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.

  • The revolver’s revolution in engineering

    On this day in (engineering) history… February 25, 1836 - Samuel Colt Patents the Colt Paterson Revolver "There is nothing that cannot be produced by machinery." – Samuel Colt, 1854 When a new machine or device is patented, it has the potential to save life, add to life or take it. Or, by allowing people to protect themselves, save life. Either way, Samuel Colt's Paterson Revolver will change handguns forever. A Curious Child Samuel Colt was born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1814. His father was a farmer turned city businessman, while his mother died of tuberculosis when Samuel was 6 years old. His three sisters would also pass away at a young age. His father eventually remarried. When Samuel was eleven, his father indentured him to a farmer from Glastonbury, where he did chores…

  • The Future of Lasers in Manufacturing: Advancing Precision, Speed, and Efficiency

    Manufacturing has always been a dynamic sector, continuously evolving with advancements in technology. Over the past few decades, lasers have played a crucial role in reshaping production processes, enabling manufacturers to achieve higher precision, speed, and efficiency. From cutting and welding to marking and additive manufacturing, laser technology has become indispensable across industries. However, the future of lasers in manufacturing promises even more transformative possibilities, driven by advancements in fiber lasers, ultrafast lasers, and AI-driven laser systems. One of the most promising developments in laser technology is the continued improvement in ultrafast lasers, particularly femtosecond and picosecond lasers. These lasers operate at incredibly short pulse durations, enabling…

  • Cementing a solid future for carbon free concrete

    The winner of the Sir Henry Royce Medal is laying the foundations of a firm future for decarbonised concrete Fragkoulis Kanavaris is the 2024 winner of the IET's Sir Henry Royce Medal for his work in lowering the carbon content of concrete. He is Arup's global Concrete Materials Specialist Lead and the organisation's global lead for Concrete Decarbonisation. He graduated with a Master's in Civil and Structural Engineering at the University of Liverpool in 2012 before pursuing a PhD at Queen's University, Belfast, in 2017. After a brief spell at the Universidade do Minho as a Visiting Research Fellow, he joined Arup. The fascination with concrete is something Fragkoulis traces to his father. "I have to give part of this to my father because he is also a structural engineer (retired). When…

  • Research opportunity: Connecting suffragettes, technology and society

    The IET Archives are excited to announce a WRoCAH funded Collaborative Doctoral Award project with the University of Leeds - Connecting suffragettes, technology and society: Caroline Haslett’s international correspondence network. This is open to UK and international applicants to study on a full-time or part-time basis. If you are a student with a background in the history of science and/or technology, women’s history, gender history, social history, or international history, this could be the project for you. The deadline for applications is 12 noon (UK time) on Wednesday 5 th March 2025. Project summary One-time suffragette Dame Caroline Haslett (1895-1957) was arguably the most transformative woman of 20th Century Britain outside parliament. While her international work in promoting…

  • Marketing the Mundane – How The Electrical Age Used the Allure of America to Sell Electricity to Women in Britain

    Guest blog by Anna Lowry, University of Leeds Introduction During the mid-20th century, the concept of electricity was largely unappealing to families and households. While its potential was revolutionary, many regarded it as frighteningly dangerous—people often associated the new technology with electrocution accidents, and even for delivering death sentences via the Electric Chair in the US. Meanwhile for some, it was an unseen enigma, a mysterious and almost alien concept, something they used without fully understanding. As a result, it remained cloaked in fear and functional banality. The Electrical Age addressed these concerns, and the EAW not only worked hard to guarantee housewives ‘Safety First’ – that electricity could be safe to use in the home – but also to assure their readers…

    IET Archives
    IET Archives

  • Techniques and Technologies in Electrical Stimulation for Neuromuscular Rehabilitation

    Congratulations to Book Editors, Ian Swain, Jane Burridge and Tamsyn Street and to all the chapter contributors on the publication of this new IET Book: Techniques and Technologies in Electrical Stimulation for Neuromuscular Rehabilitation. About the Book In its simplest form, electrical stimulation is the application of electrical impulses to nerves via electrodes placed over the nerve or muscle or implanted within the body. The aim is to evoke a muscle contraction. People may not be able to activate their own muscles sufficiently to execute effective movement due to damage to the nervous system preventing the signals from the brain reaching the muscles, for example, after a stroke or spinal cord injury, or due to disuse, often because of pain. Electrical stimulation can be used to restore…

