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.

  • Volunteer Spotlight: Govind Vekaria

    EUR ING Govind Vekaria, BSc(Hons) CEng FIET Govind Vekaria’s volunteering journey began not with a grand plan, but with a simple intention to give a little more of himself. Working for Thales UK, a company that actively encourages volunteering and even offers dedicated paid time for it, he found the spark he needed to get started. “I had often thought about volunteering but never actively pursued any opportunities,” he reflected, recalling how a personal goal of contributing at least ten hours a year nudged him from intention into action. Finding opportunities, however, wasn’t easy. Even roles like fundraising came with waiting lists, and early enquiries often went unanswered. Then came a turning point: an organisation delivered a presentation at Thales, and Govind signed up for one …

  • Engineers supporting engineers: How you've made a difference

    Over the past year, your support has helped ensure that no engineer has had to face life's challenges alone. At Foothold, we exist to support IET members and their families for life, including into retirement. Whether someone is facing financial hardship, health challenges, mental ill health, or a sudden change in circumstances, we're there to help them regain stability and hope. We can only do this with the support of IET members like you. Whether you've donated, volunteered, shared our work, joined a webinar, told your story, or encouraged someone to reach out – thank you . Your support has made a real difference to engineers across the world. Our latest impact report shows all the ways you helped in 2024–25. The year at a glance Foothold supported 1,226 people across 47 countries…

  • Tactile Robotics: Why a Sense of Touch Is the Missing Piece in Humanoid Robots

    When we imagine the future of robotics, humanoid machines often take centre stage: robots that can assist in manufacturing, support healthcare workers, or safely collaborate alongside humans. Yet despite dramatic advances in AI, vision and actuation, one fundamental capability still limits what robots can do in the physical world, a genuine sense of touch. This challenge, and the progress being made to address it, is the focus of an upcoming IET Bristol Local Network event, Tactile Robotics: Past and Future , which takes place on 22 April 2026 . The lecture will be delivered by Professor Nathan F. Lepora, Professor of Robotics & AI at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory, and one of the leading researchers working on robotic touch and dexterous manipulation. While the event itself promises an…

  • Hillsborough and the Engineering of Crowd Safety

    On 15 April 1989 , a football match in Sheffield became the site of the deadliest sporting disaster in British history. Ninety‑seven people lost their lives in a crowd crush at Hillsborough Stadium , during the FA Cup semi‑final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. While the disaster is often remembered through its social and legal aftermath, it is also a defining moment in the engineering of public safety, crowd dynamics and complex socio‑technical systems. For engineers, Hillsborough represents a painful but essential case study: how infrastructure design, human decision‑making and system assumptions can combine to produce catastrophic failure, even when individual components appear to function as intended. What happened – a system under pressure Hillsborough Stadium was built in…

  • Show Your Work with AI: A practical way to trust an AI answer

    AI tools now draft a growing share of the words that move through engineering organisations. Some of those words stay as drafts. Others travel into design notes, tickets, runbooks and reports, where they start to behave like reference material. The corrective point is simple. The hard part is not getting AI to produce an answer. It is making that answer reviewable, current and accountable before it is reused. In this context, “show your work” means the AI answer comes with its trail: the source, the conditions it depends on, and the check you ran. “Trust” does not mean “believe the tool”. It means “safe to reuse because another engineer can review it”. A common failure mode is unexamined reuse. A paragraph is copied forward, stripped of context, and quietly promoted from draft to policy…

  • Pedals, Paths and Purpose: One Engineer’s Journey to Lift the Next Generation

    This spring, the engineering community is being invited to rally around a challenge that captures the very best of what our profession stands for. Determination, empathy and a shared responsibility to open doors for those who come next. On 14 April 2026, IET member Sethu Ponniah, MIET , will set off on an extraordinary journey across Scotland to raise awareness and funds for the IET Futures Fund , supporting students who face financial barriers on their path into engineering. At first glance, the numbers alone are striking. More than 600 miles in total. Over two demanding weeks. A combination of long-distance cycling and walking through some of Scotland’s most rugged and beautiful landscapes. But this challenge is about far more than physical endurance. It is about creating opportunity and…

    Ana Lovick
    Ana Lovick

  • IET Manufacturing Network Young Professionals & Early Career Competition — Now Open for 2026 Abstract and Slide Submissions

