Latest Insights from the EngX Community

  • Sharpening the reputation of scientist and suffragist, Hertha Ayrton

    Graeme Gooday (University of Leeds) and Patricia Fara (University of Cambridge) Today is the 172nd anniversary of an extraordinary woman: Hertha Ayrton (1854–1923), who was born as Sarah Phoebe Marks on 28 April 1854. She was the first woman to become a Fellow of the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE), the first woman to deliver her own paper at the Royal Society (although she was rejected for Fellowship on the grounds that she was married) and the first woman to be awarded the Royal Society’s prestigious Hughes Medal – and what’s more, the only woman to receive that medal in the entire 20th century. 2026 also marks the centenary of the illuminating biography by her friend and fellow suffragist Evelyn Sharp : Hertha Ayrton: A Memoir (London: Edward Arnold, 1926). Now out of copyright…

  • Nell, Esther and Aunt Effie, the story of Robert H Goddard and the world’s first liquid-fuelled rocket

    Jerry Stone gave an in-depth and thought-provoking presentation on the life and achievements of Robert Goddard at a Beds & Herts event in Futures Place on 21 April 2026. Robert Hutchings Goddard is widely regarded as the father of modern rocketry, a title earned through his visionary ideas and groundbreaking experiments that laid the foundation for space exploration. Born on October 5, 1882, in Worcester, Massachusetts, Goddard showed an early fascination with science and invention. His curiosity was strongly encouraged by his family, particularly his mother, Esther Goddard, who supported his education despite his frequent childhood illnesses. As a young man, Goddard was inspired after reading H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds, which sparked his dream of space travel. He pursued physics…

  • Ad-dressable TV: Key findings reveal local linear TV as a trusted media influencing & shaping consumer decisions

    This April and May, the spotlight is on BroadcastAsia 2026, Asia-Pacific’s leading broadcast and media event, which will showcase topics of real importance to both regional and global stakeholders. The themes selected are timely, essential, and certain to resonate with those navigating the fast-changing broadcast and media landscape. The BroadcastAsia 2026 Conference, alongside parallel events, will be held in Singapore from May 20 to 22 at the Singapore EXPO. Over three days, the programme will span both radio and television, examining their production and distribution, as well as the ongoing consolidation of services. The IEEE-Broadcast Technology Society (IEEE-BTS) continues its role as a supporting organisation of BCA2026. Representing IEEE-BTS as a Distinguished Lecturer, I will be…

Latest IET EngX News

  • From Space Stories to Smart Systems: April on EngX

    April on EngX brought together a thoughtful mix of emerging technologies, industry insight and personal journeys. From a closer look at how 5G networks are evolving behind the scenes to fresh perspectives on the continuing influence of broadcast media, the blogs this month highlighted both the pace of change and the importance of understanding the fundamentals. Alongside these, inspiring career stories and reflections on the history of space exploration added a more human dimension, while discussions across the forums explored automation, energy systems and real‑world engineering trade‑offs. Here’s a look at some of the content that stood out this month: Blogs worth a read Massive MIMO: the brains behind 5G networks This detailed post from Soubhagya Ranjan Mohapatra explores how Massive…

    Lisa Miles
  • March Highlights on EngX: AI Insights, Inclusive Voices and Engineering Impact

    March was a month packed with fresh technical thinking, practical guidance, and human‑centred stories across the EngX community. From deep dives into industrial AI to personal reflections from engineers shaping their workplaces, here’s your roundup of what captured attention and sparked conversation this month. AI in Manufacturing: Why So Many Initiatives Stall One of the most thought‑provoking reads this month came from Dr Paul Johnson , whose article AI in Manufacturing: Why Most Initiatives Fail & How to Deliver Real Engineering Value explores why organisations continue to struggle with turning AI investment into meaningful operational outcomes. Johnson illustrates this through a real‑world predictive maintenance example where an AI model successfully identified early warning signs…

  • February Highlights on EngX: AI shifts, cyber reality checks, and conversations that got us thinking

    February on EngX brought another lively mix of thought‑provoking blogs, practical engineering discussions and broader reflections on how technology is shaping the world we work in. From unravelling sustainability terminology to exploring the foundations of AI, assessing the UK's cyber readiness and reflecting on the potential of hydro sites for pumped‑storage energy, the community continued to share knowledge and support one another. Here’s a round‑up of what caught the eye this month. Blogs worth a read ClimateTech, CleanTech, DeepTech… what’s the difference? Dr. Mohammad Harris tackled an issue that resonates across engineering and sustainability circles, the confusing overlap between terms like climate tech, clean tech and deep tech. Speaking from industry experience, he explained…

