event programme, see the SCSC website . Speaker Title Day 1 - 5 Feb 2013 Allan Bain, Ministry of Defence Certification in the Defence Sector Ron Bell, Engineering Safety Consultants Ltd IEC 61508: Assessment, Certification and Other Assurance Measures Dewi Daniels, Verocel Certification in Civil Aviation Roger Rivett, Jaguar Land Rover Automotive Regulations Peter Sheppard, Bombardier Transportation Getting Accepted in the UK Rail Industry Day 2 - 6 Feb 2013 John Thomas and Nancy Leveson, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA Keynote address: Generating Formal Model…

    James Inge
    James Inge

  • Vantage Power looking to a 'green' future

    Alex Schey & Toby Schulz with the green bus Photo credit: The Telegraph Two young entrepreneurs who have presented their innovative approach to electric and hybrid technology in lectures to the IET Surrey network have caught the attention of the national press. Alex Schey and Toby Schulz CEO and CTO respectively, of Vantage Power were featured in the Daily Telegraph (2nd July) to talk about their project to develop a self-contained system of engine and battery pack that can be fitted into vehicles already on the road. The North West London based company has already received its first cash investment, and importantly forged a link with the Ensign Bus Company, Britain's largest used bus company. So what was the attraction for these backers? Vantage' system is designed to cut fuel savings for…

    Mike Prewett
    Mike Prewett

  • Event Feedback For Lakeside Venue At University Of Surrey

    Event catering at the Lakeside Restaurant, University of Surrey The Lakeside Restaurant is our main venue because of the excellent catering and for the ease of networking. However, there are a few drawbacks as it is not a tiered theatre and there may be sound reinforcement problems in the central area, however it has been what members have preferred over the years. If you are hard of hearing, you should talk to one of the organisers who may be able to offer you a better seating position. We offer refreshments as a 'bite-to-eat and drink', not as a full supper, and we are limited as to what we can offer from the available menu and pricing. If you have any constructive comment, or any suggestions of alternative venues in the area, then we are always pleased to hear from our members. Comments…

    Mike Prewett
    Mike Prewett

  • Surrey Satro Scores With Schools Once Again

    A student receives the IET award from Martin Butterworth of the Surrey LN The 2013 Surrey Science Fair , organised by Surrey Satro and sponsored by local business and industry partners including the IET, was again a big success with attending students from primary age through to sixth form. This year's fair was held at the Brooklands Motor Museum in Weybridge and presented a wide range of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) based real-world jobs and careers using practical experiments and games to highlight that technology is fund and exciting as well as puzzling. The IET stand saw the return of the make-your-own LED torch kit, which proved popular with all ages. Specific experiments to demonstrate the basic principles of conductors and insulators which although simple also…

    Mike Prewett
    Mike Prewett

  • Confidence - A Sustainable requirement for Women Leaders in Engineering Career

    I volunteered to write up my first blog on the IET Women's Network on the topic of the confidence a women needs to sustain in a male dominated engineering society. I believe confidence in one's abilities to present engineering ideas play a very important role in succeeding as an engineer. It's imperative while we work with majority of males around. It is perceived that majority of females divert to other careers due to lack of confidence in their engineering concepts. I could recall that out of nearly 16 female students in my undergraduates class, hardly 5-6 took engineering as a profession, and only one (myself) went to do a masters and then a Phd. The sustainability of female engineers in engineering careers is under question and it is quite obvious from the fact that we have very few engineering…

    Former Community Member
    Former Community Member

  • Presentation Skills - Who Needs Them?

    Many of us are asked to deliver presentations at work. Some people find this easy to do and enjoy the experience whilst others can feel a bit daunted by the prospect. If you are new to presenting or it has been a while since you last stood up in front of a group to speak, then you might find my top tips for presenting a helpful aid to get you started. Know your subject This will boost your confidence when presenting. Research your topic thoroughly and make sure your facts are accurate. You will be less reliant on your notes and better prepared to answer questions. Know your audience Understanding your audience is vital to writing and delivering a successful presentation. Pitch your presentation at the right level to keep your audience engaged. Structure your content Presentations flow well…

    Former Community Member
    Former Community Member

  • Welcome to the IET Professional Development blog

    Here the IET’s Professional Development staff team capture practical and informative tips to help you make the most of your professional development for a long and successful career in engineering and technology. IET Professional Development on MyCommunity is our online home. A place to share information and resources that we hope will inform and inspire you to invest the time and effort that your professional development deserves. Only you can truly drive your professional development, but there are many people and resources that can help make it really work for you. This blog will feature everything from starting out in your career, finding a suitable mentor and working towards professional registration to continuing your professional development beyond registration and into retirement. And…

    Former Community Member
    Former Community Member

  • Change what you can, accept what you can’t… or influence?

