Latest Insights from the EngX Community

  • The 1953 North Sea Flood: A Turning Point in Coastal Engineering

    On the night of 31 January 1953, an extreme storm surge swept across the North Sea and left a mark on the engineering world that still shapes our thinking today. For many engineers, the 1953 North Sea flood is more than a historical event. It’s a case study in systems failure, cross‑border vulnerability, and the transformative power of engineering when society decides that “never again” must truly mean something. Although more than 70 years have passed, the flood continues to influence coastal defence design, risk modelling, data collection practices, and even community resilience strategies. For engineers, the 1953 flood serves as a powerful reminder of why our work matters. A Perfect Storm Meets Vulnerable Defences The disaster unfolded when a deep Atlantic depression moved southeast…

  • France Sparks Europe’s Tech Resilience Pivot

    Overview France has decided to stop treating “digital sovereignty” like a slogan and start treating it like a risk register. At the first Rencontres de la souveraineté numérique on 26 January 2026, Minister for Digital and AI Anne Le Hénanff launched two practical instruments: the Observatoire de la souveraineté numérique (entrusted to the Haut-commissariat à la Stratégie et au Plan) and the Indice de résilience numérique (IRN) , a private-sector initiative chaired by Olivier Sichel of the Caisse des Dépôts. The Minister’s framing was unusually direct: “La souveraineté commence par la lucidité… Nous devons savoir d’où et de quoi nous dépendons” (Sovereignty begins with clear-sightedness… We must know where and on what we depend). Reference : French Government Press Release, 26 January…

  • The Rise of Hybrid AI in Engineering

    Across engineering sectors, conversations about AI are shifting. Instead of debating whether AI is being over‑sold or under‑used, the discussion in engineering circles has moved toward something more concrete: how AI can be integrated into existing technical workflows in a way that aligns with engineering rigour, safety standards and domain knowledge. This shift has brought increasing attention to what many research groups, engineering bodies and industry case studies refer to as Hybrid AI. Hybrid AI blends machine‑learning models with symbolic or rule‑based systems, which includes engineering constraints, logic rules, knowledge graphs and physical models. The goal is not to replace engineering reasoning, but to create AI systems that operate in a structured, verifiable way consistent with…

Read more Community Insights ...  

 

Latest IET EngX News

  • Innovation, Safety and Systems Thinking: January highlights on EngX

    The start of a new year always brings fresh conversations, new ideas, and thoughtful reflection, and January on IET EngX was no exception. From forward looking technical insights and policy discussions to lively forum debates and career focused questions, our community has been busy sharing knowledge and supporting one another. Here’s a roundup of some of the blogs and discussions that caught our attention during January 2026 and sparked great engagement across the platform. Blogs worth a read From racing cars to electric dreams: the origins of EV innovation One of the standout career‑focused blogs this month explored the career of Sir John Samuel from his early roots of electric vehicle innovation and tracing his journey from motorsport engineering to pioneering EV development. Personal…

  • December Highlights on EngX: Celebrations, reflections and a look to the future

    December on EngX had that familiar end‑of‑year feeling, a blend of celebration, reflection, and excitement for what’s ahead. It was a month filled with stories of global impact, technical achievement, and inspiring people across our engineering community. Celebrating Global Communities and a year of impact One of the most uplifting posts this month came from Mariana Vazquez in Celebrating Our Global Communities: A Year of Impact and Innovation . It offered a wonderful look at just how far the IET’s volunteer‑driven activities reached in 2025. She shared that the IET’s Local and Technical Networks delivered over 900 events globally , welcoming more than 51,000 participants , with activity across 25+ countries . Technical Networks also expanded their reach, with webinars accessed in 101…

  • Safety, Space & stories that inspire: November Highlights on EngX!

    November was all about looking ahead, whether that’s exploring the stars, celebrating the legacy of television, or shining a spotlight on the people who make our community thrive. Here’s what stood out on IET EngX this month: Payloads of the Past: Sputnik II and Laika’s Legacy In a new blog series, Aaron Russell kicked off with Payloads of the Past: Sputnik II and the Legacy of Laika . His post dives into the story behind the second-ever satellite launched into orbit and the brave dog Laika, whose mission paved the way for human spaceflight. It’s a fascinating read that blends engineering history with ethical questions about early space exploration. World Television Day On 21 November, Ian Nock marked World Television Day with a thoughtful reflection on TV’s role in shaping society…

Read more from IET EngX News ...  

 

Latest Partner News

  • 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…

  • In-flight Broadband Connectivity and Experimentation for Beyond 5G Networks “AeroNet”

    This work is supported by the HORIZON-MSCA-2024-SE-01-01, Project ID 101236523 and Innovate UK. Total amount is €1.8 million for five Universities and 3 Industries in EU and UK. Raed A Abd-Alhameed, Viktor Doychinov, Vuong Mai, Ifiok Otung University of Bradford, (UoB), Organisation in United Kingdom London South Bank University (LSB), Organisation in United Kingdom Technische Universität Dresden (TDN) - Organisation in Germany University of Athens (UoA) - Organisation in Greece University of Trento (UDT) - Organisation in Italy Fogus Innovations and Services PC (FGS) - Organisation in Greece Sigint Solutions Ltd (SGT) - Organisation in Cyprus JIO Platforms (JIO) - Organisation in Estonia Fogus Innovations and Service P.C. (FGS), Athens, Greece Sigint Solutions Ltd (SGT), Nicosia, Cyprus…

Read more from Partner News...

Latest articles from E+T Magazine

  • Polymer-based EV battery that won’t freeze even at −40°C

    A polymer-based battery chemistry could enable electric vehicles (EVs) to keep working in freezing conditions, according to a study by Texas A&M University. Extreme cold weather can prevent conventional lithium-ion EV batteries from charging or discharging: as the temperature falls, the liquid electrolyte thickens or freezes, blocking the flow of electricity. Texas A&M University researchers have developed a battery that can maintain functionality in temperatures as low as –40°C. To achieve this, the liquid electrolyte was replaced with a diglyme-based low-temperate electrolyte; diglyme is a liquid organic compound with a very low freezing point, allowing the battery to remain fluid and maintain electrochemical activity even at very low temperatures. The team also replaced the battery…

  • Skyrora considers £10m investment in Sutherland spaceport amid Orbex collapse

    Skyrora, one of the UK’s most prominent space firms, is interested in buying the assets of Orbex after the rocket launch company announced it was going into administration. The Scotland-headquartered Orbex launched in 2015 and planned to build a spaceport in Sutherland at the northern tip of Scotland. It was to be one of the first vertical launch capable spaceports in the UK and would have shared this capability with Lockheed Martin to bolster that firm’s space ambitions. However, Lockheed Martin then moved its launch plans to a competing site, SaxaVord spaceport in the Shetland Isles. A series of successful funding rounds between 2022 and 2025 allowed it to continue development on its orbital rocket system, named Prime. Munich-based firm The Exploration Company announced plans to acquire…

  • Mass transit link to Bristol Airport proposed under new regional transport plan

    The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) has unveiled a new Transport Vision, proposing a high-capacity mass transit network that would connect Bristol to its airport. Bristol Airport is one of the busiest airports in the UK without a direct train or tram link. It lies around 16km outside of Bristol city centre, with passengers having to get there via the often-busy road network. To make this journey and others around the city more seamless, WECA has unveiled its Transport Vision, which outlines proposals to start building a mass transit system within four or five years. The system will include an interconnected network comprising buses, rail, mass transit, upgraded streets, and active travel improvements such as better walking and cycling routes. According to WECA, congestion in…

Read more articles from E+T Magazine ...

 

Community Rules & Guidelines