Member News issue 41

Transcription

Issue 41 April 2016
The magazine for members of
The Institution of Engineering and Technology
Member
News
Horizontal
Innovation launch
IET joins forces with Motorsport Industry Association
Page 27
9 New guidance for employers
on women in STEM roles
10 Past and present winners of
the IET Faraday Medal
14 The IET’s Year in Review
IET hosts UK parliamentary events
Exhibits at IET London: Savoy Place
Page 6
Page 18
20 NEW SECTION: IET Volunteers
25 Engaging with young
engineers in the Middle East
2
3
Welcome
Welcome to the first Member News of 2016.
It’s been a fantastic start to the year.
T
he team at IET London:
Savoy Place, has been
welcoming visitors back
into the building and
we’ve seen a stream
of events held in the Kelvin and
Turing Lecture Theatres and
Maxwell Library. These include the
IET’s Prestige Appleton Lecture, a
Young Professionals event on the
future of drones and an inspiring
event to discuss Horizontal
Innovation - how technology from
Nigel Fine
one sector is being used to benefit
Chief Executive and Secretary
another, and in some cases, to
help save lives. Horizontal Innovation is the topic of the IET Sectors’
article on page 27. The feedback we have received so far from members
who have been to Savoy Place has been really positive.
In January, we invited the supporters of the IET’s Take Your Place
fundraising campaign to attend a special reception in the building and
see the new Foundation Wall featuring their names. It was motivating
to meet and hear the stories of the supporters who have given so much
to engineering and are supporting the IET’s charitable aims. There are
still opportunities for new supporters to come forward – we would be
delighted to hear from you.
This edition
News4-5
Policy6
Features
Members vote ‘Yes’ to strengthening IET governance
7
New guidance for employers: Progressing Women in STEM Roles 9
The great achievers
10
Engineering Open House Day 2016
13
Year in Review
14
New exhibits create a buzz at IET London: Savoy Place
18
Whistleblowing: what it is and where to get support
29
Council Update
8
From the President
9
Young Professionals News
19
IET Volunteers
What an achievement
20
Joe wins prestigious volunteer award
21
Everyday Champions winning video announced
22
Find out more about our new Volunteer Engagement Board
23
Communities
Hong Kong Local Network celebrates 10th Int’l APSCOM Conference 24
Young engineers in the Middle East take part in robotics challenge 25
It has never been easier to connect with IET members
26
Notice: Members Annual Information Event
26
Sectors Update
27
Obituaries30
Events31
Our fundraising supports, among other things, our work to inspire the
next generation of engineers. An example of this work is Engineering
Open House Day which, as you will read inside, we are organising again
this year. Building on last year’s success, we’re hoping to make this
initiative available to as many parents and children as possible.
Looking ahead, Savoy Place will host this year’s Members Annual
Information Event, which will take place on Thursday 16 June. I am
looking forward to updating you on the progress we have made over
the past 12 months and on our priorities for the year ahead. A few
examples of our achievements during 2015 are featured in this edition
of Member News.
In June we will also be hosting an international Volunteer Conference
at Savoy Place so that representatives of our volunteer communities
can get together to share best practice and find new ways of working
together to inspire, inform and influence engineers and society.
Nigel Fine
For more news and features
visit: www.theiet.org/membernews
If you have an idea for an article that you would like to see
in Member News please email [email protected]
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Member News is edited by a steering group of IET members and staff. The group includes:
Content has been coordinated by Rachael Lubinski +44 (0)1438 767635.
Viki Bell Head of MPD Marketing
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Lisa Churchill Marketing Co-ordinator
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Rachael Lubinski Marketing Production Assistant
Member News is a news magazine for members of the Institution of Engineering & Technology (IET).
The IET is not as a body responsible for the opinions expressed in Member News.
Member News has been produced by:
Nikki Tarplett Production Controller
Ken Dobson Designer
www.theiet.org/member-news
Isabella Mascarenhas Y oung Professionals
Engagement Manager
Rhys Phillips Young Professionals Representative
Helen Rognaldsen Head of Communications
Hamish Bell Council Representative
Alex Taylor Head of Communities
Zoë Johnston I nternal and Stakeholder
Communications Manager
The IET is registered as a Charity in England & Wales (No. 211014) and Scotland (No. SC038698).
©2016: The Institution of Engineering & Technology. All rights reserved.
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UK ISS N 1752-5594
April 2016 – Member News
4
IET headlines
MEMBER NEWS
New-look IET news videos
W
Promoting engineering
e have relaunched our IET news videos so that they are
shorter and snappier, but still keep you up-to-date on
our latest news and activities.
The monthly updates, presented by IET members, can be
viewed at www.iet.tv
IET’s FIRST LEGO League
UK and Ireland Final
®
®
F
orty-four teams of school children took part
in the IET’s FIRST ® LEGO® League (FLL) UK
and Ireland Final, in which they designed
and built robots to tackle a series of waste-related
missions. The event was streamed live, receiving
over 7,000 views, and it was also attended by
Secretary of State for Education and Loughborough
MP Nicky Morgan. The winning team, from West
Linton Primary School near Edinburgh, will go
on to compete at the FIRST ® LEGO® League
(FLL) World Festival in the USA in April.
IET member Yasmin Ali
presented the January update
IET President Naomi Climer on the BBC News Channel
What’s
behind your
lights working?
The IET Energy Policy Panel recently
launched a new report into electricity
power cuts to dispel some of the myths
around their causes and explore how
the energy industry in the UK is
working to protect reliability of supply.
An IET national media briefing was also
held at the Science Media Centre in
London to encourage more informed and
less sensationalised headlines in the UK
media on power cuts.
The winning team from West Linton Primary
School near Edinburgh
You can read the report at
www.theiet.org/blackouts
IET President Naomi Climer has
continued to appear in the media to
promote engineering as an exciting
and rewarding career. She has
recently been profiled in the Daily
Mail and Financial Times, as well as
again appearing on the BBC News
Channel.
Naomi was also the subject of BBC
Radio 4’s The Life Scientific programme
on Tuesday, 16 February. During the
programme, Naomi talked about
becoming the first female President of
the IET, her former career at Sony and
why engineers should be as famous
as rock stars.
You can listen to the interview
on demand: www.bbc.co.uk/
programmes/b070dks6
media
Celebrating technology in film Social
guidance
T
IET Vice President Professor Will Stewart
also featured in The Daily Telegraph,
Primary Times and The Engineer, answering
readers’ science fiction questions on
whether lightsabers could exist and if
dinosaurs might return.
Member News – April 2016
Twin Design / Shutterstock.com
o celebrate the release of Star
Wars: The Force Awakens, the IET
and ITN Productions joined forces
to create a short video showcasing the
Sphero BB-8 droid and the engineering
behind it. The film, featuring former
IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year
finalist, Mamta Singhal, has been viewed
over 17,000 times.
Mamta Singhal, former IET Young Woman Engineer of
the Year finalist, discussing the Sphero BB-8 droid
This supports the IET’s Engineer a Better
World campaign, designed to make
engineering more appealing to parents
and children.
We recognise that a growing number of our
volunteers and members may want to use
social media to connect with others and
promote engineering.
To support you, we have published new
guidance at www.theiet.org/social-media-policy
5
International News
Energy
experts attend
international
conference in
Beijing
IET co-hosts conference
on UK-India manufacturing
T
he IET and North China Electric
Power University (NCEPU) hosted
an International Conference on
Renewable Power Generation (RPG) in
Beijing in October 2015.
Expert speakers at the Bengaluru conference
A
Delegates at the International Conference on
Renewable Power Generation, Beijing
The conference brought together energy
experts to share their research on wind
and solar power generation, power system
integration and other related issues.
Experts were also able to discuss the
issues preventing the growth of renewable
energy, those specific to their own
countries and at play internationally.
Professor Liu Yongqian, from the
Renewable Energy School at NCEPU, said:
“At present, in addition to national policy
support, the reformation of the entire
power system is required to promote
renewable power generation in China.”
Professor David Infield, Editor-in-Chief of
IET Renewable Power Generation, added:
“Growth of renewable energy in the UK is
also inseparable from the support of national
policies. Certainly, reducing the cost of
renewable power generation is conducive to
its growth and long-term potential.”
Efforts to identify and solve the
challenges that the industry faces will
continue, with the next RPG conference
being held in London in September 2016.
If you are interested in participating,
visit the conference website:
www.theiet.org/rpg-europe
s part of UK-India Manufacturing
Week at the beginning of December,
the IET hosted a conference in India,
in conjunction with the UK Government.
developed in-country as part of the ‘Make in
India’ initiative. To grow, India already recognises
that it is important to nurture, incubate, fund,
commercialise and scale innovations.
