Latest Insights from the EngX Community

  • George Stephenson: The Man Who Put Britain on Track

    Today marks 244 years since the birth of one of Britain’s greatest engineering pioneers — George Stephenson, born on 9th June 1781 in Wylam, Northumberland. Known affectionately as the "Father of the Railways", Stephenson’s legacy continues to shape the way we travel, connect, and innovate. From Humble Beginnings to Industrial Icon George Stephenson’s story is the stuff of legend. Born into a working-class family, he had little formal education and worked as a colliery engineman. But his curiosity and determination led him to teach himself reading, writing, and arithmetic — all while working long hours. His breakthrough came with the invention of the "Blücher" locomotive in 1814, but it was his work on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, opened in 1830, that truly changed the world…

  • Reflections from ICRA 2025: Where Robotics Meets the Real World

    If you're in the robotics world, you probably know that ICRA (International Conference on Robotics and Automation) is the place to be. For over 40 years, ICRA has set the stage for the biggest breakthroughs and boldest ideas in robotics, and this year was no exception. Hosted in Atlanta, Georgia, the 2025 edition attracted an incredible 7,000 attendees, making it one of the largest yet. From tech giants to early-stage researchers, the halls of the Georgia World Congress Center were buzzing with ideas, innovations, and more than 150 exhibitor booths, showcasing the latest in robotic technology. The exhibition floor also featured tech talk stages, where companies and researchers shared insights in a more interactive format. A Universe of Knowledge in Parallel One of the most exciting—and…

  • Empowering Engineers Across Borders: IET Volunteer Journey

    Empowering Engineers Across Borders: My IET Volunteer Journey Celebrating Global Impact During National Volunteers Week 2025 Volunteering has played a vital role in shaping who I am as an engineer and a person. I am a Chartered Engineer specializing in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, currently working as a Scientific Researcher, Pukyong National University in South Korea. Alongside my academic and research pursuits, I am deeply committed to contributing to the global engineering community through my volunteer roles at the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). I began my journey with the IET in 2016 as a student member. At that point, my goal was to stay connected to the wider engineering world while studying. But as I became more aware of the IET’s vast volunteer network…

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

  • Heathrow blackout traced to long-standing, unaddressed substation fault

    A fire at a Heathrow airport substation, owned by the National Grid, was caused by a problem first detected seven years ago but never fixed, according to a final report by the National Energy System Operator (NESO). On 20 March, a fire at the North Hyde 275kV substation, which feeds most of Heathrow, resulted in the airport’s closure. Aviation chaos ensued, with more than 1,300 flights cancelled and hundreds of thousands of passengers affected. More than 70,000 other businesses, homes and services were also affected, including Hillingdon Hospital. Energy watchdog Ofgem commissioned NESO to conduct an investigation, assessing the reasons the fire started in the first place as well as a broader assessment about the UK’s energy resilience and actions that could be taken to prevent similar…

  • Ofgem approves £24bn grid upgrade that could raise bills by £104

    Ofgem has approved an initial £24bn investment in Britain’s energy networks that could see consumer bills rise to cover the cost. The regulator said the funds will be used to make the grid more robust amid an influx of new renewable energy facilities and greater energy demand from data centres and the electrification of industrial processes. Over £15bn will be invested in Britain’s gas transmission networks to ensure ongoing safe and secure supplies to households, while an £8.9bn investment is being committed to Britain’s high-voltage electricity network. A further £1.3bn will go towards expanding the grid. The queue for connecting new projects to the grid is massively oversubscribed and being held up by stalled or speculative projects – some of which are not even at the construction…

  • Beta version of gov.uk app now available for public download

    The gov.uk app can now be downloaded in public beta format, with further development to follow later in the year. The gov.uk website is visited 88 million times every month by people looking for information and completing tasks. With the new gov.uk app, some of these tasks relating to public services can now be completed via a smartphone. Technology secretary Peter Kyle said: “By putting public services in your pocket, we will do away with clunky paper forms and hours spent on hold so you can immediately get the information you need and continue on with the rest of your day.” In January 2025, the government announced that it was to launch the gov.uk app by the summer. While this deadline has been reached with the release of a beta format, the app is incomplete with “new tools and…