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  • The Smart Revolution - Transforming Manufacturing with Robotics

    The smart revolution: how robotics is reshaping manufacturing and end‑of‑life processes Manufacturing is at a turning point. Across sectors, organisations are being asked to produce more sustainably, make better use of materials, and deal responsibly with what happens when products reach the end of their working life. At the same time, labour shortages, safety concerns and rising costs are putting pressure on traditional ways of working. Against this backdrop, robotics, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems are starting to move from the edges of manufacturing into the mainstream. Not as a silver bullet, but as practical tools that can help industry rethink how products are built, used, repaired and recovered. A recent IET Manufacturing Technical Network webinar explored what…

  • Strategic E-Waste Management in Modern Manufacturing: A Closed-Loop Approach

    As of mid-2026, the global manufacturing sector stands at a critical intersection between industrial growth and environmental accountability. Electronic waste, or e-waste, covers all discarded electrical and electronic devices, parts, and materials, and it has become one of the fastest growing waste streams globally, with volumes expected to exceed 78 million metric tons annually by 2030. For a long time, manufacturers viewed this material simply as an unavoidable cost of production or a waste disposal problem. Today however, it is widely recognized as a valuable secondary resource and a core component of the circular economy model. Modern manufacturing facilities are no longer just places where goods are made and waste is produced. They are evolving into integrated hubs for material recovery…

  • Celebrating Pride in the Quarter at IET London: Savoy Place

    The ‘Pride in the Quarter’ project is a public art trail across central London, featuring 17 large lion and lioness sculptures, running from June–August 2026. Each of the lions are individually designed by London-based artists and tell a unique story inspired by the city’s culture, communities and creativity. Visit the London Heritage Quarter website for more information . IET London: Savoy Place have sponsored a lion, which is situated in Embankment gardens right outside of the venue. Our lion highlights the story of Sara Josephine Baker , a formidable physician who saved the lives of thousands of children through her pioneering public health work. Today, she is also recognised as an important LGBTQ+ figure, born into a time when living authentically as a part of the community was not accepted…

  • The ZX Spectrum and Sinclair C5: A Strategyzer Perspective on Success and Failure

    What Sir Clive Sinclair's Greatest Hit and Most Famous Flop Can Teach Us About Product Strategy I have just finished Strategyzer's Mastering Business Testing course. One of the most interesting aspects of the training was its exploration of four key risks associated with a product idea: desirability, feasibility, viability, and adaptability . While re-reading my notes and thinking about how I could apply these concepts, I remembered watching The Rise and Fall of Sinclair on YouTube, a video that examines the rise of the Sinclair ZX Spectrum (1982) and the decline of the Sinclair C5 (1985). I often quote the Sinclair C5 as an example of a product that was ahead of its time, so I thought comparing these two brainchilds of Sir Clive Sinclair would make for an interesting exercise. This is…

  • Building More Than Robots: How ShockSoc Rebuilt a Hands-On Engineering Community

    This academic year has been one of rebuilding, growth, and hands-on engineering for ShockSoc, the Leeds Electronics and Electrical Engineering Society. From the beginning of the year, our aim was to make the society more active, accessible, and practically useful for students across the School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering. We wanted ShockSoc to become more than just a society name, we wanted it to be a place where students could learn new skills, meet others with similar interests, and apply engineering concepts outside the lecture theatre. At the start of the year, a major focus was re-establishing the society’s presence and encouraging new students to get involved. Through Freshers Fair, social media, course group chats, and direct engagement with students, we worked to make…

  • Value Engineering in the Aerospace Industry: Balancing Performance, Cost, and Innovation

    The aerospace industry is defined by extreme demands: uncompromising safety standards, high performance requirements, long operational lifecycles, and massive capital investments. Whether for commercial aircraft, defense systems, or space exploration vehicles, every component and system must deliver maximum reliability while staying within strict budget and schedule constraints. This is where Value Engineering (VE) becomes indispensable. Value Engineering is a systematic, organized approach to improve the "value" of products, systems, or processes by analyzing their functions - defined simply as: Value = Function / Cost In aerospace, value is not just about cutting costs; it means delivering the necessary performance, safety, and quality at the lowest possible total lifecycle cost. It…