Latest Partner News

  • Josie Harries discusses how Domino is working to increase support for women in the workplace

    Encouraging women to choose careers in STEM subjects has been top of the agenda for many years – but what fresh ideas can you introduce within the workplace to attract and support female employees? At Domino, we are committed to improving the gender ratio in leadership roles within a business to 40% by 2030. This target, endorsed from Board level down, now stands at 25%, from a starting figure of 18%. Support networks Recently we re-launched our Women@Domino global network to promote inclusion within the business and facilitate the sharing of ideas and experiences, as well as networking, mentoring, events and training. Gender was also one of three key areas in our new Inclusion & Diversity strategy. The network is not limited to female employees; male colleagues are encouraged to participate…

  • Road to Engineering event introduces children to the world of engineering

    BAE System's Submarines Academy for Skills and Knowledge (SASK), Barrow-in-Furness successfully hosted the 6th Road to Engineering event which took place over three action-packed days. Over 200 children from the Furness area participated in the event which aims to inspire future careers in Engineering. This year's theme was 'Adapt and Change' following the British Science week theme. Supporting the event were the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, Barrow District of Associate Engineers and the Royal Institute of Naval Architects who contributed valuable insight, merchandise and STEM packs for schools. Stephen Rowe, Project Director of Engineering Transformation said, "It was a privilege to attend the Road to Engineering event and…

  • H&MV Engineering appointed as principal designer and contractor for the Thorpe Marsh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)

    H&MV Engineering has been appointed as principal designer and contractor for the delivery of the 400 kV grid connection and electrical infrastructure for the Thorpe Marsh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) – the largest of its kind in the UK and among the largest in Europe. This landmark project, led by Fidra Energy and backed by major investment from EIG and the UK Government’s National Wealth Fund (NWF), has now reached financial close with construction commencing immediately. Located on the site of the former Thorpe Marsh coal-fired power station in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, the 1,400MW / 3,100MWh facility will be capable of exporting over 2 million MWh annually, supplying clean energy to approximately 785,000 homes. Once operational in mid-2027, it will be three times larger than…

Latest articles from E+T Magazine

  • Norway trials electric ferry that glides above water and will slash emissions

    An electric ferry that uses hydrofoil technology to glide on top of the water offers a low emission alternative to diesel ferries, according to researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Norway’s lengthy Trondheim Fjord is surrounded by many small towns and villages, and two ferry services and two express boat services operate daily to transport passengers across the fjord. A new electric boat dubbed ‘Frosta’ is being trialled to replace current diesel-powered services. Using ‘wing-like’ hydrofoil technology that lifts the boat’s hull out of the water, the vessel can reduce 80% of the water resistance on the hull, making it very energy-efficient. The boat’s electrically-powered engine, capable of cruising speeds of around 25 knots, only emits about 112g…

  • Drone ‘numberplate system’ unveiled in £46.5m safety push

    A numberplate system for drones that is designed to make the skies safer has been announced by the government as part of a £46.5m funding package. Drones have the potential to cause major disruption in areas with sensitive airspace such as military facilities and airports. In December 2018, two drones flew into Gatwick Airport’s airspace, forcing the closure of its main runway and causing 48 hours of chaos for thousands of passengers. Anti-drone tech was later installed at the airport in a bid to prevent another incident. A new system called Hybrid Remote ID is set to be deployed. This will see drones sending out their ID and location during flight so nearby devices can pick it up, sharing flight details through an online system that authorised people can access to see historic flight data…

  • UK airlines given leeway to cancel undersold flights amid jet fuel price surge

    Airlines have been given more flexibility to cancel or consolidate undersold flights as concerns mount over the rising price of jet fuel brought about by the US war with Iran. The government is planning to introduce temporary measures to make scheduling more flexible for flight operators in order to minimise disruption to Britons planning to go on holiday in the summer. As well as moving passengers on to similar services much earlier, airlines will be able to cancel flights that have not sold a significant proportion of tickets in order to reduce wasted fuel from flying near-empty planes. Under normal rules, airlines must use at least 80% of their allocated slots during a season to keep them for the following year. If they fall below this threshold, those slots can be reassigned to another…