The Advanced Manufacturing & Innovation
Conference focused on the UK and India’s strengths
in manufacturing, exploring opportunities for
collaboration between the two countries. The
conference was held in two locations; firstly in
Pune, focused on the automotive sector, and
then in Bengaluru, on the aerospace sector.
We can do this together. The relationship
between India and Britain is flourishing.
Our ambition is to make it even stronger.”
Speaking at the Bengaluru event, Dominic
McAllister, British Deputy High Commissioner,
said: “India is moving from a model where foreign
technologies are adapted and then manufactured
here, to a scenario where technologies are
In the spirit of collaboration, Dr Pablo BermellGarcia, Research Team Leader at Airbus
Group Innovations, gave the IET Lord Austin
Lecture on ‘Building a civilian plane; trends,
challenges and lessons for India’. The lecture,
the final event in Bengaluru, was well-received
at a time when the Indian Government is
considering a proposal to start a ‘Made in
India’ civilian plane industry.
IET Ambassadors
The IET Ambassadors Programme is a scheme where members travelling to China or India give
up their valuable time to deliver a lecture, attend a conference or help host a local event. In
doing this, they inspire and inform the next generation of engineers.
In 2015, IET Ambassadors spoke on the following topics:
n Andy Watson CEng FIET – professional registration
n William Webb CEng FIET – Where Next for Wireless? – From the iPhone and Apple Watch to 5G
n Andy Green and Dave Rowley – Project Bloodhound – An Engineering Adventure
n P
rofessor Christopher James FIET – Signal Processing
in Brain Computer Interfacing.
If you travel to China or India and are interested
in joining the IET Ambassadors Programme,
please email [email protected]
6
Policy
MEMBER NEWS
A
IET Policy team hosts a series
of parliamentary events
t the end of November, the
IET Communications Policy
Panel hosted a briefing event
at the House of Lords entitled
‘Engineering the future of
communications’. The event
was sponsored by Lord
Broers and was chaired
by IET Communications
Policy Panel Chair
Professor
Will Stewart.
Lord Broers
speaking at the IET
briefing event at the
House of Lords
The briefing reviewed the IET’s
Contacting the Emergency Services in
the Digital Age report, launched earlier
in 2015. The report called for radical
changes to be made to the way in
which people contact the emergency
services, taking into account text
and social media and exploring how
smartphone technology could be used
in an emergency situation. Though
the report received widespread media
interest, work is still progressing to
achieve ministerial backing.
The briefing also provided an update
on the IET vision for Demand Attentive
Networks (DAN). The IET has been
working with the British Standards
Institution (BSI) and European
Telecommunications Standards
Institute (ETSI) to bring the
telecoms and mobile industries
together to identify where future
protocols should be heading.
Discussions have focused on 5G
mobile and the future converged
wireline and wireless next
generation networks, intended to
present a seamless, high-performance
interface to users.
This is a challenging initiative, requiring
thought-leadership at its very best.
High-speed network capacity does not
need to be available everywhere at all
times provided the device using the
connectivity is not constrained by the
network infrastructure in place. The IET
believes this can be achieved through
a combination of technical standards,
network architecture and smart regulation
which would work together to organise the
demand for bandwidth in real time.
The event was attended by House of
Lords Communications Committee
Chair Lord Best and Lord Inglewood,
from the House of Lords Built
Environment Committee. Participants
from academia and the mobile
communications industry were also in
attendance, including representatives
from the BBC, TechUK, BT, EE and
Vodafone.
Holyrood event attracts
First Minister of Scotland
In January, the IET Policy team hosted an event at Holyrood with
IET Chief Executive Nigel Fine to provide a briefing to Members
of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) on the findings of its latest
Skills and Demand in Industry survey.
The survey highlighted that 59%
of employers say that a shortage of
engineers in Scotland could pose a
threat to their business. Two thirds
of Scottish engineering businesses
are worried that the education
system will struggle to keep up with
the skills required in today’s world –
and more could be done to
attract engineers.
The IET, as the operational partner
of FIRST ® LEGO® League (FLL),
showcased the work it is doing
to inspire this new generation of
engineers. A team of FLL regional
finalists from Bun-sgoil Taobh na
Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland, with
FIRST ® LEGO ® League regional finalists
Pàirce (Parkside Primary School)
came along to the Holyrood event to
show MSPs the robot they had built
for the competition. During their visit,
Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of
Scotland, met the team and found out
more about their work.
7
Members vote ‘Yes’ to
strengthening IET governance
Governance
for the
FUTURE
Special General Meeting, Thursday 11 February
I
ET members have approved
the Governance for the Future
resolutions, giving the Board of
Trustees the go-ahead to implement
changes to strengthen the IET’s
leadership and governance.
The resolutions endorsed by members
involve making relevant Bye-law and
Council Regulations changes to introduce:
n a new Volunteer Engagement
Board (read more on page 23)
n a new model for a smaller, better
informed and more effective
Council to create stronger links
between Council, Trustees
and the three main Boards
n skills-based appointments for
Council – to complement the
existing election process.
Resolutions to introduce a more nimble,
timely and demand-led approach to setting
up or disbanding IET communities, and
gender-neutral terminology, were also
passed. There will also be a change from
election to appointment of Deputy Presidents
on the Board of Trustees. All resolutions will
be put into effect once they have received
formal approval from Privy Council.
Anticipating this approval, the Board
of Trustees has set up a Working Party
to oversee implementation and ensure
the new governance arrangements are
in place by 1 October 2016, which is the
start of the 2016/17 governance session.
This Working Party is already encouraging
Local Networks, Technical and Professional
Networks and other volunteer communities
to nominate candidates for the new
appointed positions on Council.
Commenting on the new appointments
process, Richard Spalding, Chair of Council,
said: “This is a great opportunity for our
volunteer communities to help us identify
forward-looking, dynamic members with
strong professional and leadership skills
who would relish the challenge of joining our
new-look Council. We want to build a team
that can work proactively and creatively with
the Board of Trustees and other Boards to
steer the future course of the IET.”
Governance
for the
FUTURE
IET President Naomi Climer said: “Thanks
to the strong mandate we received from
our members at the SGM in February, we
are already making good progress with
our implementation plans. There are some
practical challenges to achieving our goals
in such a short timescale. We will be moving
at a fast pace, so we will work to keep
members who are interested in governance as
informed as possible, but we do hope they will
bear with us if changes are introduced and
communicated with relatively short notice.”
Member Survey 2015 Results
I
n October 2015, the IET launched its annual Member
Survey. The survey was made available to the entire
IET membership base for the first time. It received a
5% response rate (completed by nearly 8,000 members),
which is an increase from a response of 2% in 2014.
It is important to appreciate that this is a new methodology for 2015.
Although results are comparable to historical findings, the 2016 survey,
providing it follows the same approach, will provide true comparability.
Key Findings:
The survey also revealed that:
The overall membership value
score is 3.2; this has remained
within a consistent range of
3.1-3.4 in the last 5 years.
n The IET has a strong reputation, thanks to a large proportion
The survey continued to
demonstrate that members
who are engaged with the IET
(scoring 4 or 5 out of 5 for
engagement) gain more value
from their membership.
n
n
n
n
of members who say positive things about the Institution.
There is increasing recognition of IET support for members’
jobs and careers.
There is a clear demand from members to engage with the
IET and to engage with other IET members.
Professional registration and professional development/
training are seen to be particularly valuable IET activities
for members.
The vast majority of members feel the amount of email
communications they receive from the IET is ‘about right’.
The full set of results, which
includes the IET management
response to key themes emerging
within the survey, as well as the
profile of respondents,
can be reviewed here:
www.theiet.org/
membersurvey
If you have any questions or
comments, please contact Oliver
Kelly: [email protected]
8
MEMBER NEWS
Council Update
Who are we and what are
we doing for you?
By Richard Spalding CEng FIET, Chair of Council for 2015/16
I am honoured to chair the IET’s Council, an august body of
volunteer members who are striving to help the Institution.
Council currently consists of 40 voting members
including: two past Presidents, members of
Technical and Professional Networks (TPNs)
and Local Networks (LNs), as well as appointed
members from the Knowledge Services Board
and Membership and Professional Development
Board. Most are from the UK with others from
Canada, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Mauritius,
New Zealand, Sri Lanka and the USA.
Personally, I live in the UK and retired from the
Royal Navy two years ago after 37 years. In
the last 10 years, I have chaired the Satellite
Systems and Applications TPN, served on the
Knowledge Services Board and Membership
and Professional Development Board and am
an active member of Solent LN.