    Paul Lino Galutira
    Paul Lino Galutira

  • Sustainable Transport:Mapping Accessibility in UK Cities

    Mapping Accessibility in UK Cities The lecture was presented by Duncan Smith , Associate Professor in GIS and Visualisation at the Bartlett Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis (CASA), UCL. The lecture, held on Wednesday 13th May 2026, took place at the flagship IET venue at Savoy Place, London, in the Turing Theatre. The lecture primarily covered transportation challenges that we all face on a daily basis. Transportation Challenges: Sustainability, Productivity & Health Transport is a major source of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and is also vital to the economy. The talk presented these issues effectively through the analysis of tabulated data. It provided an interesting perspective on how transport accessibility impacts our daily lives. Transport is something we all rely on every…

  • How to use Corporate Venturing (an alternative to venture capital, offering faster routes to market)

    Commercialising innovation always needs funding and venture capital is not the only answer. The new corporate venturing world now stands beside venture capital, and it offers some unique advantages. However, Corporate Venturing needs navigating and steering. Join us for a webinar on the 17 th June when we will hear from Maija Palmer of Global Corporate Venturing on How to use Corporate Venturing and how it is now beginning to augment venture capital but with the promise of better and faster routes to market. Who should attend this webinar? Start-ups who may want to reach the market faster or are unsure about raising further investments. Those who want to work in an ambitious start-up. One of the many stalled companies facing a funding gap Private Equity funded companies with no…

  • Bo Yang: A Story of Mentorship and Growth

    Mentorship is often discussed as a tool for early career development yet its value does not diminish as engineers become more senior. Bo Yang’s experience through the IET mentoring programme shows how guidance from an experienced volunteer can help established leaders sharpen their impact refine their narrative and step confidently into wider influence. “I didn’t seek a mentor to learn how to do engineering, but to refine how I position leadership and articulate impact at a systems level.” When Bo first connected with her mentor Colin, she was already operating at Director level. She was leading large teams and delivering complex engineering programmes, but her challenge was no longer technical depth. Instead, her focus had shifted to scaling impact across organisations, strategy, and…

  • From Wind, Water and Uncertainty: The Engineering Lessons of the Golden Gate Bridge

    On 27 May 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge opened to the public, completing what was then the longest suspension bridge in the world. Spanning the turbulent Golden Gate strait between San Francisco and Marin County, the bridge represented a decisive leap in structural engineering, construction safety, and aerodynamic understanding. Nearly ninety years later, it remains a working piece of infrastructure and a reference point for engineers designing at the limits of scale. The engineering problem in context Before construction began in 1933, many experts believed a bridge across the Golden Gate was infeasible. The strait is over 1.6 km wide, with depths exceeding 100 m, powerful tidal currents, persistent fog, and strong winds flowing directly in from the Pacific Ocean. The site also lies near…

  • A brief history of the Sperry 1412 Computer

    Guest blog by Peter M Hills DipEE MSc CEng MIET The Sperry 1412 computer’s design was first postulated at Sperry Gyroscope’s Bracknell R & D department in 1967. The prototype appeared in 1968. Given that computer systems of the time were nearly the size of small houses, its applications were initially thought to be in the aerospace industry where a fast, general-purpose digital computer of shoebox dimensions and low weight would appeal to system designers. In fact, most applications were for the British and French Navies. Those applications were the Exocet MM38 missile pre-launch fire control system, operational in 1974 and its later upgrade MM40 operational in 1986, the Sea Archer GSA.7 gunfire control system for the Royal Navy, operational in 1983 and project Chevaline – a secret British…

  • Ambition vs Capability: Is the UK’s Space Vision Outpacing Its Engineering Talent?

