Latest Insights from the EngX Community

  • 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…

Latest IET EngX News

  • From Stephenson to Cybersecurity: June’s Highlights on IET EngX

    As summer rolled in, June brought a rich mix of innovation, inspiration, and engineering excellence across the IET EngX community. From celebrating pioneers to exploring cutting-edge construction and wireless technologies, here are some of the standout moments from the past month: Featured Community Insights From Bees to Base Stations: CAWE 2025 On 11 June , the University of Liverpool hosted the 13th Colloquium on Antennas and Wireless Electromagnetics (CAWE’25) . Organised by the IET’s Antennas and Propagation Technical Network, the event brought together over 45 experts to explore the latest in antenna design and wireless systems. Highlights included a keynote by Professor Yi Huang on liquid and dispersive antennas , showcasing the future of adaptable wireless tech. Read the event…

  • May Sparks - Engineering Ideas, Insights & Innovation from the EngX Community

    As May wraps up, let’s take a look at some of the most thought-provoking blog posts and discussions that sparked ideas and debate across the IET EngX community. Featured Community Insights Engineering History Meets Modern Curiosity A standout blog post this month from our Archives team revisited The Electric Telegraph Popularised by Dionysius Lardner, a fascinating 1855 publication that helped demystify telegraphy for the Victorian public. Read the full post Celebrating Engineering Milestones May also marked the anniversary of the Rigi Bahnen, Europe’s first rack railway. This post celebrates the innovation of Niklaus Riggenbach and the enduring legacy of mountain rail engineering. Explore the Rigi Bahnen story Beyond the Badge: Ethical AI and the Risks of Hype Hear from Andy…

  • Reconnect and share: IET EngX is back online!

    I’m happy to announce that EngX is now back online and ready for you to dive back in! Over the past couple of weeks, colleagues have been hard at work on essential updates and improvements to our systems at the IET. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time. Back to Posting! Now that we're back online, you can again start sharing your questions , projects, and insights with the EngX community. Whether you're looking to seek advice, collaborate on a new project or simply catch up with fellow engineers, our online community is here to support you. Freshen up your profile. When you log back in, take a moment to update your profile information and refresh your profile image. A fresh profile helps others recognise you and understand your expertise. Here's how to do it…

    Lisa Miles

Latest Partner News

  • Silver Fox and Fluke LinkWare Live: Transforming Cable Labelling

    Silver Fox has partnered with Fluke Networks to integrate its Advanced Labelling Software with Fluke LinkWare Live , bringing a faster, smarter way to manage cable labelling. This powerful integration allows engineers to import test data directly from LinkWare Live, eliminating manual entry and ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and compliance . For network professionals, accuracy is critical. This solution streamlines workflows by automatically matching test results with printed labels , reducing errors and improving documentation. Whether you’re working in data centres, telecoms, or electrical installations, this integration saves time and enhances project efficiency . By bridging cable testing and labelling, Silver Fox and Fluke Networks offer a seamless solution that simplifies large-scale…

  • Apprentice's 5,000-mile trip to become a training master

    An apprentice at the University of Sunderland took a trip of a lifetime to become a training master. Steve Simm, who studies on the Learning and Skills Teacher (LST) Apprenticeship at the University, travelled over 5,500 miles to Japan to be certified as an Overseas Monozukuri Education Master Trainer for Unipres. Receiving this accreditation means that Steve will be able to deliver in-house Japanese-style training in the UK, enhancing the teaching he already delivers through a range of level 2 apprenticeships at the Unipres Training Academy. Steve said: “This trip to Japan was fantastic. Over the four-day training course, I’ve been able to enrich my own professional development which now enables me to incorporate Japanese-style teaching into the training academy here in the UK. “While…

  • Positive impact of apprentices celebrated at awards ceremony

    The achievements of University of Sunderland apprentices have been celebrated at a special awards ceremony to mark the end of National Apprenticeship Week. The University’s annual awards recognise the efforts and contributions that its current and graduate apprentices make in the region and amplifying the organisations that create these opportunities. The apprentices taking home prizes this year are: Steph Capewell, founder and CEO of Sunderland-based baby bank charity Love, Amelia – Community Impact Award ( Senior Leader Apprenticeship ) Yan Cunningham, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust – Impact and Research Award ( Advanced Clinical Practitioner ) Hannah Woodward, Bright Futures NE – Apprentice of the Year ( Community and Youth Work ) Scott Simpson, Kasai UK …

Latest articles from E+T Magazine

  • Shifting UK diesel car exhaust pipes to the right cuts their pavement pollution by a third

    Air pollutants on UK pavements generated by diesel cars could be slashed by a third if car exhausts were positioned on the right, according to new research. University of York researchers recently conducted a study into air pollution exposure among pavement users in urban environments. They analysed which factors – such as the amount of exhaust from vehicles, what’s contained in that exhaust, and how it moves through the air – influence near-road traffic-related air pollution (TRAP). Using advanced ‘plume regression techniques’, they modelled concentrations of pollutants, especially nitrogen oxides (NOx), under different conditions. The researchers made an interesting discovery relating to the exhaust pipe position: diesel cars with left-sided exhaust pipes released 40% higher pollution…

  • £75.6m tender opens for UK’s first mission to remove space debris

    The UK Space Agency (UKSA) has started a £75.6m tender process to launch the first UK mission to tackle space debris. The aim of the proposed active debris removal (ADR) mission is to use British ingenuity to design a spacecraft capable of capturing and de-orbiting two defunct UK-licensed satellites from low-Earth orbit (LEO). Once these satellites have been safely guided into the Earth’s atmosphere, they will burn up. This is a step towards removing space debris, which includes old satellites, spent rocket stages and fragments from collisions in orbit. The UKSA estimates that 140 million pieces of space debris smaller than 1cm, and over 54,000 tracked objects larger than 10cm, are in LEO. This orbiting junk can collide with vital space infrastructure, including satellite networks that…

  • EU accused of inserting ‘loopholes’ into its 2040 climate change plan

    Changes to EU rules around carbon offsets amount to a watering down of commitments, climate campaigners have said. The EU has set a 2040 goal for member states to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 90% based on 1990 levels. The 90% target represents the lower end of the 90-95% range that the EU’s climate advisers said was possible by 2040. It also allows carbon offsets, or credits, from outside the bloc to be used to meet up to 3% of the target. Carbon credits are derived from projects designed to remove GHGs from the atmosphere through efforts such as reforestation, renewable energy or methane capture. But the efficacy of many offset projects has been brought into question in the past. In its policy document, the EU states that any credits utilised would need to be of “high quality…