Council is an advisory body with three main
responsibilities, each with a dedicated standing
Working Party: to proffer advice on strategy,
to monitor governance and to communicate
members’ views. It has one further Working
Party, Global Support, which pursues issues
identified by non-UK members of Council.
Areas Council is currently
working on include:
n c ontributing to the annual strategy
update
n increasing the focus on being
a Learned Society
n following up on the IET’s 2015
Governance Review conducted by
advisory firm Grant Thornton
n p roviding advice on Governance
for the Future
n connecting better with youth and
Young Professionals
n improving how we get views from
LN Committees
n establishing the IET Global Volunteers
Conference
n promoting engineering and social
justice.
Richard Spalding CEng FIET, Chair of Council
for 2015/16
We are also supporting the Board of Trustees
on five specific themes: building the image
of engineering, promoting the IET as the lead
Institution for interdisciplinary engineering,
Continuing Professional Development (CPD),
product-based international strategy, and
focusing on being a Learned Society (which
Council initiated).
We conduct our business on the Engineering
Communities platform, at three face-to-face
meetings a year and via many teleconferences.
Our final outputs are normally in the form of
papers with recommendations for action.
So I hope you can see, this relatively small,
dedicated body of diverse experience and
location is working hard on your behalf to
ensure the IET moves forward in the best
possible way.
Come along to the IET’s Members Annual
Information Event to find out more about your IET
T
h is year’s IET’s Members Annual Information
Event will take place on Thursday, 16 June 2016
at 5.30pm BST at IET London: Savoy Place.
The Members Annual Information Event is an opportunity for
members to come along and hear about the key milestones that
were achieved in 2015 and find out about the IET’s future plans.
IET Chief Executive Nigel Fine will provide a review of the year
before handing over to IET President Naomi Climer, who will talk
about the IET’s strategy and upcoming plans. There will also be
a series of short updates from Council, the Young Professionals
Community Committee and IET Connect, as well as a report on
Horizontal Innovation and a Q&A session at the end for members
to ask questions.
In previous years, the market stalls
manned by staff have proved to
be a popular way of updating
attendees on the range of projects,
services and initiatives available,
as well as providing members with
an opportunity to meet the teams
involved.
If you’d like to attend this year’s Members Annual
Information Event, please register your interest on
our website: www.theiet.org/maie
We look forward to seeing you there.
Our legal notice for the event can be found on page 26 of this magazine.
9
From the President
During my first few months in office, I’ve been helping
to raise the profile of engineering to parents, young
people and society in general, highlighting the breadth
of activities that engineering involves. There really are
exceptional opportunities out there for engineers to
contribute towards our high-tech future.
When I first became President, the media
interest enabled me to promote this message.
So what’s in store this year? I’m looking at other
ways that we can demonstrate to society just
how incredible being an engineer can be.
both for members working in
the industry and for those who
want to keep up to date on
the topics that could play an
increasingly important role in our future.
In terms of the services the IET provides to its
members, I’ve been blown away by the continuous
quality and diversity of what we do. I’ve attended
some incredible IET events over the past few
months, including a Horizontal Innovation launch
and several lectures which touched on the power of
Big Data. Smartphone technology means that we
have the ability to collect information on a massive
scale, which could ultimately benefit humanity and
transform the speed and scale of research. These
insights were really stimulating,
Many IET events are now being held at IET London:
Savoy Place. Not only do we want to attract IET
activities, but I’d like to see Savoy Place at the
heart of other engineering activities too. We are
the only Institution to cater for engineers and
technicians across all disciplines, and I am really
keen to see this reflected in the building. Plus,
many of the events are filmed and are available to
watch on IET.tv, which is an amazing resource for
people remote from London.
New guidance for employers:
Progressing Women in STEM Roles
A working group of IET members, together with Prospect, the
union for professionals, have produced new guidance for STEM
(Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) employers.
The guidance is intended to improve diversity, particularly
female representation, in the UK engineering workforce.
In association with
Progressing Women
in STEM Roles
Best practice
guidance for
employers of
women in STEM
www.theiet.org/women-in-stem
Over half (57%) of businesses in the UK
do not have gender diversity initiatives in
place and 41% have acknowledged that
they could do more to recruit staff from
diverse backgrounds. The new guidance
gives employers suggestions and best
practice examples on attracting more
female candidates and supporting their
career development opportunities.
Naomi Climer, IET President, said: “Only
9% of engineering staff are women and
the lack of gender diversity is contributing
to skills shortages that are damaging the
economy. The shocking reality is that the
UK is missing out on half of its potential
engineering and technology workforce by
failing to attract women into the industry.
IET President Naomi Climer speaking at the Horizontal
Innovation launch
Finally, this year, the other Trustees and I are keen
to get out to Local and Technical and Professional
Networks – not just to present to you, but to
listen and collaborate, and discuss topics such
as what we think the IET should be like in the
next 10 or 20 years. If you run an IET network,
please consider inviting a Trustee to a meeting.
Naomi Climer
IET President
“With this in mind, the IET is leading the
way in encouraging more women into the
sector. We know, for example, that many
employers acknowledge that the lack of
women in their organisations is a real
problem, and so we hope this guidance
will prompt them to take practical action
to address this – both in terms of how they
recruit more women and how they nurture
the talent of those they already employ.”
As part of an ongoing programme of
work between the IET and Prospect, two
documents have been released:
n P rogressing Women in STEM Roles:
A report following the joint IET/Prospect
‘Progressing Women in STEM Roles’
conference 2015.
n Best practice guidance for employers
of women in STEM.
Both documents can be downloaded
at www.theiet.org/women-in-stem
A second phase of work, scheduled to
commence in late Spring 2016, will
concentrate on guidance for returners
to STEM-related job roles – a key
recommendation from the first phase report.
If you would like to get involved in this
work, please contact the IET’s Alliances
Development Manager, Annmarie Dann:
[email protected]
10
MEMBER NEWS
The great achievers
Meet the engineers and technologists who have won the IET’s Faraday Medal
The Faraday Medal, the IET’s most prestigious
medal, is awarded each year to an individual for:
a notable scientific or
industrial achievement in
engineering
n contributing to the
advancement of science,
engineering and technology
n lifetime achievement in
science, engineering or
technology.
n
Individuals can be nominated irrespective of
nationality or IET membership, and winners are
chosen by the IET Awards and Prizes Committee.
The medal was established to commemorate
the 50th anniversary of the first Ordinary
Meeting of the Society of Telegraph Engineers,
a predecessor organisation of the IET.
Here we rediscover the achievements of the
first medal winners, as well as those who won
more recently.
Why Faraday?
The IET’s coveted bronze medal is named after
Michael Faraday, the early 19th century scientist
who discovered electromagnetic induction.
With little formal education, Faraday started out
as an apprentice bookbinder. Reading many of
the books, Faraday become fascinated by science,
which spurred him to secure a position at the
Royal Institution. There he made great discoveries
in electromagnetic technology, established the
fundamentals of electrochemistry and tirelessly
promoted science and technology to the public –
making him a famous scientist and an apt name
for the IET’s achievement award.
Oliver Heaviside FRS –
1922 inaugural winner
Heaviside’s work forms
an important part of
electrical engineering
theory. Brought up in
poverty in the 1800s,
Heaviside became
a telegraph clerk,
but was forced to
take early retirement due to deafness. He
took to working on problems in telegraphy,
predicting the existence of an ionised
reflective layer in the atmosphere that
bounces radio signals back to the earth
(the Heaviside layer).
Heaviside also predicted that sub-atomic
particles exist and that the mass of an
electric charge increases with velocity.
The Hon Sir Charles A
Parsons OM KCB FRS –
1923 winner
After graduating
from Cambridge
and undertaking an
apprenticeship with
a Newcastle-based
engineering firm,
Parsons moved to a ship
engine manufacturer.
It was during this time that he built a new
kind of steam-driven electricity generator,
the first ‘turbo-generator’. He set up his own
company to manufacture these generators
for power stations, which were cheaper to run
and quieter than existing generators. He also
developed a superior marine turbine engine,
enabling ships to reach record speeds.
Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti
DSc FRS – 1924 winner
Ferranti’s interest in
electrical engineering
was recognised at an
early age; his father
consulted him on
installing electric
lighting in the family
home when he was just 13. Ferranti later
became Chief Engineer of the London Electric
Supply Corporation. He was one of the early
advocates of large-scale power stations
situated outside of city centres, which
distribute electricity using AC (alternating
current) transmission. He used this model in
his design of the Corporation’s Deptford Power
Station, built to meet London’s increasing
demand for electrical power.