    Following on from our last blog on unconscious bias , many women (not just engineers) have emailed us asking for advice. If we can’t control the unconscious bias that we face in the recruitment process or even in the daily workplace, what do we do? Do we just work harder, change our attitudes and behaviours to ensure that we get noticed, or just accept what we can’t change? A lot of popular self help books focus on the mantra “change what you can, accept what you can’t”. When your career is at stake, I would suggest that is pretty bad advice! Instead: Pre-empt the bias that you face, anticipate it, address it openly without aggression! There are many instances in the recruitment process and beyond in the workplace where people will be making assumptions about you based on your gender.You can…

    Former Community Member
    Former Community Member

  • Bloggers Needed!

    Hello, We would be grateful if we could have some bi-weekly bloggers, here on the Women's Network My Community page. If you are interested then please e-mail me at womensnetwork@theiet.org . The content must be relevent to the subject of women in engineering and technology. This is a great way for My Community members globally, to share what's on their mind and spark some interesting thoughts and ideas. You can e-mail the blog content to me and I will post it on the blog area of the page. There will also be the option for comments to be left, underneath each blog! Thank you, Jo

    Former Community Member
    Former Community Member

  • IET Vision & Imaging Network Best Paper Prize 2013*

    The IET Vision and Imaging Network will make awards to the best PhD and MSc projects nominated by a University Department for the excellence of work in vision and imaging technologies. MSc Prize - £100, PhD Prize - £400 For more information please download the flyer. 2013 V&I Prize flyer * Sponsored by UniEntry.org

    Lisa Miles
    Lisa Miles

  • IET Connect

    IET Connect is dedicated to helping past and present members of the Institution of Engineering and Technology* and their dependants in times of need. With the IET's Worldwide membership standing at over 154,000 individuals in 125 countries the needs of members are diverse. We offer information and advice, help towards the costs of care, carers' needs and disability, redundancy and employment support and financial assistance for a wide range of purposes. All support is tailored to help meet individual needs. *We also help former members of the Institution of Electrical Engineers. This is a great service that can be tailored to the individual! IET Connect are also on My Community. Why not join them to keep updated on the latest activity or visit the website .

    Former Community Member
    Former Community Member

  • Future events in Switzerland

    We are looking at the following possibe events in the next 12 months or so: Horizon scanning in November Visit to a brewery - probably near Berne, together with an "open" committee meeting - second half of September Gotthard tunnel - probably visit the southern part - Ceneri, with social event in Locarno the next day - early October? Desert solar power generation Fusion Resarch Snow and avalanche research - Davos - June or August 2014 - with social event next day Please give your comments on these and other ideas you might have!

    Paul Hulbert
    Paul Hulbert

  • Resources

    Safety Resources Many areas of the IET have an involvement in safety-related work.  Here is a summary of some of the safety-related resources available online from the IET. IET.tv Video Presentations: SIL Determination Seminar 2014 - London, 11 Dec 2014 9th International System Safety and Cyber Security Conference - Manchester, 14-16 Oct 2014 8th International Confrence on System Safety, incorporating the Cyber Security Conference  - Cardiff, 15-17 Oct 2013 21st Safety-critical Systems Symposium - Bristol, 5-7 Feb 2013 How To Stop Data Causing Harm  - Safety Critical Systems Club seminar, London, 4 Dec 2012 7th International Conference on System Safety, incorporating the Cyber Security Conference  - Edinburgh, 15-18 Oct 2012 SIL Determination Seminar 2008 - 5 Dec 2008 Factfiles: EMC and Functional…

    James Inge
    James Inge

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