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.

  • Bio-tribological studies of non-UHMWPE Polymers and Composites

    30 June 2022 12.30 BST. Register Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) has been the main polymeric articulating implant material for the hip implant. Acetabular cup is made of UHMWPE in its unmodified form or with partial cross-linking and with Vitamin E added into it as the anti-oxidant. Many efforts in the past have been made on finding an alternative material to UHMWPE in the hope of improving upon the already excellent tribological performance of this polymer. Several of UHMWPE composites and other polymers such as polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and polymer gels have been researched with some even tried in for in-vivo tests. In this talk, we will review the tribological performances of non-UHMWPE polymeric materials for the acetabular cup application and compare those with…

  • Railway Earthing & Bonding Technical Seminar, 28 and 29 June 2022

    It’s nearly time for us to open our doors for Railway Earthing & Bonding technical seminar 2022! We’re delighted to be back in person at IET Birmingham to meet, discuss and collaborate. Don’t miss out on your last chance to join us and colleagues from across the railway sector. Railway systems interface directly with people, so making sure that an electrified site is properly Earthed and Bonded is critical to eliminating any potential safety issues, protecting equipment and reducing expensive downtime. Delegates will gain technical, practical insights into the latest guidance live from the IET's new code of practice, Guide to Earthing and Bonding for AC Electrified Railways to protect equipment, reduce expensive downtime and most importantly, maximise safety. A copy of the new code is included…

  • IET Control and Automation Technical Network - We need your help in scoping out our Sustainability in Control Webinar idea

    We are looking to host a series of control webinars in 2022 covering sustainability in the control and automation looking at improving efficiencies, materials, how big the problem is and how we measure this along with how to get improvements. We are just scoping this out just now, but if you have a technical topic, or a problem that you are working on or have solved and would like to share this, please get in touch lcallaghan@theiet.org or comment below.

  • UK renewables – limitless energy or a precious resource?

    I am delighted to announce the Energy Panel have produced another report this month, authored by Jeff Douglas, this 12 page report examines the available renewable energy sources in the UK. Written for those looking for a high-level view of the UK’s transition to a net zero energy system, we look at future energy needs, options for delivering a net zero system, energy independence and more. The UK has significant renewable energy development opportunities, yet even for the most modest demands considered, the new sustainable resources required for heat, transport and industry are significant multiples of current capacity. Critically, today’s system choices and decisions could substantially increase those multiples. Almost all our existing sustainable power plants are scheduled to retire before…

  • Draft for Public Comment: IET Code of Practice for Grid-Connected Solar PV Systems, 2nd Edition

    We are happy to announce that the Draft for Public Comment for IET Code of Practice for Grid-Connected Solar PV Systems, 2nd Edition has now gone live. This Code of Practice sets out the requirements for the design, specification, installation, commissioning, operation, and maintenance of grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) systems installed in the UK. We welcome review and comment from all interested parties. The page is now live and we look forward to hearing from you.

  • Our Cyber Security publications you might be interested in

    Hello everyone, I thought I would take some time to throw a spotlight on some of our Cyber Security publications. Over the years the Codes & Guidance team has worked on many publications in this important sector, and I think many of them will be of interest to the practitioners out there. Code of Practice: Cyber Security and Safety Written in conjunction with the National Cyber Security Centre, this Code of Practice helps engineers and their management to get to grips with their responsibilities around a cyber-attack. Filled with information on the principles of functional safety and cyber security, this book is aimed at becoming a valued resource as time goes on. Good Practice Guide: Cyber Security for Ports and Port Systems While not necessarily an area that is commonly associated…

  • Summer STEM activities for children of all ages!