Sir Joseph John Thomson
OM MA FRS – 1925 winner
Thomson entered Trinity
College, Cambridge, at
the age of 20 to study
mathematics – and he
remained a member
for the rest of his life.
During his time there,
he published various papers on mathematical
and experimental issues of electromagnetism.
Thomson later produced his most brilliant
work – a study of cathode rays culminating
in the discovery of the electron. He went on
to discover a method for separating different
kinds of atoms and molecules using positive
rays, which enabled the discovery of isotopes.
11
Dr Timothy Constandinou CEng FIET, current
Chairman of the IET Awards and Prizes
Committee, describes why the committee selected
the more recent winners of the Faraday Medal:
Professor Donald Knuth –
2011 winner
Knuth was selected
for his major
contributions
to the analysis
of algorithms
and the design
of programming languages, and in
particular for his contributions to ‘the
art of computer programming’ through
his well-known book series by this title.
The first three volumes virtually created
the subject of computer science, and
led to Knuth being described as the
‘Euclid of computer science’. Knuth also
created the TeX computer typesetting
system, the related METAFONT font
definition language and rendering
system, and the Computer Modern
family of typefaces.
“I was delighted to receive the
Faraday Medal in 2011 as a
representative of the world’s
computer scientists. Since
then I’ve participated in the
Turing centennial and the
Boole bicentennial. And I’ve
just published a book about
Satisfiability, a key technology
that underlies the verification of
computer circuits.”
Professor Donald Knuth, 2011 Faraday
Medal Winner.
Dr Leonardo Chiariglione –
2012 winner
The committee
selected Chiariglione
for his contributions
to the ISO
standardisation
activity known
as MPEG (or Moving Picture Experts
Group), of which he has been the
Convenor from the start. This group,
with a membership of over 300 experts,
representing 20 countries and various
industries with a stake in digital audio
and video, produced the MPEG-1 and
MPEG-2 standards that have facilitated
the digital audio-visual revolution.
MPEG technology is now part of the
everyday life of billions of people around
the world.
Professor Sir Michael Pepper
FREng FRS – 2013 winner
Pepper was chosen
for his work, which
has had the highest
level of influence in
condensed matter
physics and has
resulted in the creation of the modern
field of semiconductor nanostructures.
He was one of three authors on the
paper that eventually brought a Nobel
Prize for the Quantum Hall Effect to
Klaus von Klitzing.
Regius Professor Christofer
Toumazou BSc PhD DEng FRS
FREng FMedSci FIET FIEEE
FCGI FRSM – 2014 winner
The committee
selected Toumazou for
his influential career
dedicated to applying
semiconductorbased technology to
healthcare. In particular, he invented
semiconductor-based DNA sequencing.
While this has grown to become a
multibillion-dollar industry, one of his
initial motivators was the diagnosis of his
13-year-old son’s end-stage kidney failure
through a rare genetic mutation. Products
derived from his invention are being used
not only for accelerating medical and
scientific discovery, but also clinical
and public health applications – and
lives have been saved as a result.
Professor Kees
Schouhamer Immink
FIEEE FAES FSMPTE –
2015 winner
The committee was particularly
impressed by the impact
Immink’s contributions have had
to digital media in consumer
electronics. Immink was
Philips’ lead engineer in the
development of the Compact
Disc (CD), Digital Versatile Disc
(DVD) and Blu-ray disc. He
is credited with developing a
vibrant research environment
which encouraged innovation by
many young engineers. His work
has resulted in world-changing
consumption of consumer
electronics and the creation of
huge industries and associated
employment. The US Consumer
Electronics Association
estimates that a Western
household owns around 9.1
products that use his inventions.
Do you know someone who is
similarly deserving of a Faraday
Medal, or one of the IET’s range
of prestigious achievement
awards? Nominations for the 2016
awards are now open – visit our
website to nominate a candidate:
www.theiet.org/achievement
12
MEMBER NEWS
#AsktheEngineers
A
third phase of the IET’s Engineer a Better World campaign took place to coincide
with Tomorrow’s Engineers Week in November 2015. An Ask the Engineers Twitter
party was held for parents to ask engineers the difficult questions their children
often pose to them about science and engineering-related topics.
During the one-hour Twitter party, held
in conjunction with parenting website
Mumsnet, 277 questions were asked. One of
the questions was even included in the BBC
One programme Have I Got News for You! In
total, there were over six million views of the
conversation on Twitter.
To coincide with the Twitter party, the IET
commissioned research with 1,000 parents
of children aged 4-12, which found that 83%
of parents were unable to answer questions
from their children about science, technology,
engineering or maths subjects. The research
received widespread media interest and was
covered in The Times, BBC Online, The Daily
Telegraph, the Independent and the Daily Mail,
as well as in over 100 regional, engineering,
education and parenting publications.
An infographic, featuring some of the
questions and answers, is currently being
promoted and shared widely with audiences
across social media channels.
ENGINEERS
13
Engineering Open House Day 2016:
Join the fun and help inspire the next generation
I
n 2015, the IET launched its Engineer a Better World campaign to promote
engineering to parents and young people, particularly girls. As part of the campaign,
we held our inaugural Engineering Open House Day in the UK. We collaborated with
10 high-profile organisations, including The Royal Opera House, ITN News, the National
Space Centre, Global Renewables and The Brunel Museum.
These organisations invited guests to take part
in behind the scenes tours, workshops and
talks from inspirational engineers. Parents
and children were also able to ask questions
about engineering careers and find out more
about the important role engineering plays
within the venues and
organisations.
Young Engineers event in Northwood
The next Engineering
Open House Day will be
held in July 2016 and we
need your help to make
it even bigger and better
than before. We plan to
join forces with iconic
venues and organisations
across the country to
give children and their
parents an insight into
what it’s like to be an
Newly Elected Fellows
Mr James Anderson –
Scotland, Glasgow
Mr David Baker –
England, Malvern
Professor Mike Barnes –
England, Manchester
Mr Frank Berry –
Scotland, Glasgow
Mr Dibyendu
Bhattacharya –
England, Reading
Mr Alexei Botchkarev –
Canada, Toronto
Mr Stephen Bradley –
Philippines, Makati
Mr Andrew Brown –
England, Derby
Mr Laurence Bryant –
England, Dursley
Mr Robert Buckley –
England, Bristol
Mr Nicholas Bukorovic –
England, Wilford
Mr Brian Byrne – England,
Stratford Upon Avon
Professor Rafael
Caldeirinha –
Portugal, Ortigosa
Professor Mansun
Chan –
P.R. China, Hong Kong
Mr Paul Cook –
England, Wistow
Dr Li Cui –
P.R. China, Beijing
Mr Timothy Daldry –
England, Appleby in
Westmorland
Mr Gerard Devlin –
Northern Ireland,
Ballymena
Mr David Easton –
England, Rogerstone
Dr Hector Fenech –
France, Issy Les
Moulineaux
Professor Jinjun Feng –
P.R. China, Beijing
Mr Robert Fenn –
England, Mickleover
Mr Clifford Gillis –
England, Bourne
Dr Palaniappa Goundan –
India, Secunderabad
Professor Tim Green –
England, Haywards
Heath
Mr John Hayden –
Scotland, Glasgow
Mr Don Stanley
Hettiarachchi –
Sri Lanka,
Boralesgamuwa
Mr Mark Hodge –
England, Castle Bytham
Mr Terence Hunt –
England, Cheltenham
Mr Paul Jeffers –
U.A.E., Abu Dhabi
Mr Simon Jones –
England, London
Dr Chiman Kwan –
U.S.A., Rockville
Mr Ian Laird –
Scotland, Glasgow
Professor Pei-Jun Lee –
R.O.C. Taiwan, New
Taipei City
Professor Liam Maguire –
Northern Ireland, Derry
Dr Aamir Saeed Malik –
Malaysia, Ipoh
Mr John Matthews –
England, Birchington
Ms Sheila Metherell –
England, Powick
Professor Luc Moreau –
England, Southampton
Mr Thomas Palfreyman –
England, Farnham
Professor Mugen Peng –
P.R. China, Beijing
Dr Fernando Pereira –
Portugal, Lisboa
engineer – and to highlight the creativity and
excitement involved in engineering careers.
Engineering Open House Day is designed to be
an educational, fun day out to encourage parents
to support their children in choosing careers in
engineering and technology. The day also celebrates
innovative engineering and technology organisations.
The IET is appealing to venues and
organisations up and down the country to host
events to promote engineering to young people
and show them how diverse and exciting a
career in engineering and technology can be.
