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  • What Engineers and Policymakers need to know about the ChatGPT Revolution

    Is the engineering profession on the brink of a major disruption? With the rise of ChatGPT and other AI-powered technologies, engineers are set to benefit from unprecedented levels of productivity. AI-literacy and transparency are critical to getting it right . ChatGPT is not the only, nor the first artificial intelligence (AI) system that can mimic human text production. It belongs to a class of large language models (LLMs) which generate text by calculating the probability that one word follows another in a given context. Google, Meta, and Microsoft have each released their own LLMs, and the further development of these technologies is moving more rapidly than ever before. By 2030, most of us will be using ChatGPT-like systems as digital ‘assistants’ in our daily working lives – this…

  • Who was Professor Peter Wells?

    On May 3rd, the IET's Healthcare Technologies Network is holding an evening lecture at IET London: Savoy Place titled 'The Peter Wells Memorial Lecture 2023: Ageing Science and Technology: is it possible to live longer than 120?' . This lecture is the latest in a series of annual events hosted by the Joint Biomedical Engineering Group and held in honour of the late Professor Peter Wells, but how much do you know of him him and his work? Read on to learn more. A British physicist and engineer, Wells is widely recognised for his contributions to the field of medical ultrasound. He began his career as a researcher at the National Physical Laboratory in the United Kingdom, where he focused on the application of ultrasound in medicine. His pioneering work paved the way for the use of ultrasound…

  • Pumping cash into electrified heat, is it worth it?

    As a novice to the ins and outs of electrified heat, I have been surprised by the recent boom in news stories about heat pumps. So, I wanted to explore further into the pros and cons of these heat-creating machines. First things first, let’s clarify what they are. Heat pumps harvest heat energy from the ground (GSHP) or air (ASHP), and either use it immediately as space heating or store it in a medium for later use as domestic hot water or space heating. This is exciting as you get more power out than what you put in. The UK Government hopes to install 600,000 heat pumps annually by 2028, offering each household a £5,000 grant towards the cost. The heat pump’s intention is to reduce your energy bills. Worldwide, the International Energy Agency predicts that heat pumps could slash carbon…

  • Activities to celebrate the King’s Coronation in schools and at home will be in full swing this term!

    The Coronation of King Charles III is going to be an event to remember. Not many of us will remember the last King’s reign so we have created some STEM inspired activities to keep primary aged children busy over the 4-day weekend and help prepare for this momentous occasion. Design place settings for the lunch table or make bunting to hang around the room. Think up delicious recipes to inspire children to work together and design recipe books of their dishes for an unforgettable royal tea party. Then craft beautiful crowns to wear during the day to make everyone feel like a King or a Queen. Find Coronation activity ideas and join the celebrations while inspiring numeracy and design and technology skills with your 4–11-year-olds. We have Coronation activities for KS1 and KS2 mapped to the…

  • IET Cambridge Network at the Cambridge Festival 2023

    A team of volunteers from the IET Cambridge Network did a great job of educating and entertaining visitors of all ages to our stand at the Cambridge Festival 2023. Over the weekend of 25th and 26th March we had hundreds of visitors, who saw demonstrations of energy generation and electromagnetic induction, did experiments with magnets and plasmas and made their own LED torches to take away. It all went very well, leaving many smiles on the faces of our visitors, some of whom, we hope, will be inspired to explore engineering and technology in the future. Some of the team can be seen in the photo but many thanks to all the volunteers who helped to make the event such a great success this year. The Cambridge Festival is an annual celebration of science, arts, and culture that takes place in…

  • Lift-off at UK Students for Exploration and Discovery in Space Conference

    The UKSEDS National Student Space conference is an annual event held in spring each year. It aims to bring together student space communities from across the UK and involves keynote presentations from leading international organisations including ESA, NASA and beyond. Although the event was held on the weekend, it was clear that both students and industry were more than willing to participate. Over the two-day event, I was delighted to meet many old and new friends. Back at university, I had setup several space programmes for students, and it was great to see those same students now successfully working in industry. At the same time, I was also surprised to see the range of companies present including some that were not specialised in the space industry (e.g., MTC). The diversity of people…

