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  • The Day Music Went Mobile: The Engineering Behind the Sony Walkman

    On the 1st July 1979, a small, unassuming device quietly hit the shelves in Japan—and changed the way the world listened to music forever. The Sony Walkman, a portable cassette player no larger than a paperback novel, was launched to a sceptical market. But within months, it had become a cultural phenomenon and a landmark in consumer electronics engineering. The Sony Walkman TPS-L2, the world’s first truly portable stereo cassette player, was a marvel of miniaturised engineering and user-focused design. It wasn’t just a product—it was a revolution in both technology and culture. The Birth of a Sonic Icon The story of the Walkman begins not in a lab, but on a long-haul flight. Sony co-founder Masaru Ibuka wanted a way to listen to music on his frequent business trips without lugging around…

  • The Satellite TN at the IET Space and Communications Conference Week

    This annual conference started life as IET MilSatcom. I remember the first time I attended; it was in a room that could’ve hosted a medium sized board meeting and there were probably a few dozen people in the room at most. It got bigger and bigger and over time built to three-figure attendances. In the early 2020s, the potential for a sister conference for commercial Satcom was explored, but it never really took off for various reasons. In 2023 the IET MilSatcom conference expanded to include a commercial stream; this was a success and the feedback was good. It expanded again in 2024 with a concurrent 6G stream added to run alongside the Satcom piece. This year a further expansion included Quantum technology. Over the years, the conferences have been held in many venues, with my first one…

  • From Bees to Base Stations: Highlights from CAWE 2025

    On 11 June 2025, the University of Liverpool played host to the 13th Colloquium on Antennas and Wireless Electromagnetics (CAWE’25), organised by the IET’s Antennas and Propagation Technical Network (APTN). This annual gathering brought together over 45 scientists, engineers, and researchers from academia, industry, and government to explore the latest advancements in antennas and wireless technologies. Meet the Hosts and Key Speakers The event was chaired by Professor Yi Huang, Chair in Wireless Engineering at the University of Liverpool, and co-chaired by Dr Anil Shukla (QinetiQ) and Dr Viktor Doychinov (University of Bradford), both long-standing IET volunteers. Professor Huang opened the event with a keynote on “ Advances in Liquid and Dispersive Antennas ”, highlighting the potential…

  • Celebrating Verena Holmes: Trailblazer, Inventor, Engineer

    Today, 23rd of June, on what would have been her 136th birthday, we celebrate the remarkable life and legacy of Verena Winifred Holmes —a pioneering English mechanical engineer, inventor, and passionate advocate for women in engineering. A Woman Ahead of Her Time Born in Ashford, Kent, Verena Holmes grew up in a world where engineering was considered a man’s domain. But that didn’t stop her. From a young age, she was curious about how things worked—often dismantling her toys just to see what was inside. Her engineering journey began during the First World War, when she joined the Integral Propeller Company in Hendon, building wooden aircraft propellers. She studied at night while working full-time, eventually earning a BSc in Engineering from Loughborough Engineering College in 1922—a…

  • Scaling Social Housing with Volumetric Construction: A Manufacturing Perspective

    The global housing crisis is one of the most pressing challenges of our time, exacerbated by rising costs, population growth, and supply chain inefficiencies. Since the 2008 financial crisis, housing prices have consistently outpaced wage growth, making homeownership increasingly unattainable for middle and lower-income households. In countries like the UK, over 1.2 million people remain on social housing waiting lists, highlighting the urgent need for innovative, scalable, and cost-effective housing solutions. Volumetric construction – where entire housing modules are built offsite in controlled environments and then assembled on-site – offers a transformative solution. By leveraging advanced manufacturing techniques, this method accelerates construction timelines, reduces costs, and enhances…

  • Building a legacy: Rambali Raghavan’s Volunteering Story

    Rambali Raghavan’s Volunteering Story Today, we explore the inspiring journey of Rambali, our Professional Registration volunteer. He began as a Professional Registration Advisor in 2016 and was elected Fellow of the IET in 2020. Since then, he has also become a Fellowship Advisor. Rambali enjoys talking to applicants from diverse backgrounds, which broadens his horizons and enriches his understanding of various career paths. The Joy and Impact of Altruistic Volunteering Rambali believes in giving back to society without expecting anything in return. He hopes his efforts will contribute to a better future for society and the planet. In a world where altruism is often lacking, Rambali finds immense joy and satisfaction in volunteering. It gives him a sense of purpose and allows him to…