If you are part of an organisation that may be
interested in raising the profile of engineering,
promoting the incredible work that engineers
do and spreading the word that we need more
of them, then please get in touch by emailing
[email protected]
www.engineer-a-betterworld.org
October 2015 – January 2016
Mr John Pettigrew –
England, Leamington Spa
Mr Andrew Petrie –
Australia, Pyrmont
Mr Matthew Postgate –
England, London
Mr Simon Quigley –
Thailand, Banglamung
Eur Ing William Quigley –
Northern Ireland,
Holywood
Professor Andrew Rae –
Scotland, Aberfeldy
Mr David Rodgers –
Scotland, Airdrie
Dr William Rose –
Scotland, Bo’ness
Mr Lasantha
Samaranayake –
Sri Lanka, Alubomulla
Dr Tao Shao –
P.R. China, Beijing
Dr Nityalendra Singh –
England, Bristol
Mr Terence Smith –
Scotland, Aberdeen
Mr Shaun Stephenson –
England, Brookman’s Park
Professor Te Jen Su – R.O.C.
Taiwan, Kaohsiung City
Mr Alan Sutcliffe – New
Zealand, Mellons Bay
Dr Samir Talat –
England, Culcheth
Mr Alexander Temnikov –
Austria, Vienna
Dr King Jet Tseng –
Singapore, Ang Mo Kio
Dr Christopher Tuck –
England, Derby
Mr Leon Veiro –
England, London
Mr Jason Wharton –
Australia, Teneriffe
Mr Simon Wilkins –
England, Dorking
Mr Tony Williams –
England, Chippenham
Mr Kevin Willis –
England, Lymm
Professor Wei Xiang –
Australia, Toowoomba
Professor Kaigui Xie –
P.R. China, Chongqing
Professor Zeev Zalevsky –
Israel, Rosh ha Ayin
Dr Huaguang Zhang –
P.R.China, Heping
District
Dr Kan Zheng –
P.R. China, Beijing
Professor Donghua Zhou
– P.R. China, Beijing
For the complete list of elected Fellows visit www.theiet.org/new-fellows. See our complete list of professionally registered
members by visiting www.theiet.org/new-registrants
14
MEMBER NEWS
Inspire
Year in
Review
Here are just some of the
ways that the IET achieved
its mission in 2015.
IET calls on young people
and parents to Engineer a
Better World
Our successful Engineer a
Better World campaign was
launched to dispel some of the
misconceptions that parents
and children have about
engineering, and demonstrate
how varied and creative a
career in engineering can be.
www.engineer-a-better-world.org
The IET commissioned research and launched a short #LittleEngineers film to
support the campaign, as well as holding its first Engineering Open House Day,
inviting children and their parents to some of the UK’s most iconic organisations
to find out what engineers do. The IET and social networking site, Mumsnet, also
hosted a Twitter party enabling parents to ask those hard-to-answer engineering
and technology related questions posed by their children to a panel of experts.
Young Professionals Global
Challenge launched
Aimed at Young Professionals, the Global
Challenge was organised by the IET Young
Professionals Community Committee, in
association with international disaster relief charity RedR UK.
The ‘challenge’, for the 30 teams that entered, was to solve a
real-world engineering problem faced by humanitarians working
in the field. After a series of rounds, the winning team, Salt of
the Earth, celebrated their success at the Innovation Awards.
Find out more on page 19.
Influence
IET India launches
Internet of Things panel
In February 2015, IET India launched a panel
on the Internet of Things. The panel’s focus is
will help make the connected world more
that
to facilitate discussions
efficient, smart, innovative and safe.
UK General Election Campaign
2015 General Election
The IET calls for six
areas of policy change
May 2015 marked the UK’s General Election and the IET Policy Panels seized
this opportunity to highlight to members and policymakers important policy
changes that are needed in IT, communications, manufacturing, energy,
education and transport sectors. The IET Policy team is now following up on
their campaigns, arranging meetings with the new Ministers and key MPs.
IET Awards season
The IET presents a range of
awards each year. The IET’s largest
prize, the A F Harvey Engineering
Research Prize, was awarded to
Professor Yang Hao from Queen
Mary University of London. Professor
Hao was chosen for his groundbreaking research on developing a
new generation of antennas with
better aesthetics and novel designs, which allow them to be used in new ways,
particularly within the aerospace industry.
Other awards included the Churchill Medal Award, presented to the UK/US
Royal Signals Infantry Team, and the Young Woman Engineer of the Year Award,
which went to Audio Engineer Orla Murphy. Find out more on page 16.
IET London: Savoy Place re-opens
After an extensive refurbishment programme, IET London: Savoy Place
re-opened its doors to visitors at the end of 2015. The Faraday Centre is
home to the IET’s Knowledge
Centre and Library, where
members can carry out their
research and access the IET’s
world-class resources. There
are also a range of meeting
facilities, as well as two
lecture theatres. Savoy Place
staff are looking forward to
welcoming back many more
members in 2016.
IET Policy reports make headline news
In July, the IET launched a report calling for radical changes to be
made to the UK emergency 999 service to reflect the digital age,
where more people are communicating by text or social media. The
report was supported by the Cabinet Office and the launch brought
together representatives from UK Government, emergency services,
communications companies and mobile providers. This generated
over 330 articles in the media, including in the
Daily Telegraph and The Metro. The report also
featured on BBC Breakfast and BBC Radio 4.
In October, the IET launched its Skills and
Demand in Industry survey, highlighting
employment trends in engineering and industry
concerns about the current skills shortage.
The report featured in over 60 articles, and on
broadcast media including Sky News, BBC News
and on LBC radio.
15
Inform
BRITISH STANDARD
New IET Wiring
Regulations launched
BS 7671:2008
incorporating
Amendment 1:2011
Corrigendum 2013
Amendment 2:2013
Amendment 3:2015
Requirements for
Electrical Installations
IET Wiring Regulations
Seventeenth Edition
© The Institution of Engineering and Technology and BSI
NO COPYING IN ANY FORM WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION
2015 saw the publication of
the 3rd Amendment to the
17th Edition of the IET Wiring
Regulations: BS 7671:2008,
as well as a range of updated
guidance material and our
digital product Electrical
Standards Plus. These were
developed with extensive
involvement from different teams
across the IET and our expert
volunteers. The new guidance
books include the 1st Edition of
our Student’s Guide to the IET
Wiring Regulations.
IET events widen their appeal
In 2015, the IET delivered a full events programme, attracting over 113,800
delegates globally. The IET Prestige Lecture Series continued to attract large
audiences. Another success was the IET and BCS Turing Lecture, which
attracted an impressive 1,400 delegates to venues in London, Cardiff,
Manchester and, for the first time, Belfast. In India, the IET Pinkerton Lecture
was delivered across three cities and attracted 950 delegates.
IET welcomes its first female President
Naomi Climer became the
IET’s first female President
in October. Her appointment
enabled the IET to raise
the issue of diversity in
engineering, with Naomi
featured widely across the
UK media, including on
BBC News, Sky Radio, BBC
Radio 4’s Today Programme,
and in The Observer, Daily
Telegraph, Financial Times
and the Daily Mail.
Naomi Climer delivered her Presidential Address in November
where she spoke about some of the incredible advances in
broadcasting and described what life could be like in 2050. Her
address attracted a record turnout and she received a standing
ovation at the end.
IET expands its publishing programme
and audience
The IET signed a co-publishing agreement with the Chinese
Institute of Electronics for global online publication of the
Chinese Journal of Electronics. The journal’s coverage includes
computer technology, signal processing, microwaves and
electronic systems engineering.
In November, the IET signed a multi-year agreement with
the Egyptian Government to support the ‘Egyptian Knowledge
Bank’, an initiative to enhance the country’s position as a
centre for excellence and research. The agreement provides
Egyptian citizens with unprecedented access to a range of IET
products including Inspec, IET.tv, IET Research Journals and
IET Digital Library.
IET works with ITN Productions to
produce Engineering our World
Television
presenter
Natasha
Kaplinsky
hosted the
latest online
engineering
programme
for the IET –
Engineering
our World.
The programme was launched in November and highlights
the variety of sectors that engineers work in, with reports that
demonstrate the creative and exciting career opportunities
available in engineering.
Engineering our World also investigates the challenge that
organisations face in finding and developing the best talent,
and how they are working with universities and other partners to
address the current skills shortage.
Did you know...
in 2015:
n IET membership increased to over 167,000 members.
n The number of IET new professionally registered engineers
was 2,168.
n The IET increased the number of non-student and apprentice
members below the age of 40 to over 38,000.
n Total follower figures across our social media sites on Twitter,
n
n
n
n
n
n
Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Flickr and Weibo exceeded 168,000.