    Climate change is no longer a distant concern or a theoretical debate. It is happening now, and its impacts are increasingly visible. In the UK, 2025 has officially been recorded as the hottest year on record, a stark reminder that climate thresholds are approaching faster than many anticipated. Against this backdrop, the global ambition to limit warming to 1.5°C feels both urgent and daunting. To achieve it, the world must reach net zero emissions by 2050 and manufacturing sits right at the centre of this challenge. As one of the most energy‑intensive sectors globally, manufacturing has both a responsibility and an opportunity. The responsibility is clear: industrial activity contributes significantly to carbon emissions. The opportunity is perhaps even more powerful. Manufacturing engineers…

  • Massive MIMO: The Brain of 5G Networks

    How are smarter antennas reshaping wireless connectivity? Think about the last time you streamed a video in a packed stadium, or jumped on a video call from a busy train station. Your phone somehow found a signal, held it, and delivered — even with thousands of devices competing for the same airwaves. That's not magic. That's Massive MIMO at work. Massive MIMO — Multiple-Input Multiple-Output taken to a whole new scale — is one of the defining technologies of 5G. Where older base stations had 2 to 8 antenna ports, a modern 5G site can have 32, 64, or more. And it doesn't just have more antennas; it uses them intelligently, directing signals like a spotlight rather than a floodlight. More Antennas, More Intelligence Traditional base stations broadcast signals in wide arcs, hoping the…

  • Online safety: Can broadcasters rely on Meta’s limited accountability, trust & transparency in social media platforms?

    Explainability of artificial intelligence (AI) and the ethical aspects of recommendation algorithms have been widely discussed in many forums. Before delving into the topic of distribution platforms and the challenges they pose, it is worth noting that the radio broadcasting industry celebrated World Radio Day (WRD) on 13 February 2026. This year’s theme, announced by UNESCO, highlighted threats to trust, particularly arising from AI. WRD is a global celebration observed annually on February 13, recognising and thanking broadcasters for the news they deliver, the voices they amplify, and the stories they share. The theme for World Radio Day 2026 announced by UNESCO , was “Radio and Artificial Intelligence: AI is a tool, not a voice.” Today, AI presents new opportunities and challenges…

  • Robotics, standards, and the pathway to deployment: reflections from ERF 2026

    The European Robotics Forum (ERF) 2026, held in Stavanger, centred on Robotics for the blue economy and growth in space. This theme reflects an increasing convergence between advanced robotics and application domains where reliability, autonomy, and sustainable long-term operation under uncertainty are essential rather than desirable. Across the forum, a broader shift in emphasis was apparent. The discussion is moving beyond demonstrating technical capability towards addressing how robotic systems can be deployed and operated in real-world environments. This shift brings questions of system reliability, safety, and trust to the forefront. In this context, standardisation is becoming more central. One of the sessions highlighted ongoing work on ISO/IEC TS CD 22440, which addresses AI in…

  • Engineering better systems: reflections from International Women’s Day in Parliament

    International Women’s Day often centres on important conversations around representation, opportunity, and inclusion. Earlier in March, I had the opportunity to help organise and contribute to a discussion at the UK Parliament, bringing together leaders from across sectors to reflect on these themes. What stood out was not simply the diversity of perspectives in the room, but a recurring pattern in how challenges were described. Many of the barriers discussed, whether related to progression, visibility, or access, were framed as cultural or behavioural issues. While these are undoubtedly important, they are also, fundamentally, systemic. From an engineering perspective, systems tend to produce the outcomes they are designed for. If an outcome is persistent and widespread, it is often a…

    Param B. MBE
    Param B. MBE

  • Volunteer Spotlight: Will Drury

    Making a Difference, One Role at a Time Will Drury is the chief executive officer at PNDC, part of the University of Strathclyde, an engineering leader focused on electrification, decarbonisation and the journey to net zero in the UK. A long standing IET volunteer, he has served on Council, supports professional registration and mentors engineers, always with an eye to making a tangible difference. Rooted in Family, Inspired by Purpose Volunteering with the IET may be part of Will Drury’s family story, his father dedicated many years to the Institution, from leading the Power Electronics, Machines and Drives (PEMD) community and helping to run the PEMD Conference and undertaking accreditation visits in the UK and overseas. That example nudged Will toward service, but what sustains him…