    This summer season why not come on a journey with us to see where your imagination and creativity can take you? Rain or shine, IET Education has lots of activities to keep your child busy over the summer holidays. Children aged between 4-11 years old can make air powered cars and rubber band powered helicopters or learn about bridges that don’t seem joined up. Air powered cars (theiet.org) Rubber band helicopter (theiet.org) Da Vinci bridge (theiet.org) Or for those with an adventurous spirit, think of a way to get a lighthouse keeper back to shore safely or you could spend a night under the stars and learn about the materials your tent is made from and what constellations you can see in the night sky! Lighthouse keeper transfer - IET Faraday Challenge Day (theiet.org) Materials…

  • How Can Technology Be Leveraged to Improve the Lives of Ukrainian Refugees?

    The UN estimates that more than 6.4 million Ukrainian refugees have been forced to flee their homes and seek safety as a result of the Russian invasion . This is one of the largest and fastest refugee movements in Europe since the end of World War II putting enormous pressure on host countries' border control and public services. Poland is currently receiving the largest number of refugees - 3.4 million and counting - with the population in Warsaw increasing by 17% in just a month. This blog provides examples of some of the technologies that have previously been leveraged to support displaced populations. Refugees need support and resources at each step of their journey. Short term, refugees will need food, water, medical assistance, temporary shelter, and internet access to access information…

  • Annual Systems Engineering Conference (ASEC) 2022 – Save the Date

    Colleagues in INCOSE UK have just announced the dates for their annual conference for 2022. INCOSE UK are pleased to announce that the Annual Systems Engineering Conference (ASEC) 2022 will be held at The Crowne Plaza Hotel, Newcastle on 22 and 23 November 2022. The UK’s leading Systems Engineering Conference, ASEC, is a two-day event, attracting an extensive range of professionals from industry, government and academia. INCOSE UK first hosted ASEC in 2010 and, now in its 13th year, the conference has developed to include technical presentations on contemporary Systems Engineering theory and practice, tutorials run by leading Systems Engineering Professionals, an exhibition of Systems Engineering organisations presenting their products and services and a systems research showcase. The…

  • IET Control and Automation Doctoral Dissertation Awards is now taking submissions

    Do you know a student who deserves to win this year? The winner will receive £500 and the chance to share their research in an IET webinar. The Prize recognises a student for their research excellence in the field of Control and Automation. The award is open to all relevant students who were awarded their PhD in the general area of Control and Automation, at a UK university, between 1 October 2020 up to 30 September 2022 and nominations are now open. Get more information here Apply for the 2022 awards by 5pm on 27 October 2022 with references also to be submitted online by this date. Read the University interviews with the 2021 and the 2020 winners 2020 winner - Marta Zagorowska 2021 winner - Licio Romao

  • 2022 IAC Student Paper Competition – UK Selection – Call for Abstracts is OPEN!

    2022 International Astronautical Congress - Student Paper Competition - UK Selection The UK selection of two entrants for the international finals at the IAC is carried out by the British Interplanetary Society (BIS) Space Education and Outreach Committee in joint partnership with the IET ) Satellite Technical Network. The UK selection process extends until after the main IAC abstract submission activity to allow students to make as much progress as possible on their project work before our selection takes place. The annual International Astronautical Congress (IAC) is the world’s largest astronautics/space engineering conference, organised by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF). As part of each IAC, there is a student paper competition (the E2.1 Student Conference) with…

    Deborah-Claire McKenzie
    Deborah-Claire McKenzie in Space

  • 28th AIAA/CEAS Aeroacoustics Conference

    Colleagues at the Royal Aeronautical Society would like to invite IET members to attend the above conference at the reduced ticket rate for members of the RAeS, CEAS and AIAA. The conference will be held on 14-17 June 2022 at Hilton at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton. The AIAA/CEAS Aeroacoustics Conference has established itself as the premier international forum for the field of aeroacoustics. It offers scientists and engineers from industry, government and universities an exceptional opportunity to exchange knowledge and results of current studies and to discuss directions for future research. Papers that address all aspects of the generation, propagation, and control of vehicle noise, as well as the effect of noise on structures and individuals are solicited. The program’s technical content…