Over £1 million in awards, prizes and scholarships were awarded.
Inspec, the IET’s abstract and specialised indexing resource,
published its 15 millionth record.
The IET exceeded 40,196 online community members.
Over 6,400 papers were published.
The number of Digital Library platform users exceeded 912,500.
There were 794,000 IET video views on YouTube and 112,200
video views on IET.tv.
16
MEMBER NEWS
Inspiring IET Award Winners
The Innovation Awards
I
nnovators from 28 countries hoped to gain the
prestigious accolade of being one of the 2015 IET
Innovation Award winners. The winners were revealed
at an exciting ceremony on 18 November 2015.
The 15 category winners, who were independently selected by expert
judging panels, included Desolenator, who scooped up both the Start-up
and Sustainability Awards. They manufactured a sustainable water system
which purifies and desalinates all forms of water through the power of
the sun and has the potential to give millions of people access to clean
drinking water.
In the healthcare field, Morgan Innovation & Technology took the top prize
for Salurate – a non-invasive test for pre-eclampsia that will revolutionise
the way this often fatal condition is detected, allowing pregnant women to
self-test in their own homes.
Other winners included Fripp Design and Research for the world’s first
3D silicone printer, NATS & Lockheed Martin for a time-based separation
programme that has virtually eliminated landing delays at Heathrow
The Innovation Award winners
Airport, and Chinook Sciences Ltd for creating energy from a waste plant
using innovative advanced thermal technology.
See details on all of the winners, and find out how you can enter your
innovation for 2016, at www.theiet.org/innovation
IET Young Woman Engineer
of the Year Awards
T
hree extraordinary female engineers were recognised
for their engineering excellence and drive to be
ambassadors for the profession at the 2015 Young
Woman Engineer (YWE) of the Year Awards Ceremony.
Orla Murphy, Audio Engineer at
Jaguar Land Rover, was named
IET Young Woman Engineer of the
Year 2015.
Emma Goulding, Technical
Apprentice at Siemens, won the IET
Mary George Prize for Apprentices.
Helen Cavill, Process Improvement
Manager at M&H Plastics, was
awarded the Women’s Engineering
Society (WES) Prize.
All three will go on to promote
engineering and inspire the next
generation of young women to
pursue careers in engineering.
The winners and finalists have
already featured in 93 publications
including in The Daily Telegraph,
the Daily Mail and Daily Mirror.
IET Apprentice and Technicians of the Year
IET Apprentice and Technician
of the Year Awards
E
xceptional engineering Apprentices and
Technicians were recognised at the
IET’s Achievement Awards Ceremony on 18
November 2015.
James Garnham, an Apprentice Test Engineer in the Solution
Validation Services Centre of Excellence at Cisco Systems Ltd,
won 2015 Apprentice of the Year.
Sam Wicks MIET, a Data Centre Design Engineer at Sudlows,
was awarded 2015 Technician of the Year.
Sgt Craig Fulford, a REME electronics technician serving as
a Medical and Dental Technician based at 33 Vanguard Field
Hospital, was named 2015 Armed Forces Technician of the Year.
Winners and finalists at the IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards
Do you know someone who could be a YWE Award winner in 2016?
Find out how to apply at www.theiet.org/ywe
Winners of the three categories were awarded a £1,000
cash prize and two years’ free membership at the IET.
Apply, or nominate an outstanding Apprentice or Technician
at www.theiet.org/techawards
17
How IET members are shaping
the future of industry standards
How can you get involved?
There are a number of roles within the
standards setting process:
nTechnical authors pull together information
and prepare the necessary drafts.
T
he IET Standards department
is responsible for a thriving
programme of good practice
guidance for a range of engineering
and technology disciplines.
We rely on the expertise of our members to help
us create the best content possible, thereby
improving safety and streamlining processes
for engineers and technicians. We also welcome
input from international members, who will
be well placed to advise on standards that we
expect to be used worldwide.
Why should you get involved?
Make practical use of your specialist experience
and contribute to the development of your industry.
Getting involved in standards setting can also be
a great step to raising your profile, both within
your organisation and the wider industry.
Lindsay McGregor BSc CEng MIET, of Scottish
Futures Trust, was involved in the development
of Recommendations for Energy Efficient
Exterior Lighting Systems, published in
2015. He said of the experience: “I found it
to be both enlightening and rewarding. As
a member of the IET for over 35 years, this
was the first time I had been involved in the
standards development process. I found the
whole process extremely slick, organised and
focused. It’s an ideal opportunity for members
to contribute and pass on their knowledge and
experience in their own specialist areas of
expertise.”
Bill Bates BEng CEng FIET, formerly of the HSE,
was involved with the development of the Code
of Practice for Electrical Safety Management:
“I have been working with the IET Health
and Safety Policy Panel where we discussed
ways of helping members and providing IET
policy. The discussion often entered topics
of management of risk and the necessary
measures to control risk. IET Standards
proved a good means of developing the ideas
about risk into a substantial, highly useful
and accessible guide in an important area.”
nWorking group members provide
expert knowledge and valuable insights
throughout the drafting process.
nSteering committee members are
needed to help the IET steer the
programme of standards, build liaisons
with key stakeholder groups and influence
where we focus our efforts.
nReviewers/corresponding members
provide input at critical stages, including
upon industry consultation, to ensure
that the documents we publish are of real
value to the target market.
nSponsors and supporters are interested
in supporting an area of innovation
either financially or by providing
specialist expertise.
If you’d like to get involved with standards setting
in any way, please email ietstandardsenquiries@
theiet.org and we’ll be in touch.
IET student pioneers coding club in local school
By Sam Presley, Code Plus Project Leader and MEng Electronic Engineering Student, University of Southampton
Sam Presley, a student member, was awarded one of the IET’s Diamond
Jubilee Scholarships in 2013, which supports students who are about to
start their first year of an IET-accredited degree course in the UK. Here he
describes the project that he has initiated since embarking on his degree.
A
s an Electronic Engineering student,
I am mindful of the enormous skills
gap present in the UK. Too few children
understand what careers in technology really
offer and I am determined to do my bit to
address this.
inspirational coding sessions to children in
a local school and library in Southampton.
Feedback from the local community has been
positive and I hope to expand the project in
2016, with more volunteers and schools.
In response, I established a Code Club
called Code Plus, in collaboration with the
Southampton branch of Student Hubs - a
national charity working to engage students
with social action in their local communities.
Code Plus aims to tackle the high levels of
educational disadvantage in Southampton,
through demonstrating to children how they can
be part of creating technologies for the future.
On a personal level, leading this project has
provided me with an opportunity to prove
and develop my professional skills. Whether
I am leading a volunteer recruitment session,
liaising with our community partners or
speaking to teachers, parents and children,
I am always developing essential skills. The
project has reinforced for me the importance
of effective communication, project
management and leadership, skills which will
no doubt prove valuable in my future career.
I have recruited, trained and now lead a
team of 12 volunteers who deliver
I am really keen for more students to involve
themselves in promoting STEM to their
universities’ local communities. Whether you
decide to set up a project of your own or help
out with a one-off event, get involved - you
will certainly make a difference!
For more information on Sam’s project,
visit www.southamptonhub.org/code-plus
18
MEMBER NEWS
New exhibits create a buzz
at IET London: Savoy Place
Last December, the IET’s engineering hub, IET London: Savoy Place, re-opened after its
refurbishment and staff have been welcoming a steady stream of members and event
attendees back into the building ever since.
Visitors to Savoy Place discover 100 engineering ideas that changed the world
One of the biggest talking points,
amongst the UK media and our visitors,
has been the new exhibits on display.
100 engineering ideas that
changed the world
The brand new 100 engineering ideas that changed
the world exhibit pays tribute to the engineers and
their innovative ideas that have changed our lives
for the better - solving problems, improving safety
and enriching the quality of our lives. The items on
display, voted for by IET members, include x-rays,
refrigeration and aviation. An internal combustion
engine, as designed by Karl Benz is showcased
alongside an FM radio set, pioneered by Edwin
Howard Armstrong.
Discover what other engineering ideas are
included at: http://savoyplace.theiet.org/
100-ideas
Celebrated engineers
One hundred and twenty six of the world’s most
influential engineers are showcased in the
‘celebrated engineers’ exhibit in the stairwells of
Savoy Place. Portraits of Apple co-founder Steve
Jobs and physicist Albert Einstein are displayed
alongside images of prominent engineers such
as George Stephenson and aviation pioneer
Amelia Earhart.