    Deborah-Claire McKenzie
    Deborah-Claire McKenzie in Space

  • Empowering Patients in Scotland with Access to their Health Data

    Scotland is experiencing substantial health disparities, where certain populations are more prone to poor health outcomes compared to others. This problem is influenced by a broad range of factors, including access to healthcare services, socio-economic status, genetics, and lifestyle. Currently, there is a well-documented health inequality gap, with individuals living in the most deprived areas having a life expectancy that is on average 8 years lower than those living in the least deprived areas (Scottish Government, 2022). In order to tackle this issue, a multi-faceted approach that leverages technology and data is required. In this article summary, I will delve into the key findings of our IET policy roundtable in Scotland on health inequalities and digital solutions, focusing on three…

  • From under the sea to the edge of space: the work of Oliver Heaviside

    By Anne Locker Early life and career Oliver Heaviside (1850-1925) was a telegraphist, self-taught mathematician and reclusive figure. He never attended meetings – he nearly turned down a nomination for Fellowship of the Royal Society over the requirement to come to London in person – and was frequently at odds with the engineering establishment, mathematicians and (in later years) the Gas Board. But his work informed our modern understanding of electromagnetism and telecommunications. He reformulated Maxwell’s equations, pioneered the use of operational calculus and made breakthroughs in coaxial and distortionless signalling. He also has a layer of the ionosphere named after him. He did all this by challenging engineering and mathematical orthodoxy, stating that mathematics should be…

  • If you could go behind the scenes of any engineering company, which would it be and why?

    This event is where we join forces with organisations across the UK to showcase engineering and technology behind the scenes to children and their families, giving them the chance to discover first-hand the range of incredible careers out there – all in the hope to inspire more young people to pursue STEM in the future. Whether children are into sports, music, fashion, flying, healthcare, or improving our climate, we want children – and their parents – to understand that there is a place in engineering and technology for them. So to give as many families and schools the opportunity to attend, we’re now holding activities over the course of an entire WEEK – hence the name change to 'Engineering Open House Week', and we would absolutely love to have your company on board this year to inspire…

    Former Staff Member
    Former Staff Member

  • North Devon Robotics Challenge 2023

    The North Devon Robotics Challenge 2023 is an event for Year 7 students at schools in the North Devon area. The event is sponsored by The IET, and supported by The North Devon Manufacturers Association, Firefly Robotics Educational Charity and STEM. This is the first time the event has been run, and the plan is to extend the event further in forthcoming years, initially throughout the IET Devon and Cornwall area. The event is for teams of four pairs of students, who are presented with challenges, which they work on in their schools over a six week period, before coming together to compete against each other at a central location. The North Devon area has a lot of small engineering companies, but engineering does not have a high profile in the area, and the result is that the engineering…

  • What would it take to complete a modern construction project on time and on (let alone under) budget?

    Here is a rhetorical question, what would it take to complete a modern construction project on time and on (let alone under) budget? We should ask ‘why this happens so infrequently in projects large and small and how it can be corrected?’ A little background There was a time a construction project, be it a bridge, a stadium, a palace or a canal required basic materials such as wood & stone and not much else, because the technology for lifts, mechanical ventilation, electrical lighting and remote sensing didn’t exist. Now, a complex project such as an underground railway, a hospital or an airport terminal is not merely a building, it is intelligent, its constituent parts talk to each other via digital communications; if there is a campus of buildings, they will interact with each other…

  • IoT in Defence

    The Internet of Things (IoT) has transformed the way we live and work in many different ways, and the defence industry is no exception. One of the most significant advantages of IoT technology in defence is its ability to enable real-time monitoring and analysis of large amounts of data. This can be used to detect and respond to threats faster and more effectively, providing a critical edge in combat situations. IoT-enabled sensors may be used to detect enemy movements or incoming attacks, allowing forces to react more quickly and effectively. IoT also offers the potential to improve logistical operations and supply chain management. Sensors may be used to track the location and condition of equipment and supplies, allowing better planning and allocation of resources. This can help reduce…

  • Inclusive thinking? Pass it on!