  • Women’s work and Electrification: the Second World War intersection

    Guest blog by Otto Macdonald, University of Leeds, and Graeme Gooday, University of Leeds. In this blogpost, I explore the intersection of three important aspects of mid- 20th century British history: the electrification of the nation, the Second World War, and the progression of women’s social status. As previous blogposts showed The Electrical Age, published by the Electrical Association for Women, gives us important insights on women’s evolving relationship with national campaigns for electrification. I look specifically at issues of The Electrical Age in the period 1943 – 1946 to show how it contributed to the wartime cause with articles that highlighted how women’s responsibilities developed during the conflict. Promoting women’s war work, electrical and manual During the Second…

  • Science fiction made real in the news

    Could self-healing road surfaces help fill in Britain's pothole crisis? Scientists at King's College, London, Swansea University, and colleagues in Chile may have cracked the problem. They have developed a form of asphalt that heals fractures in the road surface in an hour. The weight of traffic compresses the road surface, creating fissures, which allow water into the body of the surface. A cycle of freezing and thawing makes it worse. As this happens, the bitumen present in the asphalt will oxidise and harden, making it brittle. To prevent this happening, the team is including 'spores,' - tiny plant-based materials saturated with recycled oil - into the surface structure. That oil leaches into the road surface under the weight of traffic, restoring the surface's suppleness and preventing…

  • Exploring the Future of Space and Communications: Key Topics from the IET Conference

    The IET’s upcoming Space and Communications Conference offers a unique opportunity to explore the cutting-edge advancements shaping the future of communication technologies. Co-locating three unique multi-track conferences, IET Space and Communications Week offers three key tracks - Satellite Communications, 6G Communications and Quantum Communications. The conference will provide in-depth discussions on the innovations poised to transform how we connect, communicate, and share information. Satellite Communications: revolutionising connectivity across the globe Satellite communications have evolved significantly, playing an essential role in bridging global connectivity gaps. The satcoms track will explore the latest developments in high-throughput satellites, which are designed to deliver…

  • Comparative Analysis of Recent AI Model Performance in Math and Coding Benchmarks

    1. Introduction The rapid evolution of AI models has led to significant advancements in various domains, including mathematical problem-solving and coding. This article presents a comparative analysis of benchmark results from recent AI models, focusing on their strengths and limitations across multiple evaluation criteria. The models analyzed include: DeepSeek-R1 OpenAI-o1-1217 DeepSeek-R1-32B OpenAI-o1-mini DeepSeek-V3 Figure 1: Benchmark performance of DeepSeek-R1 vs. OpenAI and other AI models in math and coding tasks. (As per the ref 1) This analysis provides valuable insights into the performance of these models in different tasks, highlighting their respective capabilities and areas for improvement. 2. Benchmark Performance Overview As per reference 1, Each…

  • Could you help represent the IET in the news media?

    Our press office is always looking for members and volunteers who can represent the IET in the media and share expertise that makes sense of engineering and technology news to the public. Journalists and new outlets regularly contact us in the hopes of finding a subject expert to provide background information, a quote, or be interviewed (TV/radio) on a specific topic that’s being spoken about in the news. This could include explaining technical terms in simple digestible language. The media is also always on the lookout for those working on new innovations that are making a wider impact to the public, or those who have faced adversity to succeed with a great story to tell. (Above features IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year 2024 Titi Oliyide CEng MIET in a broadcast studio ahead of…

    Rebecca Gillick
    Rebecca Gillick

  • Renewable Energy Concepts for Net Zero within Hospitality Industry

    The first IET, Central London Network, Wednesday evening talk for 2025 was really successful. George Ashley-Cound gave a brief talk on the multiple approaches he's taken to reducing energy use in or sourcing renewable energy, primarily solar power, for the hospitality industry. While his talk didn't have much technical detail into the variety of projects George had worked on, the quick review of each project, followed by a very long Q&A session, with a lot of interesting questions from the audience resulted in a very interesting session. George's talk covered everything from monitoring energy use in a Cardiff ice skating rink to the use of perovskite solar cells. Along the way he gave examples of both local and global monitoring of energy use within a range of venues (the ice skating rink…