A full list of celebrated engineers is available
at: http://savoyplace.theiet.org/gallery
Simon Timmis, Senior Marketing Manager for
IET Venues and Events, said: “The development
of these exhibits is hugely exciting for all
involved. They represent and celebrate the
best in engineering accomplishments and
remind us of the hugely positive impact that
technological invention can have.”
IET Foundation Wall
In January, supporters of the IET’s Take Your Place
fundraising initiative were invited to attend a
reception at IET London: Savoy Place, as a thankyou for supporting the IET’s charitable objectives.
Supporters had the opportunity to see their name
unveiled on the Foundation Wall in the building’s
main reception area or on a special name plaque
on a seat in the Kelvin Lecture Theatre.
Dave Griffiths CEng MIET, who supported the
Foundation Wall in honour of his late father IET
member Frank Llewellwyn Griffiths MIET, said:
“My late father would be very proud to know
that he is part of this.”
IET member Dr Taj Sturman MEng (Hons) MPhil
SMIEEE CEng FIET, who also attended the event,
said: “I feel so happy to support the IET! The
event far exceeded the expectations of both my
wife and I. The refurbishment and the folk at
the event made this such a pleasurable event –
what a start for 2016!”
Names were unveiled on the IET Foundation Wall in Savoy Place
There is still an opportunity
to Take Your Place at Savoy
Place. Please visit
www.theiet.org/typ
for more details.
Here’s what some visitors have
had to say about the newly
refurbished Savoy Place:
Kerrine Bryan
@KerrineBryan
Excited about the renovated IET home
#SavoyPlace. It’s great! Worth the
wait! @TheIET @IETWomenNetwork
Chris Pearse
@cpearse
New #faradaycentre at #savoyplace
looking good. Well done #iet exceeded expectations so far
Rob Edmunds
@robaedmunds
What a great day @TheIET
#Partners event #SavoyPlace is
looking awesome.
The Take Your Place fundraising campaign gives
members the chance to support the IET’s vision
to engineer a better world through its charitable
activities, and enthuse and support students of
all ages towards a career in engineering.
19
Young Professionals News
What do Technical and Professional
Networks have to offer Young Professionals?
By Rhys Phillips MIET, Young Professionals Community Committee
The Young Professionals Community Committee has launched a new project to look at what the
IET’s Technical and Professional Networks (TPNs) offer early career engineers and technicians.
T
PNs bring together engineers and technicians to share
expertise, host discussions and facilitate networking within their
discipline. Young Professional Sections have typically been the
fare of the Local Networks, rather than TPNs. Such Sections
provide talks, workshops, social and networking events geared
towards students and engineers in the early years of their careers.
There are, however, a number of emerging activities organised by, or
aimed at, young professionals. The Railway TPN has had a thriving
Young Professionals Section for a number of years and have organised
technical visits and an annual technical quiz night; the Antennas &
Propagation, Electromagnetics and RF & Microwave TPNs organise
an annual colloquium for early stage research on wireless topics; the
Aerospace TPN hosted a Young Professionals poster session at the All
Electric Aircraft seminar; and the Healthcare Technology TPN organise
annual awards for students and early career professionals.
Other TPNs are now recognising the value of attracting and
encouraging participation from early career engineers and
technicians. The Aerospace and Electromagnetics TPNs are currently
in the process of setting up their own Young Professionals Sections
and others are being encouraged to follow. Watch this space to see
what technical events they will have to offer their younger members!
Interested in getting involved in a TPN? Visit www.theiet.org/tpn Global Challenge winners
T
he very first Young Professionals Global Challenge came
to a glitzy close at the esteemed IET Innovation Awards in
November 2015.
The competition, run in conjunction with IET
partner, RedR UK, was truly international
with 30 entries coming in from all over
the world. Nathan Beard, RedR UK
member, authored a brief asking our young
engineers to come up with a lightweight,
portable and economical laptop cooling
system that could be used by humanitarian
aid workers in the field.
Salt of the Earth celebrated their victory at The IET Innovation Awards 2015
Our panel of judges,
made up of IET and
RedR UK members,
were extremely
impressed by the
quality and range
of the entries, in
particular, the four
finalists’ submissions.
The winning team are Salt of the Earth, a team
of Cambridge undergraduates studying at
Pembroke College. Their solution really caught
the judges’ attention because of its imaginative
use of natural materials and its sheer
simplicity. The winners received a cash prize
and trophies at the Innovation Awards, as well
as an overnight stay in a London hotel.
But their success hasn’t ended there; the team
has already been approached by a company
who are interested in integrating the solution
into their products. They are now working
closely together to make this happen. The team
are hugely excited about the possibilities and
it could even mean that they have their own
company before leaving university.
After the success of the first Global
Challenge, we’d strongly encourage
any Young Professionals to get involved
and enter – keep an eye out for the
competition launch in November 2016!
20
MEMBER NEWS
IET Volunteers
What an achievement!
In November 2015, IET Fellow Gordon Dixon
became the first recipient of the IET Volunteer
Achievement Medal in recognition of his
outstanding contribution over the last 52 years.
Volunteers have always played a
crucial role in supporting the IET
to inspire, inform and influence the
global engineering community. None
more so than IET Volunteer Gordon
Dixon, who has been a driving force
at local, regional and national levels
since 1963.
A deserving winner of the new medal, Gordon
said: “I was really honoured to receive the
award and it’s particularly special to be the first
to win it. But I do feel that I represent the large
body of excellent and hard-working volunteers,
many of whom also deserve to win it.”
So what kick-started Gordon’s passion for
volunteering? “I joined the IEE, the predecessor
of the IET, in 1961, when I was in the first
year of a BSc Electrical Engineering sandwich
course,” he said. “I attended a good few
meetings and went on some technical visits to
local companies. Two years later I was invited
to join the local Young Professionals Section
Committee and agreed to take on the role
of Section Editor for the Students’ Quarterly
Journal. And that’s where it all began…”
Volunteering isn’t entirely altruistic, of
course; it’s a fantastic personal development
opportunity too. “Volunteering can be a great
way to establish relationships with others
in your field of technology,” said Gordon.
“It’s also ideal for keeping abreast of what’s
going on in technology through working with
people on lecture and visit programmes.
One gains new skills, perhaps as an event
organiser or a treasurer.”
Mentoring is close to Gordon’s heart. At IBM he
mentored 40 engineers, all bar one of whom
went on to become Chartered Engineers via
the IET at their first attempts. He also helped
establish the IET’s mentoring service:
“Engineers in the early and
middle stages of their career
need a vision of what the
options are and how they
might progress, whilst
experienced engineers have a
duty to provide that. It doesn’t
have to be on a formal basis
– sometimes merely asking
‘Have you thought about x or y?’
can develop into a very useful
conversation.”
The past 50 years have seen incredible
changes in engineering and technology,
how we work and how we communicate.
Gordon recognises that people’s
requirements and expectations regarding
IET events have changed too: “When I
joined in the early ‘60s, visits and expert
talks followed by formal Q&As were the
bedrock of the Institution, just as they
had been since the late 1800s. But the
laid-back ‘gentlemen’s club’ approach is no
longer appropriate for the increasingly busy
lives of our new generation of engineers.
“We now need to engage with both
engineers and the public in a different way,
so that we can bring more young engineers
on board. Local Networks can play a big
part in making that happen, by pioneering
new approaches to networking, planning,
socialising and especially to engagement
strategy. I fear that programmes that too
often attract mainly near-retired or already
retired members just won’t cut it anymore.”
Eur Ing Gordon Dixon CEng FIET, inaugural winner of the IET Volunteer Achievement Medal
www.theiet.org/volunteers
21
Joe wins prestigious volunteer award
The annual IET Paul Fletcher Award recognises and celebrates the achievements of
a young professional volunteer who has worked tirelessly in encouraging people to
engage with the IET and pursue a career in engineering. Here the IET interviews the
2015 winner, BAE Systems Senior Engineer, Joe Dunn MIET.
Congratulations Joe. How did it
feel to win?
Absolutely amazing. I was nominated by
my peers in the Solent Local Network (LN),
and being presented with the award by the
late Paul Fletcher’s son, Peter, made it all
the more special.
What’s your background?
I joined BAE Systems as a software
engineering graduate in 2008 and have
worked in the naval discipline ever since.
My current focus is on autonomous
maritime mine countermeasures. That
suits me perfectly because I’m very
interested in future unmanned systems.
Why did you become an IET
Volunteer?
One of the main reasons was because I
absolutely hated public speaking. Having
joined BAE, I quickly realised that I’d have
to be able to deliver presentations and
talk to people in order to get ahead in
my career. So when the IET invited me to
deliver a lecture, I decided it was time to
face my fears.