  • George Stephenson: The Man Who Put Britain on Track

    Today marks 244 years since the birth of one of Britain’s greatest engineering pioneers — George Stephenson, born on 9th June 1781 in Wylam, Northumberland. Known affectionately as the "Father of the Railways", Stephenson’s legacy continues to shape the way we travel, connect, and innovate. From Humble Beginnings to Industrial Icon George Stephenson’s story is the stuff of legend. Born into a working-class family, he had little formal education and worked as a colliery engineman. But his curiosity and determination led him to teach himself reading, writing, and arithmetic — all while working long hours. His breakthrough came with the invention of the "Blücher" locomotive in 1814, but it was his work on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, opened in 1830, that truly changed the world…

  • Reflections from ICRA 2025: Where Robotics Meets the Real World

    If you're in the robotics world, you probably know that ICRA (International Conference on Robotics and Automation) is the place to be. For over 40 years, ICRA has set the stage for the biggest breakthroughs and boldest ideas in robotics, and this year was no exception. Hosted in Atlanta, Georgia, the 2025 edition attracted an incredible 7,000 attendees, making it one of the largest yet. From tech giants to early-stage researchers, the halls of the Georgia World Congress Center were buzzing with ideas, innovations, and more than 150 exhibitor booths, showcasing the latest in robotic technology. The exhibition floor also featured tech talk stages, where companies and researchers shared insights in a more interactive format. A Universe of Knowledge in Parallel One of the most exciting—and…

  • Empowering Engineers Across Borders: IET Volunteer Journey

    Empowering Engineers Across Borders: My IET Volunteer Journey Celebrating Global Impact During National Volunteers Week 2025 Volunteering has played a vital role in shaping who I am as an engineer and a person. I am a Chartered Engineer specializing in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, currently working as a Scientific Researcher, Pukyong National University in South Korea. Alongside my academic and research pursuits, I am deeply committed to contributing to the global engineering community through my volunteer roles at the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). I began my journey with the IET in 2016 as a student member. At that point, my goal was to stay connected to the wider engineering world while studying. But as I became more aware of the IET’s vast volunteer network…

  • Honouring those who give their time, knowledge and passion

    This week marks Volunteers’ Week 2025, a time to reflect on the outstanding contributions of our dedicated volunteer community. From classrooms and committees to panels and programmes, volunteers help shape the future of engineering and technology every day. Their time, insight, and passion enable us to do more, reach further, and inspire the next generation. Volunteers aren’t just part of what we do, they’re the foundation that makes it all possible. Inspiring the future with Gordana Collier We started the week by spotlighting Gordana Collier, an Accreditation Volunteer whose passion for science and service runs deep. Gordana’s work with Academic Accreditation panels has had a lasting impact on engineering education across the UK. A powerful moment in her journey was speaking to…

  • My Love for Aerospace: Yun-Hang Cho’s Volunteering Story

    We would like to introduce you to an inspiring individual, Yun-Hang Cho, in our latest volunteer spotlight. Yun specializes in intellectual property strategies for advanced technologies across the space, robotics, energy, and manufacturing sectors. Read about Yun’s journey where his fascination with engineering was sparked by the captivating world of science and mathematics. From Museums to Megafortresses Despite his parents not being engineers, Yun found his passion through the efforts of volunteers who introduced him to STEM subjects. His fondest memory was at the South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum, where an IET Local Network would run an annual event discussing the history of aircraft. From that moment on, Yun had found his people. Stories of radar guidance systems in WW2 bombers were music…

    IET Volunteering Team
    IET Volunteering Team in Space

  • Navigating Electrical Standards: Gary Gundry's Presentation on updates to BS 7671

    In a packed conference room, Gary Gundry (UK Electrical Safety Specialist and IET Associate Committee Manager) delivered a 2-part presentation on "18th Edition & Special Locations". Gary holds the unique position of being an IET Associate Committee Manager, regularly contributing to the next set of requirements that are coming down the pipeline. Gary has worked at two regional electricity boards, the NICEIC, Electrical Safety First, and now owns and operates a very successful electrical consultancy business, which focuses on standards making (with the IET) and training people, either face to face or online. The event took place in Nicosia, Cyprus on Thursday 15th May 2025 and the attendees ranged from engineering professionals, IET members and academics. In the first half, Gary explained…

