Latest Insights from the EngX Community

  • Interview with Lawrence Blakeley

    Few careers in aerospace illustrate the power of curiosity and hands-on experience quite like Lawrence Blakeley's. From lying in his back garden as a child watching Lancaster bombers fly over Duxford, to leading engineering at one of the world's most ambitious electric aircraft companies, Lawrence has built a career defined by restless curiosity, practical grounding, and a willingness to step into the unknown. His journey from apprentice technician at Marshall Aerospace, through 12 years at Airbus and pioneering roles at Vertical Aerospace and H55, to his current position as VP Engineering at Beta Technologies, offers a masterclass in how engineering careers can evolve when you follow what fascinates you. With sustainability as a core theme for the IET Aerospace Technical Network this year…

  • Are your OT systems secure?

    Across the OT cyber security landscape, one issue has been repeatedly highlighted by industrial cyber researchers, government advisories and sector‑specific security groups: the rapid increase in connectivity between IT and OT systems is making industrial environments far more exposed than they were even a few years ago. For decades, operational technology, PLCs, SCADA systems, HMIs, engineering workstations and industrial controllers, relied on physical isolation and purpose‑built networks. Today, that world has changed. Organisations in manufacturing, energy, transport and utilities have connected OT systems to enterprise IT networks to support analytics, remote monitoring, predictive maintenance and integration with cloud platforms. While this connectivity brings speed and efficiency…

  • A picture is worth a thousand words

    By Asha Gage, IET Archivist Photographs of people are ubiquitous. We are surrounded by them and they dominate social media where followers are encouraged to participate in commenting on ‘selfies’ and the environment. It is an engaging activity, one in which the viewer becomes part of the process, the object the subject too. However, photography and the sharing of images is nothing new. Each photograph taken has had an audience in mind and how we interpret those images can reveal much of society’s conventions. The science behind the image It is not the purpose of this blog to discuss the inventor of photography as many can lay claim to this accolade. But for simplicity’s sake Louis Daguerre developed the daguerreotype process in 1839. The metal-based daguerreotype came in to competition…

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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…

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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…

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Latest articles from E+T Magazine

  • Electric car batteries improving faster than global warming can degrade them

    Electric vehicle (EV) batteries are expected to degrade faster in the future as global temperatures increase, but research has found that gains to battery performance in recent years will more than offset this effect. Climate change is causing temperatures to increase unevenly around the world, leading to concerns that significant rises could impact the battery performance of EVs in some locations. To maximise efficiency, range and longevity for lithium-ion batteries, the “sweet spot” is generally considered to be between 20-25°C. However, a study led by University of Michigan researchers shows that batteries have gotten a lot better over the past several years and the gains will more than offset their expected heat-related degradation. “Thanks to technological improvements, consumers…

  • BMW to pilot humanoid robots at its Leipzig battery plant in Germany

    German carmaker BMW has launched a pilot project to integrate humanoid robots into real-world battery production. Developed with Zürich-based Hexagon Robotics, the AEON humanoid robot features technologies such as advanced sensors and AI-driven mission control to enable it to automate heavy, repetitive battery-assembly tasks. Hexagon Robotics launched AEON in June 2025 and is working with partners, including BMW, to adapt it to specific industrial processes. The robot underwent an initial test deployment at BMW Group’s Leipzig plant in December 2025. Its human‑like body allows for a wide range of hand and gripper elements or scanning tools to be attached, while wheels attached to the end of its ‘legs’ enable fast, convenient movement. During the pilot phase, due to start this summer,…

  • Drax power plant to stop burning Canadian wood pellets within the next year

    Drax power station plans to stop burning controversial Canadian wood pellets and switch to a US-only supply from 2027. Located near Selby in North Yorkshire, Drax started life as a coal-fired power station when it was opened in 1974, but started co-firing biomass by 2010 in response to government concerns about the UK’s carbon emissions. Generating approximately 6% of the UK’s electricity, the plant has received billions of pounds in renewable energy subsidies from the government levied on household energy bills as wood-burning is classed as a source of clean energy. This is on the condition that the biomass pellets are made from waste or low-value wood from sustainable, commercially managed forests. To feed this biomass plant, Drax owns wood pellet production plants in Canada. According…

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