Latest Insights from the EngX Community

  • Payloads of the Past: Docking with Destiny

    As is apparent in many space programs, unexpected delays occur and “Payloads from the Past” is not immune to this, I will place this in my Lessons Identified and assure April’s is out at the start of the month – but leave a few weeks for this to be digested. In May, I will put “payloads of the Past” back to its usual spot of 1 st Tuesday! But let’s crack on. Spaceflight in the mid‑1960s was a race not only between nations, but between ideas. Each mission of NASA’s Gemini programme tested something that had never before been done: longer stays in orbit; extravehicular activity; controlled re‑entry; and the art of bringing two spacecraft together in precise, shared motion as we saw ack in December we looked at orbital rendezvous of Gemini 6/7A. March 1966 saw one of the most ambitious and…

  • AI in Manufacturing: Why Most Initiatives Fail & How to Deliver Real Engineering Value

    This article builds on discussions from the “AI, Ethics and Manufacturing” event hosted by the Manufacturing Technical Network in collaboration with the Mersey & West Cheshire Local Network and the AI Technical Network, which took place on 27 January 2026. The session explored the practical realities of implementing AI in manufacturing – moving beyond ambition and into execution. What became clear is that the challenge is no longer understanding AI – it’s making it work where it actually matters. The technology is advancing rapidly, and its potential is widely recognised. The real difficulty lies in applying it effectively within operational environments, where processes are complex, data is imperfect, and decisions carry real consequences. In one manufacturing facility, a production line…

  • What does accreditation mean to you?

    Many of us are looking to develop ourselves in our careers as well as personal aspirations. Learning & development is at the heart of everything we do to progress, invite new opportunities and grow as individuals. It keeps us current and enables us to deliver a positive impact on business goals whilst fulfilling the desire to expand our skills and knowledge. Training is key to continued professional development and is delivered any many ways - from experiential learning from peers and coaches to attending training courses that focus on specific skills & knowledge gaps. Having spent much of my career in L&D - designing and delivering training, and managing wider learning portfolios, I’ve seen first-hand the impact the right learning can have. But there’s one question that comes up time…

Latest IET EngX News

  • February Highlights on EngX: AI shifts, cyber reality checks, and conversations that got us thinking

    February on EngX brought another lively mix of thought‑provoking blogs, practical engineering discussions and broader reflections on how technology is shaping the world we work in. From unravelling sustainability terminology to exploring the foundations of AI, assessing the UK's cyber readiness and reflecting on the potential of hydro sites for pumped‑storage energy, the community continued to share knowledge and support one another. Here’s a round‑up of what caught the eye this month. Blogs worth a read ClimateTech, CleanTech, DeepTech… what’s the difference? Dr. Mohammad Harris tackled an issue that resonates across engineering and sustainability circles, the confusing overlap between terms like climate tech, clean tech and deep tech. Speaking from industry experience, he explained…

  • 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…

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…

Latest articles from E+T Magazine

  • Volvo’s hydrogen truck begins on-road testing ahead of 2030 launch

    Volvo’s hydrogen-powered trucks are currently undergoing on-road trials in northern Sweden’s harsh cold climate, ahead of a planned commercial launch by 2030. The trials aim to verify the vehicle’s hydrogen combustion engine, which is essentially a modified internal combustion engine designed to run on green hydrogen instead of diesel. The engine features high pressure direct injection (HPDI) technology, developed by Cespira, a joint venture between Volvo Group and Westport Fuel Systems. The technology allows engines to burn renewable fuels such as hydrogen or bio-methane while maintaining the power and performance of traditional diesel engines. The HPDI fuel system consists of a fully integrated “tank-to-injector” solution. It works by injecting a small amount of ignition fuel into the…

  • Return of direct ferry between Scotland and Europe edges nearer to reality

    The reinstatement of a direct ferry route between Scotland and France is closer to reality after a £3m commitment from the government. The new route will be launched 15 years after the last passenger service ended between the Scottish port of Rosyth and Zeebrugge in Belgium. It was discontinued in 2010 because of falling passenger numbers, competitive pressure from budget airlines and increased running costs. The route continued for a few years as a freight-only service, before that was also discontinued in 2018. The newly proposed service would operate from Rosyth and land in Dunkirk, offering both freight and passenger services. It would improve links between Scottish exporters and Dunkirk’s state-of-the-art rail terminal, which connects the port to major centres across the EU. The EU…

  • Unique skull vibrations could act as password for headset users

    In the future, headset users could log into platforms simply through the distinct vibration patterns of their skulls, according to a study. Tiny vibrations, generated by breathing and heartbeats, resonate through the skull in patterns unique to each person’s bone structure and soft facial tissues. A software security system developed by researchers at Rutgers University in New Jersey, US, detects these vibrations, enabling users to seamlessly log in to virtual and augmented reality platforms without the need to disrupt the immersive experience by taking off their headset to type in passwords or personal identification numbers. Yingying Chen, a distinguished professor and chair of the department of electrical and computer engineering at the Rutgers School of Engineering and a corresponding…