  • The challenges of offshore energy networks in the Humber region

    The IET Energy Panel has published new report that identifies clean energy network barriers and impacts in the Humber region to achieve net zero by 2050. Integrated clean energy networks and large-scale renewable energy projects are essential methods to reach the UK Government’s net zero emissions by the 2050 target. The Humber region is the largest industrial cluster in the UK by carbon emissions and therefore must implement large-scale clean energy projects to support these targets. Our report, The challenges of offshore energy networks in the Humber region , has been prepared for industry, policy and local stakeholders in the Humber region and the wider UK. Why Humber? The Humber region was chosen for this case study for several reasons. Geographically, it has the potential to lead…

  • Safeguarding the Metaverse: Children in VR

    To truly safeguard the metaverse we need to understand the harms users are exposed to. And that means all users – whatever age groups they are in, adults and children. While Virtual Reality – VR – is often perceived as a family entertainment device, most consumer headsets have a lower user age limit of either 12 or 13. This is written into the manufacturer’s terms and conditions, with the main way of enforcement being through the linking of the headset to an online account elsewhere (e.g., a Facebook account), in which the user’s date of birth has already been required. However, there’s consensus among industry experts and researchers that the lower age limit is not widely adhered to. At present VR headsets are covered by the UK ICO’s Children’s Code, which requires organisations providing…

  • Integrated Intelligent Bearing Systems (I2BS) for UHPE Webinar

    Colleagues in Surface Ventures would like to invite community members to their next webinar. Integrated Intelligent Bearing Systems (I2BS) for UHPE Webinar 26 May 2022 – 4pm BST Rolling element bearings provide vital load carrying roles in many rotational applications. In aero-engines these include supports for the main shafts and the main gearbox. While advances in material manufacturing techniques producing very high quality steels significantly reduce the occurrence of unexpected bearing failures, there is a growing demand for intelligent health monitoring of critical components in order to maximise machine efficiency and eliminate catastrophic failures. Within the Clean Sky project I2BS, the Southampton group and Schaeffler Aerospace Germany and Safran Aircraft Engines France have…

  • COVID Breathing Aid - From zero to 10,000 devices in 4 weeks

    A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to interview Professor Tim Baker of UCL about the phenomenal engineering achievement by his team during the Covid-19 pandemic in response to the UK Government ventilator challenge. This was one of the best online events I've ever seen. The audience were gripped in the twists and turns of how the project timeline unfolded and the insight in to how Tim's little black book of contacts brought together a team able to deliver the first prototype device to clinical trial in 100 hours, then go on to manufacture 10,000 devices in just 4 weeks! You can watch the recording of the event below to see for yourself. E&T Magazine also did a great 'tear down' article on the design if you're interested in how it works in detail. https://youtu.be/Hc_83DNCR88 …

  • Renewable energy: check out the latest reading list from the IET Library

    Did you know that all IET members have access to thousands of eBooks and eJournal articles via the the Virtual Library? You just need to be logged on to the IET website as a member. To make things even easier, we publish monthly reading lists on popular topics, which guide you to the latest publications with a single click. Our May reading list is an update on one of our most popular topics: renewable energy. It includes the latest books on electric vehicles, small-scale renewable energy systems, heat pumps and wind and solar design, as well as links to cutting-edge research articles. For more reading lists, see the full collection at Reading lists - The IET

  • IEEE Milestones event on 21st June: the Manchester Baby and the Atlas Computer

    Interested in the history of technology? Join the celebration of two significant milestones in the history of computing at Manchester on 21 June, including a demonstration of a replica of the Manchester 'Baby'! The IEEE are awarding two Milestones for the “Manchester University Baby Computer and its Derivatives, 1948-1951” and the “Atlas Computer and the Invention of Virtual Memory 1957-1962”. Two events will celebrate these awards on the 21st June 2022, the 74th anniversary of the first program run by the Manchester Baby computer. Both events are free. The afternoon event will take place in the Kilburn Building at the University of Manchester but will also be live-streamed for those unable to attend in person. During the morning the replica Baby computer will be demonstrated at…

