Latest Insights from the EngX Community

  • How are you feeling? How Foothold’s free tool can support your mental health

    "How are you feeling?" It’s a question so many of us avoid giving the real answer to. "Fine, thanks", we tend to answer. The problem is, when you live in a culture or environment where being open about your emotions is rare, it can be more difficult to work out how you actually feel. You might think, "I tell other people I’m fine, so I guess I’m fine". It’s easier. It’s quicker. It doesn’t involve exploring uncomfortable feelings, or having difficult conversations. We’re not advising you give an honest and detailed answer the next time the supermarket cashier asks you how your day is. However, it’s possible to achieve a healthy middle ground where you can allow yourself to feel your feelings, recognise them as they arise, and have strategies you can use to look after yourself. Understand…

  • Data coherence: Are you drowning in a sea of data on what is shaping the future of M&E today?

    “Storytelling” has become the defining buzzword of the moment, and NAB 2026 captured this well with the theme of “Where Media, Entertainment & Storytelling Converge.” Broadcasters and the media industry have spent over a century telling stories and delivering entertainment, from over-the-air radio and television to today’s online services. Previously, we examined the funding challenges facing broadcast and media operations and the complexities of navigating a disrupted ecosystem. Audiences and markets continue to respond, while regulators work to establish a level playing field for all stakeholders. Research, surveys, and critical studies are increasingly shaping the broader broadcasting, media and entertainment (M&E) landscape. Across every industry, including media and broadcast, there…

  • Nuclear Power in the USSR. Two pamphlets from the library collections

    Daniel Simkin, IET Library Deputy Library Manager In this blog we will look at the development of nuclear power in the USSR via two pamphlets in the IET library collections. These are First in the World! An Illustrated Description of the Soviet Atomic Electricity Station (Soviet News, 1956) and Chernobyl (Central Electricity Generating Board, 1986). I will be using the spellings Chernobyl and Kiev, rather than Chornobyl and Kyiv, as this is how they are presented in the second pamphlet. First in the World! An Illustrated Description of the Soviet Atomic Electricity Station (1956) Our first pamphlet was published as Soviet News Booklet no. 2 in London in 1956. Soviet News was a publication of the embassy of the USSR, at that time based in Rosary Gardens in South Kensington. First published…

Latest IET EngX News

  • 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
  • March Highlights on EngX: AI Insights, Inclusive Voices and Engineering Impact

    March was a month packed with fresh technical thinking, practical guidance, and human‑centred stories across the EngX community. From deep dives into industrial AI to personal reflections from engineers shaping their workplaces, here’s your roundup of what captured attention and sparked conversation this month. AI in Manufacturing: Why So Many Initiatives Stall One of the most thought‑provoking reads this month came from Dr Paul Johnson , whose article AI in Manufacturing: Why Most Initiatives Fail & How to Deliver Real Engineering Value explores why organisations continue to struggle with turning AI investment into meaningful operational outcomes. Johnson illustrates this through a real‑world predictive maintenance example where an AI model successfully identified early warning signs…

  • 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…

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

  • One in seven turning to AI chatbots for health advice instead of GP

    More than 15% of the UK public have used AI chatbots for health advice instead of seeing their GP or another NHS service, according to a study by King’s College London. In the study over 2,000 people were interviewed about their attitudes towards AI in healthcare – both its personal use and its role in clinical settings. While 15% said they had used AI chatbots for health advice, one in 10 (10%) said they had used them for mental health support instead of seeing a trained professional. The most common reasons people give for turning to AI chatbots is convenience (46%), curiosity (45%) and uncertainty about whether their concern was serious enough to contact a GP (39%). A quarter (25%) said they did so because they were waiting too long for NHS services. Among those who have used AI…

  • UK and US data centres now consume around 6% of national electricity

    Data centres in both the UK and US now consume roughly 6% of each country’s electricity supply, according to a report by think tank the International Data Centre Authority (IDCA). The rapid growth in the number of data centres in countries across the world, driven by the AI boom, has seen electricity demands grow. This is adding pressure to local grids and, in some instances, has seen household electricity prices rise. The 2026 Global Data Centre Report, published by the IDCA, aims to provide a comprehensive view of the global data centre landscape, covering energy consumption, connectivity, security and the rise of AI-driven infrastructure. Data centres are energy guzzlers, requiring a significant amount of electricity for computation. According to figures from the report, their total…

  • JCB targets new land speed record with hydrogen-powered car

    UK engineering firm JCB aims to break the land speed record with a hydrogen-powered vehicle, 20 years after setting the diesel land speed record. In 2006, the JCB Dieselmax, driven by RAF Wing Commander Andy Green OBE, broke the diesel engine land speed record with a speed of 350mph (560km/h), a record that still stands. The firm will now return to the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah but this time with the JCB Hydromax and, once again, Green will be behind the wheel. Anthony Bamford, chairman of JCB, said: “Britain has a proud heritage of setting speed records and, as a British company, I’m excited to challenge for a new one using hydrogen.” In July 2020, JCB announced its first ever digger powered by hydrogen instead of diesel. Bamford has spearheaded this hydrogen programme, which is…