    Join in with our latest campaign – crowdsourcing tips, insights and hacks for making inclusion easy to embed into our everyday lives. Just over a year ago, we called out to the engineering and technology community – asking you to share your thoughts on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in our sector, whether good, bad, or somewhere in between. The feedback we got was that, while most people understand the need for and benefits of increasing inclusion – they sometimes don’t know where to begin, or feel like it can be quite an uphill battle to implement new processes in the workplace. Visit our website to share your thoughts and feature in our campaign – and help spread the word by sharing it on your socials. And why is inclusive thinking important? It’s critical for success …

  • Our Easter resources have had a makeover!

    Get Easter off to a cracking start with our fantastic resources designed for both primary and secondary-aged students. To give you even more reasons to be hoppy, these resources now also include a step-by-step activity guide for families to follow as well as some brand new bonus games including crosswords, wordsearches and mazes which can be enjoyed both at home and in the classroom. For children aged 4-11 there’s a graphics project to design a pop-up Easter card. Or you can let their creativity flow as you use papier mâché and a balloon to make an Easter egg to decorate or help link words or numbers on cracked eggshells. Make an amazing bunny pop up card Make a papier mâché Easter egg Match eggy words or numbers Older teens can enjoy chocolate and egg themed activities including…

  • From Policy to Practice: Discussing the Spring Budget 2023's Impact on Healthcare Engineering and Technology

    The Spring Budget Statement 2023 brings forth several implications for the healthcare sector, creating potential opportunities for engineers and technology specialists. Let's examine what these announcements signify for us and how they may shape the future of healthcare in the UK. Healthcare technology innovation : With the streamlined approval process for medicines and medical technologies, and an additional £10 million allocated for expediting cutting-edge medical technology approvals, innovation in healthcare technology is set to surge. Moreover, the enhanced R&D tax credit could incentivise healthcare technology and engineering companies to invest more in R&D, spawning new healthcare technologies, products, and services. Medical device regulation: The Spring Budget Statement 2023 directly…

  • How can people heat their homes sustainably, economically and effectively?

    With the backdrop of high energy prices, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), ably supported by colleagues from the University of Strathclyde, invited politicians of all hues to discuss this topical question on 21 February 2023. Patrick Harvie, Holyrood Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, and a panel of MSPs were keen to air their views on how to resolve an issue that’s foremost in the minds of many people across Scotland. In a keynote speech Patrick acknowledged the scale of the challenge to hit ambitious climate targets, and highlighted the £1.8bn investment in green heat and energy efficiency by the Scottish Government to stimulate the market. He estimated that it would cost £33bn to make all Scottish domestic homes net zero by 2045. It’s a daunting figure and task, that…

  • New STEM activities for the spring months

    We have been working hard with some new collaborators over the last few months to bring you some new teaching resources for children to do at home or in the classroom. Digital literacy skills are essential for daily life more so now than ever before! Take young learners on a journey to improve their use of computers and technology today as building blocks for the future with our digital literacy collection created with the assistance of Archives of IT. Animation: make moving pictures (theiet.org) Audio editing (theiet.org) Coding games (theiet.org) Digital painting (theiet.org) Create your own digital photography art (theiet.org) The Bugatti Trust Museum and Study Centre have also benefitted from having 2 new resources produced for them looking at gear trains for primary students…

  • Support for engineering companies in Scotland

    The IET Scotland Local Network wants to support Scottish based Engineering and Technology companies with their engineering and technology ambitions and challenges. We are fortunate to have an experienced and diverse committee of volunteers, and a growing membership of over 10,000 in the region, aligned to the IET mission to inspire, inform and influence our engineering community. Our volunteers are active across Scotland offering: Inspiring events, visits, and lectures Professional and personal network building Peer to peer knowledge and experience sharing across the breadth of engineering disciplines. We can also offer help accessing the services offered by the IET. From STEM engagement to professional development pathways in career development, we can help you find what you…

