Latest Insights from the EngX Community

  • Engineering the Adaptive Workspace: From Asset Maintenance to System Strategy

    Managing change in modern engineering requires a radical shift in how we look at infrastructure . For generations, the focus has been on maintaining physical buildings. Today, the true challenge lies at the intersection of workplace strategy, data-driven insights, and human centric design. As the former Head of Research and Insight at the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM) and now working at the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) within our Local Networks, I have spent my career tracking how disruption shapes industry. The biggest disruption we face today is not a specific technology, but a fundamental change in the purpose of our workspaces. The Evolution of the Workplace The traditional office environment is no longer just a physical structure where…

    Peter Brogan
    Peter Brogan

  • Exploration vs Exploitation

    Reinforcement Learning (RL) is the branch of machine learning where an 'agent' (the actor, in an environment) learns by trying an action, observing the result, and adjusting its behaviour accordingly to achieve its goal. It is not unlike teaching a dog a new trick: the dog hears a command, tries something, and a treat either arrives or it does not, and over enough repetitions the dog works out which action gets the reward. This creates a hard engineering problem, because the agent has to decide how much to stick with actions that are already working versus how much to keep testing other options. This is a concept known as the 'exploration-exploitation trade-off'. Understandably, when you don't know what you don't know, it's tricky knowing how well you're doing and if you should change tactics…

  • Digital Detox: Is It Time to Rethink Our Relationship with Technology?

    For many of us, digital technology is woven into almost every aspect of daily life. We use it to stay in touch with colleagues, keep up with friends and family, access news, learn new skills, and manage our work. Smartphones, tablets, laptops, and wearable devices have made information more accessible than ever before. Yet while technology has undoubtedly brought enormous benefits, growing numbers of people are asking an important question: are we spending too much time connected? The idea of a "digital detox" has gained increasing attention in recent years as people look for ways to create a healthier balance between the online and offline worlds. Rather than rejecting technology altogether, a digital detox is about becoming more conscious of how, when, and why we use digital devices.…

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Latest IET EngX News

  • 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…

  • From Space Stories to Smart Systems: April on EngX

    April on EngX brought together a thoughtful mix of emerging technologies, industry insight and personal journeys. From a closer look at how 5G networks are evolving behind the scenes to fresh perspectives on the continuing influence of broadcast media, the blogs this month highlighted both the pace of change and the importance of understanding the fundamentals. Alongside these, inspiring career stories and reflections on the history of space exploration added a more human dimension, while discussions across the forums explored automation, energy systems and real‑world engineering trade‑offs. Here’s a look at some of the content that stood out this month: Blogs worth a read Massive MIMO: the brains behind 5G networks This detailed post from Soubhagya Ranjan Mohapatra explores how Massive…

    Lisa Miles
    Lisa Miles

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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…

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Latest articles from E+T Magazine

  • 310MWh battery storage system to power West Midlands in 2028

    UK battery storage developer Pulse Clean Energy has accelerated development of its 310MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) near Lower Penn, on the outskirts of Wolverhampton. The Penn BESS, with its proposed 60 battery storage units and 30 power conversion modules, is moving from the planning stage towards construction, and is due to be operational in early 2028. The battery site will be connected directly to the nearby Penn Substation via the local distribution network, with the stored energy helping to meet demand from local homes, manufacturing plants and businesses. For this next stage, Pulse Clean Energy will use a seventh-generation liquid-cooled battery system from China's Envision Energy. The system will be able to hold 310MWh of electricity in storage, and discharge at a…

  • Blue Origin aims to return to flight by end of 2026 after launchpad destruction

    Following a catastrophic rocket explosion that destroyed its launchpad in May, Blue Origin has said it will build a more advanced facility in its place that could support launches by the end of the year. On 28 May, a New Glenn rocket made by the Jeff Bezos-founded firm exploded on the pad while undergoing a series of hotfire tests. It was preparing to deploy 48 Amazon LEO internet satellites into low-Earth orbit the following week. Initial reports showed that severe damage was inflicted on Launch Complex 36, which is Blue Origin’s only operational New Glenn pad. The blast completely destroyed the transporter-erector, which is the gantry used to move and lift the rocket. While Blue Origin is continuing “to actively investigate the cause of the anomaly”, it said it had enough data to identify…

  • E+T Podcast: Episode 24 | London’s Robotaxis are finally here, but why did the future take 10 years?

    In this episode of E+T Off the Page, hosts Tim Fry and Jack Loughran sit down with Professor Siddartha Khastgir, head of safe autonomy at WMG, University of Warwick, to explore the real-world arrival of robotaxis on the streets of London. The episode covers why it took a full decade to move from early experiments to commercial driverless fleets, highlighting the immense engineering required to solve the final 5% of safety challenges. Prof Khastgir breaks down the milestone global UN safety regulations and explains why London’s historic, chaotic road network has become the ultimate commercial testbed for autonomous technology. The discussion also dives into the biggest hurdles facing public trust, from cybersecurity "computers on wheels" to debunking the famous Trolley Dilemma. Prof Khastgir…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

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