  • NEW BOOK/EBOOK! Healthcare Monitoring and Data Analysis using IoT: Technologies and applications

    NEW BOOK/EBOOK! Congratulations to Book Editors Dr. Vishal Jain, Jyotir Moy Chatterjee, Pardeep Kumar and Utku Köse, and to all their chapter contributors on the publication of their new book, "Healthcare Monitoring and Data Analysis using IoT: Technologies and applications". IoT-enabled healthcare technologies can be used for remote health monitoring, rehabilitation assessment and assisted ambient living. Healthcare analytics can be applied to the data gathered from these different areas to improve healthcare outcomes by providing clinicians with real-world, real-time data so they can more easily support and advise their patients. The book explores the application of AI systems to analyse patient data and guide interventions. IoT-based monitoring systems and their security challenges…

  • Platinum Jubilee activities for primary children

    Platinum Jubilee activities for schools and at home will be in full swing this spring and summer term! Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee is going to be an event to remember. Never before has a monarch reigned for 70 years, so to help celebrate this momentous occasion, and the four-day weekend, we have lots of STEM activities to engage primary aged children. Make bunting with your class and design place settings for the table. Craft beautiful crowns to wear, or think up delicious recipes with the children to inspire them to work together and design recipe books of their dishes for an unforgettable Jubilee tea party. We have Jubilee activities for KS1 and KS2 mapped to the curriculum with lesson plans and presentations alongside the printables, to have everything you need to hand. Join…

  • IET Hong Kong March / April 2022 Newsletter

    The IET Hong Kong March / April 2022 Newsletter has been published. It contains a number of upcoming activities, covering a wide range of subjects, and some reports of interesting past events. Please click Here for the IET Hong Kong January / February 2022 Newsletter. We would love to see you at one of our events!

    Former Community Member
    Former Community Member

  • Entries are now open for the E&T Innovation Awards 2022!

    Are you working on cutting edge innovations or initiatives which have the potential to make dramatic improvements to modern society? Planet Earth is facing many challenges as our growing population requires more food and energy, and is constantly using more resources. Something must change. Ultimately, it will be engineers and scientists who solve the problems and pave the way for future generations. Many of the E&T Innovation Award categories reflect the societal impact that engineers can make, and our hope is that these Awards will identify and promote the innovators who stand at the doorway of positive change. Enter your innovation in the 2022 E&T Innovation Awards now. Take this opportunity to put your work forward, get the recognition you deserve and celebrate with your peers. If…

    Jane Neufville
    Jane Neufville

  • Industrial Gluing Solutions: State of the Art and Harnessing Technology for Quality, Productivity and Sustainability

    The London Hammersmith network is hosting a lecture on Industrial Gluing Systems at 7pm on 24 th May by Shaun Baker of Robatech Gluing Technology. Glue is used in a host of applications from packaging, print and graphic applications, timber and wood processing, doors, bed mattresses, medical devices, building supplies and automotive applications to name but a few. To deploy gluing systems effectively draws on a host of technologies from those needed for the applicators, through to the integration of automated systems, process control, software, visualisation systems, the use of robotics and approaches to meet sustainability goals. So do join us at the Novotel Hotel in Hammersmith for this unusual talk and learn how technology is being harnessed to meet our needs in this crucial industry!

  • Modern Surface - Tribology

    Colleagues at Modern Surface would like to share their newsletters which contain curated items on surface engineering with extra light-hearted content. Here are also details of their next webinar: “MXenes: A Model Material for Solid Lubricants” Speaker is Dr. Philipp Grützmacher of TU Vienna. 28th April 2022 Two-dimensional transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides, which are called MXenes are a relatively new class of 2D materials. They offer an extreme versatility in terms of composition, layer thickness, and surface terminations. This makes them ideal model materials to study the influence of theses parameters on tribological behaviour.

Community Rules & Guidelines