  • Rare book: The Electric Telegraph Popularised by Dionysius Lardner

    Published in this edition in 1855, The Electric Telegraph Popularised is a work of popular science by the Irish scientific writer Dionysius Lardner. At this time the telegraph had only recently come into widespread use and it was less than fifty years since the first working telegraph was built by the English inventor Sir Francis Ronalds in 1816. The Electric Telegraph Popularised served as a bridge between existing scientific knowledge that would have been limited to the small scientific community and the broader Victorian middle class that had emerged since the Industrial Revolution and demonstrated an appetite for reading works of popular science. In his text Lardner breaks down complicated concepts into accessible language, explaining how electric currents travel along wires, how signals…

  • The Historic Opening of the Rigi Bahnen: Europe's First Rack Railway

    On the 21st of May, 1871, a significant milestone in European rail history was achieved with the inauguration of the Rigi Bahnen on Mount Rigi, Switzerland. This event marked the opening of the first rack railway in Europe, a pioneering feat that not only revolutionised mountain travel but also set the stage for the development of alpine tourism. The Visionary Behind the Project The Rigi Bahnen was the brainchild of Swiss engineer Niklaus Riggenbach. Riggenbach, who had previously patented a rack and pinion system in France in 1863, envisioned a railway that could conquer the steep inclines of Mount Rigi. His innovative system involved toothed racks set between the railway tracks, which interlocked with cogwheels fitted under the locomotives. This design allowed trains to safely and efficiently…

  • Harnessing AI in Engineering: Insights from Dr. Ismaël Adam Essackjee

    Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept; it is a present-day reality that is revolutionising the engineering landscape. This event is designed to provide engineers with insights into how AI can enhance automation, optimise processes, and enable smarter decision-making. From predictive maintenance to AI-driven design, the applications of AI in engineering are vast and transformative. Technical Insights into AI in Engineering Artificial Intelligence is revolutionising engineering by enhancing automation, optimising processes, and enabling smarter decision-making. Here are some key technical aspects that will be covered during the event: Predictive Maintenance AI-driven predictive maintenance involves using machine learning algorithms to analyse data from sensors…

  • Satellites to the Stars: Chris Brunskill’s Volunteer Story

    We would like to introduce you to Chris Brunskill, a volunteer from our Satellite Technical Network (TN). Chris studied Electronics with Satellite Engineering at the University of Surrey and earned a PhD in space robotics from the Surrey Space Centre. Chris’s career so far has seen him work on numerous missions, leading for three separate missions on weather mapping, LEO satcoms and SIGINT sensors. He currently runs his own small business providing strategic, engineering and innovation support to businesses developing new technologies for in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing missions. Let’s look at Chris’s journey in volunteer leadership which has been nothing short of astronomical. An Astronomical Journey in Volunteer Leadership Chris was first introduced to the TN early in…

    IET Volunteering Team
    IET Volunteering Team in Space

  • Nigeria’s Transition to Full Washington Accord Signatory

    1. Executive Summary The Washington Accord is an international agreement that recognizes the substantial equivalency of engineering degree programmes accredited by its signatories. Nigeria has gained provisional signatory status through the Council for The Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria ( COREN ) , this provides an opportunity to reform engineering education (EE) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training ( TVET ) practices in the country . Provisional Membership typically lasts from 2-4 years and members are expected to work towards the goal of achieving recognition as a full signatory . To become a full member COREN has to submit a self-assessment report to the International Engineering Alliance (IEA) for consideration by the 23 full-signatories of the Washington Accord …

  • Ransomware in Healthcare: A Wake-Up Call for Cybersecurity

    On 12 May 2017, the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom faced one of the most significant cybersecurity threats in its history. The ransomware attack, known as WannaCry, disrupted services across the NHS, affecting hospitals, GP surgeries, and other healthcare facilities. The Attack: What Happened? WannaCry is a type of ransomware that encrypts files on infected computers and demands a ransom in Bitcoin to unlock them. The attack began on 12th May 2017 and quickly spread across the globe, affecting hundreds of thousands of computers in over 150 countries. The NHS was particularly hard hit, with around 80 out of 236 trusts affected, along with numerous GP practices and other healthcare providers. The ransomware exploited a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows, known as EternalBlue…