  • Grace Catherine (Rena) Kennedy (1923-2017)

    Guest blog by Lianne Hackett Introduction This blog traces the first visit abroad of Rena Kennedy on a fact-finding trip funded by the Electrical Association for Women , and her later life as an electrical demonstrator, teacher, musician, mother and volunteer. Rena’s life shows how the growing industry of domestic electricity provided jobs and opportunities for talented young women in the middle of the twentieth century, but her story goes far beyond her work with the EAW, as described in this biographical sketch. Visit to Sweden In July 1947, Rena Kennedy embarked on her first trip abroad, having been awarded a bursary by the Electrical Association for Women to study electrical housecraft in Sweden. Rena had studied at the West of Scotland College of Domestic Science in…

  • Inside the World of Commercial Flight Simulation: How Modern Airlines Train Pilots

    Flight simulation has long been one of the aviation industry’s most powerful tools. Behind every smooth commercial flight is a pilot who has spent hundreds of hours mastering the controls, procedures, and decision‑making skills required to fly safely. And most of that mastery doesn’t happen in the air; it happens in a simulator. At the next IET Sussex Network talk on Tuesday 14th April at 6:30pm , Jeremy Hopkins, an expert with deep experience in the simulation industry, will offer compelling insights into how commercial airlines rely on flight simulators, how these systems work, how they differ from their military counterparts and why simulation remains indispensable to modern pilot training. He will use the Boeing 787 Simulator Architecture as an example. Why Flight Simulation Matters…

  • Payloads of the Past: Docking with Destiny

    As is apparent in many space programs, unexpected delays occur and “Payloads from the Past” is not immune to this, I will place this in my Lessons Identified and assure April’s is out at the start of the month – but leave a few weeks for this to be digested. In May, I will put “payloads of the Past” back to its usual spot of 1 st Tuesday! But let’s crack on. Spaceflight in the mid‑1960s was a race not only between nations, but between ideas. Each mission of NASA’s Gemini programme tested something that had never before been done: longer stays in orbit; extravehicular activity; controlled re‑entry; and the art of bringing two spacecraft together in precise, shared motion as we saw ack in December we looked at orbital rendezvous of Gemini 6/7A. March 1966 saw one of the most ambitious and…

  • AI in Manufacturing: Why Most Initiatives Fail & How to Deliver Real Engineering Value

    This article builds on discussions from the “AI, Ethics and Manufacturing” event hosted by the Manufacturing Technical Network in collaboration with the Mersey & West Cheshire Local Network and the AI Technical Network, which took place on 27 January 2026. The session explored the practical realities of implementing AI in manufacturing – moving beyond ambition and into execution. What became clear is that the challenge is no longer understanding AI – it’s making it work where it actually matters. The technology is advancing rapidly, and its potential is widely recognised. The real difficulty lies in applying it effectively within operational environments, where processes are complex, data is imperfect, and decisions carry real consequences. In one manufacturing facility, a production line…

  • What does accreditation mean to you?

    Many of us are looking to develop ourselves in our careers as well as personal aspirations. Learning & development is at the heart of everything we do to progress, invite new opportunities and grow as individuals. It keeps us current and enables us to deliver a positive impact on business goals whilst fulfilling the desire to expand our skills and knowledge. Training is key to continued professional development and is delivered any many ways - from experiential learning from peers and coaches to attending training courses that focus on specific skills & knowledge gaps. Having spent much of my career in L&D - designing and delivering training, and managing wider learning portfolios, I’ve seen first-hand the impact the right learning can have. But there’s one question that comes up time…

  • From BIM to CNC: Ensuring Digital Fabrication Through ISO 19650 Information Management

    Building Information Modelling (BIM) has transformed how buildings are designed, coordinated, and documented. Digital models now enable multidisciplinary teams to collaborate within shared information environments, improving coordination and reducing errors throughout design and construction. However, a critical question remains within digital construction: Can BIM models reliably support fabrication and CNC-based manufacturing? In many projects, BIM models are primarily used for coordination, clash detection, and documentation. Yet, when projects move toward industrialised construction or digital fabrication, models must do more than represent geometry; they must contain structured, validated, and fabrication-ready information . Without clear information governance, the transition…