  • Because it’s not just students who benefit from education outreach

    Natalia Wosek is a third-year systems engineering student at the University of Warwick, and the recipient of an IET Launch Scholarship funded by the IET Futures Fund. While she appreciates the financial security this award brings, and the fact it enables her to focus on her studies and engineering-related extracurricular activities, Natalia believes the most valuable aspect of her scholarship is the access and opportunities it brings. This is something she plans to take full advantage of, having been brought up to appreciate the value, and make the most of, every opportunity that arises. Natalia was raised by a single mother who moved her over to the UK from Poland at the age of 12. As she grew up, she witnessed her mum’s strength and determination to secure a…

  • The Not Quite So Fast and The Furious!

    January 28, 1896 - Walter Arnold becomes the first person fined for speeding. A clear afternoon in January in the quiet English village of Paddock Wood, in the county of Kent. The pedestrians are alarmed by someone driving his expensive, German-made car along the High Street at four times the speed limit. He was eventually stopped by a police officer, called before the local court and fined. In 2025, there would be nothing unusual about this - a nuisance, yes, but far from unprecedented. But the year is 1896, and motorcars were still a rarity. What to do about this terrifying new technology? New-fangled machines This story has all the strange, almost trivial elements we look for in such a tale: apparently foolish fears of new technology, ridiculous restrictions born out of that fear…

  • Volunteering Opportunity with the IET: Apprenticeship Accreditation and Qualification Assessor

    Are you passionate about shaping the future of engineering apprenticeships? Are you professionally registered and have an understanding of Apprenticeship Standards? Join us as an Apprenticeship Accreditation and Qualification Assessor and play a pivotal role in ensuring the quality and effectiveness of apprenticeship programs across the UK. As an Assessor, you will evaluate apprenticeships and competence-based qualifications against the AAQA standard set by the Engineering Council. Working collaboratively with other assessors, you will use agreed criteria to identify high-quality schemes that align with Professional Registration standards and provide recommendations for improvement where necessary. This will offers you a fantastic opportunity to: Network with a diverse group of…

  • Breaking the frontiers of quantum technology

    Quantum mechanics is a fascinating topic that is complex and broad in its applications and potential but can be tricky to actualise. Quantum, in essence, is just another technology that we are continuing to see potential in across sectors such as defence, transport and telecommunications. To make sense of the issues that the technology presents, DSTL, QinetiQ, the IET, and other leading experts in quantum technology, have published a new report outlining the direction we might take to properly apply this technology from a systems perspective. Realising technology through quantum The knowledge that underpins quantum technology has been built up over the last century. The discovery of quantum mechanics in the 1920s was a real shift in the scientific understanding of the universe; now…

  • Volunteer Spotlight - Cameron Bee

    Today we shine the spotlight on Cameron Bee. We recently interviewed Cameron to learn about his experiences on volunteering at the IET. Here’s what he had to say… Volunteering is “a defining factor” in Cam’s life and career Being a volunteer can be a transformative experience, both personally and professionally. This has certainly been the case for renewable energy professional and IET volunteer Dr Cameron (‘Cam’) Bee, whose journey we share below . Cam started volunteering in 2009 at a local engineering society involved in restoring vintage commercial vehicles and rebuilding a preserved railway. Throughout his time at the society, he has benefited from a range of informal mentors who have helped steer his career direction. He is now a Chartered Engineer with a Master’s degree and…

  • Gantt Performance Index

    The Gantt Performance Index (GPI) is a project management tool designed to evaluate and monitor the performance of a project by comparing its actual progress against planned schedules. It builds on the familiar Gantt chart, adding quantitative metrics to track and assess project efficiency. Project Manager - January/March 2013 Alberto Zamatteo Gerosa www.azgmanagement.com azg@azgmanagement.com GANTT PERFORMANCE INDEX (GPI) Experimental method for calculating a site organization performance index. Decreasing the time spent on the construction site, downtime durations and consequently increasing the company's profit, are the objectives to which the metrics described here are aimed, which the author calls “Gantt Performance Index”. Constraints and problems of interference of activities…