    With growing investment in sovereign capability, resilient communications, and next-generation connectivity—including Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) and advanced Satcom—the UK’s ambition is clear. However, ambition alone does not deliver capability. The real question is whether the nation’s engineering talent base is keeping pace with the scale and complexity of these aspirations. Across industry, there is increasing concern that the UK is not producing sufficient expertise in critical domains such as radio frequency (RF) and microwave engineering, FPGA development, and digital signal processing (DSP)—skills that underpin modern satellite and defence systems. Evidence suggests this gap is both structural and persistent. According to EngineeringUK, the UK requires approximately 173,000 new…

  • Henry Gantt and the Engineering of Time, Work and Delivery

    For practising engineers, few tools are as quietly influential as the Gantt chart. It appears in project reviews, capital programmes, system integrations and infrastructure upgrades across almost every engineering discipline. Yet its origins trace back to a single engineer born on 20 May 1861: Henry Laurence Gantt. On this day, it is worth revisiting not just the chart that bears his name, but the wider engineering problem Gantt was trying to solve, how to design work itself so that complex systems could be delivered reliably, humanely and at scale. The engineering context of Gantt’s era Gantt came of age during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when engineering was being transformed by industrialisation, electrification and mass production. Factories, shipyards and railways were…

  • How are you feeling? How Foothold’s free tool can support your mental health

    "How are you feeling?" It’s a question so many of us avoid giving the real answer to. "Fine, thanks", we tend to answer. The problem is, when you live in a culture or environment where being open about your emotions is rare, it can be more difficult to work out how you actually feel. You might think, "I tell other people I’m fine, so I guess I’m fine". It’s easier. It’s quicker. It doesn’t involve exploring uncomfortable feelings, or having difficult conversations. We’re not advising you give an honest and detailed answer the next time the supermarket cashier asks you how your day is. However, it’s possible to achieve a healthy middle ground where you can allow yourself to feel your feelings, recognise them as they arise, and have strategies you can use to look after yourself. Understand…

  • Data coherence: Are you drowning in a sea of data on what is shaping the future of M&E today?

    “Storytelling” has become the defining buzzword of the moment, and NAB 2026 captured this well with the theme of “Where Media, Entertainment & Storytelling Converge.” Broadcasters and the media industry have spent over a century telling stories and delivering entertainment, from over-the-air radio and television to today’s online services. Previously, we examined the funding challenges facing broadcast and media operations and the complexities of navigating a disrupted ecosystem. Audiences and markets continue to respond, while regulators work to establish a level playing field for all stakeholders. Research, surveys, and critical studies are increasingly shaping the broader broadcasting, media and entertainment (M&E) landscape. Across every industry, including media and broadcast, there…

  • Nuclear Power in the USSR. Two pamphlets from the library collections

    Daniel Simkin, IET Library Deputy Library Manager In this blog we will look at the development of nuclear power in the USSR via two pamphlets in the IET library collections. These are First in the World! An Illustrated Description of the Soviet Atomic Electricity Station (Soviet News, 1956) and Chernobyl (Central Electricity Generating Board, 1986). I will be using the spellings Chernobyl and Kiev, rather than Chornobyl and Kyiv, as this is how they are presented in the second pamphlet. First in the World! An Illustrated Description of the Soviet Atomic Electricity Station (1956) Our first pamphlet was published as Soviet News Booklet no. 2 in London in 1956. Soviet News was a publication of the embassy of the USSR, at that time based in Rosary Gardens in South Kensington. First published…

  • Call for Abstracts: Appropriate Healthcare Technologies for Low‑Resource Settings (AHT 2026)

    Does the same technology meet healthcare needs regardless of context or economic environment? Be part of the conversation If you are developing, implementing or evaluating healthcare technologies for low‑resource settings — or learning through experience what does not work — we strongly encourage you to submit an abstract and contribute to this important global discussion. Together, we can help shape healthcare technologies that are not only innovative, but truly appropriate for the contexts where they are most needed. The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) invites abstract submissions for Appropriate Healthcare Technologies for Low‑Resource Settings (AHT 2026) — a virtual event focused on the design, innovation and engineering of healthcare technologies that genuinely…

  • Payloads of the Past: Yuri Gagarin

    A first step into the unknown On 12 April 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first human to travel into space, completing one orbit of the Earth aboard Vostok 1 in 108 minutes. The flight was brief, but its significance was enormous. It marked the moment humanity moved from imagining spaceflight to proving that a person could survive it, control it and return safely. Vostok 1 was more than a symbolic moment. It was a complex mission that brought together launch capability, spacecraft design, life support, communications, tracking and recovery under intense political and technical pressure. Gagarin’s mission was a milestone in the Space Race, but it was also a milestone for engineering discipline and mission assurance. Why it mattered then Gagarin’s flight arguably changed how the world…