  • Beyond the Badge: Ethical AI and the Risks of Hype

    Welcome to the second instalment in our blog series exploring the real-world implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in business, inspired by the IET AI Technical Network’s insightful podcast discussions. This week, hosts Kirsten McCormick, Phil Clayson, and Andrew Williams return to explore the motivations driving AI adoption, the ethical questions surrounding its use, and the role open source plays in shaping the future of AI deployment. Watch the Podcast below! Key Highlights What’s motivating AI adoption? Is it genuine innovation… or badge-slapping? Kirsten opens with a candid reflection on how some organisations rush to adopt AI not for strategic advantage, but for image. “You start to see companies slapping the badge of AI onto their products,” she says, recalling a noticeable…

  • Inside the Mind of a Hacker: Navigating Cyber-Attacks with Industry Leaders

    In an era where digital threats loom large, understanding the anatomy of a hack has never been more crucial. The recent IET webinar, "The Anatomy of a Hack," brought together leading experts to unravel the complexities of cyber-attacks and share invaluable insights on safeguarding digital content. From the emotional rollercoaster experienced during a breach to the cutting-edge techniques employed by ethical hackers, this webinar was a treasure trove of knowledge for anyone invested in cybersecurity. Join us as we delve into the key highlights and discover how to fortify your defences against the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats. Stephen Stewart a committee member of the IET Media Network opened the session by highlighting the importance of content security in the media industry. He…

  • Deaf Awareness Week

    This year’s theme is Beyond the Silence It’s Deaf Awareness Week (5 - 11 May), and this year’s theme of “Beyond Silence” encourages a greater understanding of the diverse ways in which Deaf and hard-of-hearing people communicate, from British Sign Language (BSL) to lip-reading, written communication, and assistive technology. It also highlights the social, cultural, and professional barriers that many Deaf individuals face, advocating for improved accessibility, inclusivity, and equal opportunities. The definition of ‘Deaf’ has many guises, from being hard-of-hearing to totally Deaf, this year’s campaign is to reflect and engage beyond the simple acknowledgment of ‘Deaf’, and to: - Delve deeper into what it means to be Deaf - learn how can we work together to make those around us understand…

    Teresa
    Teresa

  • North Devon Robotics Challenge 2025

    Teams of Year 7 students from Devon Schools came together on Wednesday 26th March at Petroc College in Barnstaple for the conclusion of the third annual North Devon Robotics Challenge, sponsored by the Institution of Engineering and Technology. The teams, comprising four pairs of Year 7 students had been working on four challenges, which they had been provided by the event organisers, for six weeks, in after school clubs or lunchtime clubs. One of the challenges was to design a conceptual robot to help with maintenance of roads, rivers or land, while the other three challenges required Edison robots to be programmed to address specified challenges. The first programming challenge was to program the robot to drive around a figure-of-8 circuit as many times as possible in one minute, without…

  • Celebrating National Space Day with Dave Davis’s Volunteer story

    This National Space Day, we’re turning the spotlight on a volunteer who’s passionate about inspiring the next generation of engineers. Meet Dave Davis, a long-standing IET volunteer and member of the Satellite Technical Network (TN), who’s been championing STEM education and professional collaboration throughout his volunteering journey. A mission sparked by a simple question: “Why not engineering?” Dave’s journey into volunteering began with a personal observation that many young people were being steered away from engineering—not because of a lack of interest, but due to misconceptions and missed opportunities. “I started by visiting schools and talking about engineering as a career choice,” he recalls. “Too often, I saw students discouraged by parents or teachers.” That spark soon…

    IET Volunteering Team
    IET Volunteering Team in Space

  • Smart Cities and Secure Data: Tackling the Biggest Challenges in Data Protection

    Smart cities are reshaping the way we live—connecting technology with urban planning to make our daily lives more convenient, efficient, and sustainable. But as these cities become smarter, one big question remains: How do we keep all that data safe? Where Does the Data Come From? In a smart city, data is collected from almost everywhere—traffic lights, air quality sensors, smart homes, energy grids, and even healthcare systems. This data helps city planners make better decisions, improve services, and create healthier environments. But here’s the challenge: The more data we collect, the higher the risk if that data falls into the wrong hands. ️ Why Data Protection Is a Big Deal It's not just about stopping hackers. Smart cities face many key issues: Who owns the data? …

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