  • A knighthood from the King

    We're nearly half way through January but we are incredibly pleased to have started the year with the news that Sir Warren East CBE, our IET President since October 2024, received a knighthood in the King’s New Year Honours list for services to the economy and net zero. Having worked on his President’s Address, we can safely say that Sir Warren is not one to brag about his accolades – he noted to our comms team that his titles are really not needed in an informal context. Seeing our members and staff as real allies in supporting industry to drive towards net zero, Warren didn’t want it included on President’s Address marketing, a humility that makes his New Year’s Honour all the more worthy. Many of you will know that Sir Warren is an inspiring engineer and leader with a career that spans…

  • Putting the Red Star in Orbit

    On This Day in (Engineering) History January 14, 1966 - Soviet aircraft and rocket designer Sergei Korolev dies. He put the first artificial satellite in Earth orbit, put the first animal, and then the first human into space. He began his career as an aircraft designer and fell foul of Stalin's purges in the 1930s. When he took on leadership of the USSR's rocket and space programs, his identity was a state secret, becoming known only after his death. Sergei Korolev's life was relatively short but full of drama and achievement. Concept Sergei Korolev (pronounced, 'korol-yoff) was born in Zhitomir , a part of the Russian Empire, now Zhytomyr in modern Ukraine in 1906 on January 12, 1907 [in the Old Style Julian calendar used in Russia at the time - December 30 1906]. His father, Pavel…

  • Space Economy - Tomorrow's World Today? (IET Central London Network Xmas Evening Lecture)

    If you had a spare couple of £Billion to spend on space, what would you spend it on? At the IET Central London Network Evening Lectures we always end with a Q&A session with our guest speaker, and this was a question posed to Julie Holt-Jones, Co-Founder/Executive Director of Space4Sight , at the end end of the her lecture on the "Space Economy - Tomorrow's World Today?" Our Christmas Lectures are usually well attended, and this was no exception. Julie entertained a packed Kelvin Lecture Theatre with a short history of Space, from Sputnik and Yuri Gagarin through an anecdote about the Swiss flag being planted on the moon by the Apollo 11 mission to the present day and the International Space Station . The Space economy is forecast to reach $1.8 Trillion by 2035 with growth at an average…

  • What we got up to last year and what’s on the board for 2025 - IET Antennas & Propagation Technical Network (APTN)

    The aim of the IET’s APTN is to support the Antennas and Propagation community through knowledge exploitation and sharing, continuous professional development, networking, and the encouragement and development of new and emerging talent. As Chair of the IET’s Antennas and Propagation Technical Network (APTN) committee it has been a pleasure to oversee and contribute to the wide variety of events that have supported the above community aims Nationally and Globally. (The 2024 events are listed at the end). In 2024 we developed a couple of new engagement formats. These were: “Lunch and Learn” events and “Discussion Forums” both of which were well supported by the wider community. These were supplemented by traditional in-person and virtual events. The “Lunch and Learn” events provided an…

  • Can Artificial Intelligence (AI) ever replace the Project Manager?

    Technology has advanced substantially over the last few decades. Artificial intelligence has played a significant role by acting as the central nerve appearing in an extensive variety of technologies and providing smart solutions to problems. Innovations developed within the AI frontier are the core driving force that transforms how we undertake our contemporary lifestyles and how businesses compete in this globalized world. In this post I question the appropriateness of integrating AI within the field of project management and the strategies to leverage and manage AI-enhanced projects. As new technologies continue to develop, I suggest that traditional paradigms of conducting business and the management of projects ought to adapt in order to remain relevant and efficient. It is well accepted…

  • Karl’s two-stroke of genius

    On This Day in (Engineering) History December 31, 1878 - Karl Benz patents the first reliable two-stroke petrol engine Few things scream 'the twentieth century' like an open-top car whizzing along a straight, open road, wind through the hair, music on the radio. Or maybe a car containing a man in a hat and trench coat, driving through the dark on a rain-swept night. Perhaps a car full of guys bouncing their heads to the heavy guitar of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody. What does this have to do with Karl Benz? Everything. Induction Karl Friedrich Michael Vaillant was born in 1844 - in Mühlburg, now a borough of Karlsruhe, in the German state of Baden-Württemberg – to unmarried parents. Karl's parents had married before he was two years old, but this stability didn't last. When Karl was…

Community Rules & Guidelines