    Sandra Lucy
    Sandra Lucy

  • Making cyber security accessible to everyone

    There was so much covered in such a brief (well 45 min, so not that short) talk that while this is bit long, there was so much more that isn't mentioned here. Cyber Essentials, a basic cyber security certification, and training and workspace improvement to increase the diversity of people, particularly of neurodivergent, in the cyber security industry were the main focuses of the open talk hosted by the Central London Local Network, at Savoy Place, on 8th March. Dr Emma Philpott (MBE), the CEO of IASME, presented a fascinating talk followed by a great Q&A session and the subsequent, obligatory, networking drinks. IASME had developed a series of corporate cyber security certifications when it developed the Cyber Essentials certification in concert with the NCSC (National Cyber Security…

  • IET Control and Automation Doctoral Dissertation Awards is now taking submissions for 2023

    Do you know a student who deserves to win the IET Control and Automation Doctoral Dissertation Award 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 2021 up to 30 September 2023 and nominations are now open. Apply for the award and find more information on our website Apply for the 2022 awards by 5pm on 12th October 2023 with references also to be submitted online by this date. Read the University interviews with some of our previous winners: 2020 winner - Marta Zagorowska 2021 winner…

    Lynsay Callaghan
    Lynsay Callaghan

  • Cragside – harnessing the power of water

    By Asha Gage, IET Archivist Sir William Armstrong, later 1st Baron Armstrong, was one of the most successful British industrialists and scientists of the 19th century. He turned his vision and inventiveness to his country residence, Cragside, which is situated in Rothbury in Northumberland. But this was no genteel country folly, Cragisde was Armstrong’s laboratory where he experimented with water power. In 1880 Cragside was the first house in the world to be lit by hydro-electricity. Armstrong wrote a descriptive letter to the editor of The Engineer journal on 17 January 1881 shortly after he utilised Joseph Swan’s newly invented incandescent light bulbs in his home. From this detailed narrative we can hear Armstrong’s own words about the marvels of this new energy that he had harnessed from…

  • Meet the IET Technical Network Community Committee (TNCC)

    So, first things first, for those not in the know, What exactly is the Technical Network Community Committee (TNCC), where do we fit, what are we doing and who are we? What is the TNCC? The TNCC comprises IET volunteers who support the Technical Network (TNs) across the globe. The aim is to facilitate communication between communities and share best practice. TNCC Terms of Reference The (TNCC) is part of the IET Governance ( https://www.theiet.org/about/governance/boards-and-committees/communities-resourcing-committee-crc/technical-networks-communities-committee/ and our committee members are all IET volunteers. Where does the TNCC sit in the IET framework? The TNCC reports to the Communities Resourcing Committee (CRC) who is the overarching group responsible for leading the work…

  • University of Sheffield PhD student wins IET Control and Automation Doctoral Dissertation Prize 2022

    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. In 2022 this is just what Dr Andrei Braitor applied for, and won. Beside the £500 prize money, he had the chance to present his thesis to an international audience via an online guest lecture. This is scheduled for Thursday 20th April at 12 noon (BST) and you can register to hear about 'Advanced Hierarchical Control and Stability Analysis of DC Microgrids' . The 2023 award launches in March, so keep an eye out if you want to apply. You can also read an article from the University of Sheffield, Department of Automatic Control and Systems Engineering In a statement, Dr. Braitor said, “It is an honour for me to have been selected to receive the IET…

  • Views sought on Scottish Government Energy Strategy consultation

    The IET is seeking member views on the Draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan . We plan to submit a response to at least some of the questions , using your feedback. The Scottish Government strategy focuses on developing a route map of actions to deliver a flourishing net zero energy system that supplies affordable, resilient and clean energy to Scotland’s workers, households, communities and businesses by 2045. With a focus on 2030, the strategy sets out the policy positions and actions for the Scottish and UK Governments to take. The aim is to create the conditions for a net zero energy system that benefits all Scottish communities and ensures national, regional and local energy economies can thrive. It aims to make Scotland innovative and competitive in domestic and international…

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