The IET Berkshire Network is open to anyone interested in Engineering and Technology and wants to expand their knowledge, as well as encouraging people to enter the profession. The committee of the IET Berkshire Network organises visits, events, life skills workshops and professional registration clinics.
Associated with Berkshire is the Specialised Section EC3 (Electronics, Communication, Computing and Control) which organises lectures at a slightly higher technical level. Our lectures are also given here.
Our key topics and themes
Located at the heart of the Thames Valley, we're ideally located for a broad spectrum of high tech industries, as well as more traditional engineering. Just a small selection of topics include, AI, robotics, medical electronics, IoT, telecommunications including mobile telecommunications, such as 5G topics.
Events
Events are usually held in the Reading area, but since April 2020 we've been busy rescheduling events to be held online. Everyone is welcome to attend our talks and events whether online or at a physical meeting.
- Take a look at our archive of 2020 Online Event Replays and Resources and 2021 Online Event Replays and Resources
- You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook or visit our YouTube channel
Visit the events page filtered by Berkshire Local Network to find out about our upcoming events.
We are always looking for ideas or suggestions for events and visits, so if there is something that you'd like us to organise, or you'd like to help to organise, please get in touch.
EC3 Events
We restarted the EC3 lectures in Feb 2023, and are now adding our programme of hopefully six lectures for 2024. Those currently organised are as follows
PDFThurs 26th Oct 2023 The Rise of Generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) by Bala Amavasai, Databricks.
PDFThurs 23rd Nov 2023 A talk by Luca Stringhetti of the Square Kilometre Array Observatory
PDFThurs 25th Jan 2024 British post-war Airborne Maritime Surveillance Radar by Simon Watts (a follow up to his previous talk)
PDFThurs 22nd Feb 2024 Maintenance Robotics for Nuclear Fusion: Taking electronics where no-one can go at all by Emil Jonasson, UK Atomic Energy Authority
All talks will start at 19:30, with tea/coffee available from 19:00 and will be in the Van Emden Theatre, Edith Morley Building at the University of Reading, Whiteknights campus.
If travelling by Bus, the No 21 and 21A stop outside Whiteknights House which is near Edith Morley. If coming by car, use RG6 6UR and car park 1A. For more information, please see https://www.reading.ac.uk/about/visit-us
We will upload details on the IET systems when available which will provide more details and allow booking.
We have some ideas for later talks. but it is worth noting that our committee has shrunk and we are keen to attract new members, as well as suggestions for other lectures - both topic and speakers.
HELP If you are interested in helping us, please contact us using ec3@ec3.ourshack.org
2022/23 Volunteer Committee
| Chair | Anthony Bardos |
| Vice Chair | Dr Rui Zhang |
| Secretary | Andy Stickland |
| Vice-Secretary | Vacancy |
| Treasurer | Kevin Lewis |
| Vice Treasurer | John Waterhouse |
| Events co-ordinator | Vacancy |
| Education officer | Richard Hughes |
| Deputy Education Officer | Vacancy |
| Professional Registration Advisor | Arup Dhar |
| Webmaster | Keith Blackmun |
| Deputy Webmaster | Helen Rickerby |
| Social Media | Helen Rickerby |
| Deputy Social Media | Nicholas St. Hill |
| CC-UK Representative | Abhaya Sumanasena |
| Local Network Manager (staff) | Julie Hudson |
Your Local Network needs you!
You can see that we have a number of volunteering opportunities on our committee. If you think can fill one of those vacancies, or to help us to organise future events, please contact us to find out more. Interested? – See the following reasons why our treasurer joined the Berkshire Local Network committee.
Why join the IET Berkshire Local Network Committee?
The key reasons why our treasurer joined the Local Network Committee:
- To be with like-minded people with similar interests – social and personal interest
- To promote engineering as a career to others
- Greater involvement with skills and knowledge development in engineering and life-skills: lectures, visits, webinars etc.
- Using the above to deepen my interest and knowledge in engineering and technology and other essential skills
- To learn more about what is happening in the field in the Berkshire area and nearby.
The benefits our treasurer highlights, include:
- Meeting many people through meetings and events – social and networking
- Experience in planning and running events
- As Treasurer – experience in budgeting and financial management
- Much greater knowledge of engineering and current developments in the field of technology.
Contact us
Please contact the IET Berkshire LN committee by e-mailing us at berkshire-ln@ietvolunteer.org.