    Aaron Russell
    Aaron Russell

  • Coventry and Warwickshire Local Network Webinar on Implementing industrial Robotics

    Thank you to the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Network for inviting me to talk about the Guide to Implementing industrial robotics. The guide was developed in collaboration with the Manufacturing technology Centre, Irish Manufacturing research and Automate-UK. We leafed through the pages of the guide talking through the different types of industrial robots and their potential applications & some obvious benefits. We discussed the barriers to implementing an industrial robotics system, which can be considered when developing the costs & schedule, resources or risks for a business case. Some of the other factors to consider in the business case can be what is the cost of current processes, their inefficiencies and cost of quality. This can be used to describe the problem to be solved. It…

  • Volunteer Spotlight: John Lorriman

    John Lorriman’s volunteering journey with the IEE and IET spans more than 50 years and reads like a passport full of memorable stamps. From local networks and mentoring to global accreditations and international travel, John’s story is one of curiosity, commitment and a genuine passion for helping others succeed. A lifetime of volunteering I joined the IEE in 1970, straight out of Cambridge, when I was working as a Production Foreman at GEC Telecommunications. Volunteering soon became a natural extension of my professional life. In 1977, when I became Controller of Training at GEC Telecoms, I was encouraged to take on a role with what is now the IET Birmingham Local Network. I later chaired the network, became a Fellow in 1987, and went on to chair the Coventry & Warwickshire Local Network…

  • Volunteer Spotlight: Aaron Russell’s Journey into Space Engineering

    From early doubts about whether engineering was even an option, to chairing the IET’s Satellite Technical Network, Aaron Russell’s career has taken an unexpected path. Along the way, volunteering with the IET has helped him find purpose, community and a way to support the next generation of engineers. Aaron Russell never expected to find himself working in space engineering. As a teenager, he had been told that STEM was “probably a pipedream”. His exam results did not reflect his curiosity or capability, something that only made sense years later when he discovered he was dyslexic. At the time, the message felt clear: engineering was not for people like him. Instead, he imagined a future in accounting or business, subjects that aligned with his love of numbers and understanding how things…

  • Why Mainstream Blockchain needs Data Privacy (Central London Network Evening Lecture)

    Blog Post by Central London Network volunteer Phil Snuggs Blockchain is a modern technology and still in its infancy The November Central London Network Evening Lecture at Savoy Place was a deep dive into Blockchain by , founder &CEO of Appliedblockchain . This was Adi’s second time with us, the previous lecture being 6 years ago. Adi indicated that this is a subject that will grow rapidly as it is understood more by technical and entrepreneur users. Initially I was sceptical by the subject and thought this topic would be more jargon busting technology with the onset of AI. The presentation by was engaging and interesting to the point you had to listen and take notice. The fundamental change is that the US Government is driving Blockchain now and global governments are taking notice…

  • Pathway to Excellence: Nigeria’s Journey Toward Washington, Sydney, and Dublin Accord Signatory Status

    I work on bridges. On the Lagos Emergency Bridge Repair Works Project with Julius Berger, I spend my days with technicians, craftsmen, and artisans, the skilled hands that hold Nigeria's infrastructure together. Whenever the conversation turns to the future, to careers, to opportunity, I hear the same word repeated like a quiet prayer: japa. Japa, the Yoruba slang for "flee", has become shorthand for the dream that consumes Nigeria's brightest young minds: leave. Get out. Find a future somewhere else. Europe. America. Anywhere but here. It is not laziness or ingratitude. It is a rational response to a system that has, for too long, failed to recognize its own talent. But something is changing. As the Speaker for Young Engineers at the 15th Mechanical Engineering Distinguished Lecture, a…

  • Foothold’s community survey results: What engineers told us about their health, wellbeing and finances

    Every three years Foothold undertakes a wellbeing survey of our community to understand how they are feeling physically, mentally, and financially. This information helps inform our thinking about whether our existing support is relevant, and how we may need to evolve our support in the future. Previous surveys led to us expanding our focus from providing financial support, which started when we made our first grant 125 years ago , to building resilience in our community. This led to the development of our digital health and wellbeing and neurodiversity tools and resources. Foothold truly is a global community, and we were grateful to everyone who took the time to respond, all 469 of you, from 37 different countries! We used a combination of demographic questions alongside the WHOQOL…

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