Latest Insights from the EngX Community

  • Simply, thank you

    We all know, one of the great strengths of the IET has always been the people who give their time to make it better. Across our communities, volunteers bring experience and, in many cases, a sense of unsurpassable enthusiasm that creates opportunities for others and helps keep the IET relevant, welcoming and connected. Over the past few months, I’ve learnt about a group of volunteers who have been helping us think about the future of our Communities and Networks. What has been the most impressive, isn't just the quality of the ideas that emerged from the group, but the openness with which everyone approached the conversations. Individuals with different experiences and perspectives came together, challenged each other's thinking when needed, and remained focused on what will create the greatest…

  • We all have our cheese moved

    Change is something we all experience, yet few of us truly welcome it. Whether it's a new role, new technology, organisational change, or an unexpected challenge in life, our first instinct is often to resist. We become comfortable with what we know. We build routines, develop expertise, and find confidence in familiar surroundings. Then one day, something changes. For many years, one of the books that has stayed with me is Who Moved My Cheese? by Dr Spencer Johnson. It tells a simple story, but one with a powerful message: change is inevitable, and our success is often determined by how we respond to it. Like many people, there have been times in my career when I wanted to fight back against change. I wanted things to stay the same because the familiar felt safe. Looking back, I realise…

  • BEYOND A SINGLE CDE: Why ISO 19650 governance automation must be designed for platform diversity

    When we talk about a Common Data Environment (CDE), it can sound as though everyone is working inside the same type of system. My recent survey experience suggested something very different: the standard may be common, but the digital workspaces behind it are not. Why I looked at the platforms behind the process I have been exploring how automation could support information governance aligned with ISO 19650. During that work, one practical question kept returning: before we automate a review, approval or information-sharing process, what platform are people actually using to carry it out? ISO 19650 describes the information-management workflow that a CDE should support. In practice, information containers move through controlled states such as work in progress, shared, published and archived…

Latest IET EngX News

  • Curiosity, AI and the Future of Engineering - July's Highlights on EngX

    July on EngX was packed with thought‑provoking ideas, career reflections and practical engineering conversations. From exploring the decision‑making challenges behind artificial intelligence to rethinking how we design workplaces and infrastructure, the community shared a wide range of perspectives on how engineering continues to evolve. Alongside these future‑focused topics, personal career stories and lively forum discussions reminded us that some of the most valuable insights come from sharing experiences with one another. Here's a look at some of the content that stood out this month. Blogs worth a read Dead on Arrival: Why fresh produce needs a digital brain, not just a GPS This fascinating blog explored how digital twins, IoT sensors and predictive AI could help tackle one of…

  • June Highlights on EngX: Digital twins, decarbonisation and community conversations

    June on EngX brought together a fascinating mix of future-focused thinking, practical engineering challenges and inspiring community stories. From exploring how digital twins are transforming decision-making across industries to tackling the realities of decarbonising energy-intensive sectors, members continued to share insight, experience and expertise. Alongside these technical discussions, stories celebrating engineering talent, STEM education and inclusion helped showcase the people driving our profession forward. Here’s a look at some of the content that stood out this month. Blogs worth a read Digital twins in motion: why a multi-disciplinary debate matters now Digital twins have rapidly evolved from an emerging concept into a practical engineering tool, and this blog explored…

  • AI, Engineering Skills and Real‑World Challenges: May's highlights on EngX

    As we wrap up May, it has been another thoughtful and wide‑ranging month across the IET EngX community. From deep dives into engineering history and emerging technology challenges to open conversations around skills, wellbeing, and global impact, members have continued to share insight, experience and practical knowledge. Here are some of our top highlights from across EngX in May. Top Discussions This Month The forums have been as active as ever, with conversations spanning cutting‑edge technology, career development, and practical engineering challenges. A number of threads explored AI and digital transformation, including discussions such as Beyond hype: uncovering the critical research axes and future trajectories of AI‑driven digital transformation and Zero Trust was not built…

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

  • Battery-free pacemaker powered by the heart could eliminate replacements

    An implantable, battery-free pacemaker that’s charged by a patient’s heartbeat has the potential to last an entire lifetime, researchers have said. Most pacemakers need to be changed every 5 to 15 years. As the battery is permanently sealed inside the pulse generator box, replacing it requires swapping out the generator itself, though the wire leads connected to the heart usually stay in place. University of Wisconsin–Madison researchers believe their new device could make these procedures unnecessary, helping to reduce the associated risks and costs. “For a device like this, it’s not just about producing energy. Power density is the most important part. You need to get enough power in a small enough volume,” said Xudong Wang, a professor of materials science who oversaw the research…

  • Flight paths to be rerouted to avoid climate-warming contrails

    The £5m Operation Blue Skies initiative, backed by the UK government and Google, will use AI to cut the climate-warming vapour trails left behind by aircraft. Operation Blue Skies will draw on Google-developed AI models to predict where warming contrails are likely to form over the Atlantic Ocean. This data will allow air traffic controllers to make small altitude adjustments to flight paths, enabling aircraft to avoid these areas. Condensation trails, or contrails, form when water vapour from an aircraft’s exhaust mixes with very cold air in the upper atmosphere. Under the right atmospheric conditions, the water vapour freezes into tiny ice crystals, creating a visible cloud-like trail. When these trails persist, they develop into clouds that trap heat radiating from the Earth, and so…

  • AI call-routing system to help unclog police 101 service

    A £1.4m AI call-routing system will automatically filter out non-policing queries, freeing up phone operators and reducing waiting times. Officially rolled out across England and Wales in 2012, the 101 service enables the public to reach the police for non-emergency situations where an immediate response is not required. For instance, reporting a past crime or minor traffic collision. But the service, which receives around 20 million calls a year, is often abused, with phone operators frequently having to contend with nuisance reports. Even when calls are legitimate, more than 20% of them - or four million - are not actually for policing matters and need to be redirected elsewhere. The AI call-routing system, backed by £1.4m in government investment, should allow operators to reduce the…