    Shahin Khalilian
    Shahin Khalilian in CEng

  • From 5G to 6G: The Race to Build the AI-Native Network

    The Quiet Uplink Crisis For years, mobile networks were built around a simple asymmetry: users download far more than they upload. A smartphone streaming video pulls megabytes from the network while sending only a trickle of acknowledgment packets back. Downlink was the engineering priority; uplink was an afterthought. AI is rewriting that assumption with urgency. As on-device intelligence moves from novelty to necessity — real-time scene recognition, generative image editing, cloud-assisted video synthesis — it is the uplink that buckles first. Industry lab measurements make the scale of the problem concrete. Advanced 5G: The Bridge We Are Already Building The good news is that operators do not need to wait for 6G to address the uplink gap. Advanced 5G — encompassing 3GPP Releases…

    Soubhagya Ranjan Mohapatra
    Soubhagya Ranjan Mohapatra

  • A Safety Checklist for Workplace Hazards: 10 Essential Tips Every Professional Should Know

    Every professional, regardless of their field, knows that workplace hazards can arise in many forms. They can be physical, like slippery floors, or related to health, such as exposure to chemicals. Understanding these risks is crucial to creating a safe working environment. This checklist provides essential tips to help you identify and mitigate hazards, ensuring a safer, more efficient workplace for everyone. 1. Identify Common Hazards The first step in managing workplace hazards is identifying the specific risks present. Some common hazards include: Slips, trips, and falls: These represent 25% of reported workplace injuries according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Exposure to harmful chemicals: Approximately 13% of work-related injuries stem from chemical exposure. …

    Paul Lino Galutira
    Paul Lino Galutira

  • Stories from neurodivergent engineers

    Helen, Tim and Charlie discuss getting a diagnosis and the workplace adjustments that work for them. Neurodivergent people have always been part of the engineering world. Their creativity, curiosity, pattern‑spotting and ability to hyperfocus have shaped entire industries. Yet many neurodivergent engineers are still working without the support and understanding they need to thrive. To explore this, we sat down with three neurodivergent members of the engineering community: Helen Cumming , Chartered Engineer with ADHD and dyslexia Tim Rutter , Chartered Mechanical Engineer with ADHD and autism Charlie Loughlin , Data Manager with ADHD, former IET member Together, they talked about how understanding themselves and advocating for their needs at work has changed everything.…

  • Understanding ISO 19650 Information ManagementProcurement, Planning and Production in Practice – Lessons from the Elizabeth Line

    Large infrastructure projects generate enormous volumes of information. Engineering models, design documentation, technical specifications, and asset data are created by numerous organisations throughout the lifecycle of a project. Without a structured system to manage this information, coordination becomes difficult and decision-making becomes unreliable. This challenge is one of the main reasons the construction industry has adopted structured information management frameworks such as ISO 19650. Rather than focusing only on digital modelling, the standard provides a governance framework that defines how project information should be requested, produced, coordinated and delivered across the lifecycle of built assets. To understand how this process works in practice, it is helpful to examine…

  • Neurodiversity Celebration Week - Volunteer Spotlight: Peter Gribble

    For Neurodiversity Celebration Week, we’re highlighting volunteer Peter Gribble, who makes a difference in the engineering community. He has been supporting neurodivergent applicants for the past eight years, starting from the day he received his CEng certificate and applied to be a Professional Review Interviewer. Since then, he has continued to advocate for neurodivergent applicants and play an active role in supporting the wider neurodiverse community. For the past eight years, Peter Gribble has dedicated his time, expertise, and lived experience to supporting neurodivergent candidates within engineering. His volunteering journey began the very day he received his CEng certificate in the post, when he applied to be a Professional Review Interviewer (PRI). What started as colleagues informally…

  • We’ve published our Disability in Engineering and Technology Report

    We’re pleased to share that our Disability in Engineering and Technology Report and one-page summary have now been published. This important piece of research explores the lived experiences of disabled engineers and technologists, highlighting the organisational and cultural factors that continue to shape, and often restrict, their ability to enter and succeed in our sector. Building on our previous neurodiversity research, this report focuses on physical disabilities and long-term conditions, bringing forward candid insights from disabled engineers and technologists, as well as those who work with them. These findings in combination with the ongoing STEM skills shortage present a clear call to action for employers and the wider engineering and technology community: now is the time…

Community Rules & Guidelines