What sort of IET Volunteer activities
have you been involved in?
I’m currently Vice Chairperson and
Assistant Community Administrator of
the Solent LN. My most challenging role
to date was as the Young Professionals
Team Leader. I had five people on my team
and two or three student volunteers at
each of our network’s three universities.
Managing our activities, writing and giving
workshops, motivating the volunteers and
engaging new ones all took a lot of work.
Video Interviews
Joe Dunn MIET, BAE Systems Senior Engineer, is presented with the award by Peter Fletcher
When you speak to students and
young people, what’s your key
message?
What’s your advice to anyone
considering becoming an IET
Volunteer?
I tell them that academic brilliance may help in
an engineering career, but it isn’t by any means
the be all and end all. Success in engineering
is more to do with attitude than grades. I’ve
never been an academic, yet I now manage
a multi-million international programme for
BAE. That particular anecdote usually goes
down very well with would-be engineers!
Do it. Make a name for yourself and stand
out from the crowd. Be proactive and
dependable. Push yourself to go above and
beyond the norm. Don’t hold back – go for it!
On average, how long do you spend
on IET Volunteer activities each week?
I still write and deliver IET workshops, I attend
the quarterly Local Committee meetings and
fortnightly telecoms, and then there are my
two current Solent LN roles to factor in. I’d say
it works out at between two and three hours a
week, on average.
You can watch video interviews
with our 2015 volunteer award
winners on IET.tv.
What are your next IET Volunteer
milestones?
I’ve put my name forward for an IET Council
2016 position and I’ll be taking over as
Chairperson of the IET Solent LN in due
course. My ultimate goal is IET Fellowship,
but after preaching to others about
the importance of being professionally
chartered, I really ought to knuckle down to
getting my own CEng application off!
Gordon Dixon
Joe Dunn
https://tv.theiet.org/
#?videoid=7938
https://tv.theiet.
org/#?videoid=7831
22
MEMBER NEWS
The winning video
You can view the winning video on the
Everyday Champions channel on IET.tv
at https://tv.theiet.org/?videoid=7025
Everyday Champions
winning video announced
In the summer of 2015, the IET
launched the Everyday Champions
video competition to celebrate all
the excellent work carried out by
its volunteers around the world.
Here we speak to the creators of
the winning entry, chosen by IET
President Naomi Climer.
When it comes to volunteering for the IET,
video competition winners Clara To and
Sachini Yapa are certainly great role models.
A volunteer in the IET Hong Kong Local
Network since 2008, Clara is Chair of
the IET Young Professional Community
Committee (YPCC) and Honorary Treasurer
of the Railway and Transport Section of
the IET Hong Kong Local Network.
New Zealand-based Sachini is also heavily
involved – she sits on a number of local
committees, is Chair of the IET Auckland
LN, Secretary of the IET New Zealand
Forum and Vice Chair of the IET YPCC.
“I first met Sach at a meeting of the IET
Communities Committee – Asia Pacific in
Malaysia, back in 2011,” said Clara. “It was
at the September 2015 YPCC meeting that
we decided to enter the video competition
together. Our entry reflects our passion and
enthusiasm for the IET and why we love
volunteering. And as I’m sure you can tell from
the video, we had a lot of fun creating it!”
Volunteering has been a hugely positive
experience for both women. Sachini said:
“It has opened up an avenue for meeting
like-minded friends who share my passion
for engineering.” Clara added: “I’ve
organised and attended engineering events
on topics that I don’t encounter in my dayto-day work. I’ve learned a huge amount and
have been able to develop my soft skills too.”
Both volunteers play an important role in
promoting engineering and the IET to schools
and engineering undergraduates. Sachini
said: “Our events give budding engineers an
insight into what happens in the real world,
be it through site visits, public lectures or
competitions. By putting them in touch with
industry, we hope they are inspired to pursue
an engineering career.”
The channel remains open,
so if you have a volunteer
story or experience to share,
do send in your video!
When asked what advice she would give
to a potential IET Volunteer, Clara was very
clear: “You shouldn’t be too worried about
sacrificing time for volunteering because
the more you give, the more you gain.
Besides, there are plenty of volunteering
roles in the IET and you can explore the
ones that are most suited to you.”
Teamwork is the glue that binds the IET
Volunteers together. “I’ve served on several
IET committees and in my experience, the
reason why they are so productive is because
of the excellent relationships and co-operation
among volunteers and IET staff,” said Clara.
“We all work together as one team.”
So what’s on the cards for 2016 and beyond?
Clara has 18 months remaining on the IET
YPCC – six months as Chair, then 12 as
Past Chair. Sachini will take on the role of
Chair in the summer: “I’m looking forward
to bringing even more
innovative ideas to the
IET through the wonderful
and passionate team
that is the YPCC.”
Left to right, IET Volunteers Sachini Yapa MIET and Clara To CEng MIET
“The IET volunteer experience has enabled me to develop plenty of soft skills.”
“I can organise events on things that I’m passionate about.”
“You get to meet people with common interests to yourself.”
23
Find out
Governance
more about
for the
our new
Volunteer
Engagement
Board
volunteering experience and supporting
innovative ways of encouraging members to
become volunteers.
The positive outcome of the
Special General Meeting in
February means that the IET
will create a new Volunteer
Engagement Board to recognise
the importance of its volunteers
and active members. The new
Board will soon join the two
other main Boards that help
govern the IET: the Knowledge
Services Board and the
Membership and Professional
Development Board (MPDB).
The new Volunteer Engagement Board will
include a Chair, appointed by the Board
of Trustees, and nine members of Council
(including Young Professionals and non-UK
representatives). Other Board volunteers
will include representatives from the
Communities Resourcing Committee, the
Registration and Standards Committee,
the Professional Development Operations
Committee, the Chair of the Volunteer
Support Working Party and a senior staff
member. Additional members will be
recruited as needed to meet any gaps in
skills or knowledge.
With strong representation across the
breadth of the IET, the Board will take a
strategic overview of volunteering and the
issues that concern volunteers, which it will
then communicate to the Board of Trustees.
In particular, the Board will own the strategy
for volunteer recruitment and talent
management - engaging with networks
and communities, keeping updated on the
Forming a new Board within an existing
structure provides great opportunities, but
can also present challenges. The existing
MPDB leads major volunteer activities
including Education and Registration and
Professional Development – so the Volunteer
Engagement Board will need to work closely
with it to encourage members to volunteer
in these areas. It will also work with the
Knowledge Services Board, supporting
the critical role that Communities play in
engaging with members and non-members
around the world.
FUTURE
Could you
serve on the
IET’s Boards,
Committees or
Council?
Governance
for the
Do you have the right
knowledge, skills and
experience to support the
IET? Each year a number of
vacancies arise on IET Boards,
Committees and Council and
these vacancies are filled by
either election or appointment.
FUTURE
The Board will be in regular communication
with IET staff within the Volunteer Support
team, overseeing its portfolio of volunteer
support resources. The Volunteer Support
Working Party, responsible for activities
related to the recruitment, training, support
and recognition of IET Volunteers, will now
report to the new Board.
Alison Carr, IET Director of Governance and
Policy, said:
“The positive outcome of the
member vote will enable the
IET to enhance its governance
structure so that we are better
placed to meet the needs of
our members in future.”
Once the outcome of the elections
is known, appointments are made
based on the skills, experience
and representation that the IET
requires. The IET would like to hear
from members who would like to be
considered for these vacancies. Role
specifications are available on the
IET website: www.theiet.org/boardscommittees
Governance
for the
If you would like to be considered
for a volunteer role on one of
our Boards, Committees or
Council, please write to the
including details of your
relevant skills and experience:
[email protected]
FUTURE
An induction programme will be held for
new Board members, providing them with
key information such as the IET’s strategy
and product portfolio, so that they are ready
to start operating when the new session
begins on 1 October 2016.
If you have a story
about volunteering,
we want to hear
from you!
Our new, dedicated section in Member News
is the best place to share your volunteering
experiences and encourage other members
to get involved with volunteering for the IET.
We’d love to hear what you’re doing, so please
get in touch: [email protected]
24
MEMBER NEWS
Hong Kong Local Network celebrates
10th International APSCOM Conference
by Keri Allan
The 10th International
Conference on
Advances in Power
Systems Control,
Operation and
Management
(APSCOM) was held
last November, hosted
by the IET Hong Kong
Local Network (LN).
T.K. Chiang CEng MIET, the Organising Committee Chairman of APSCOM 2015, delivers his welcome speech
APSCOM is Hong Kong LN’s flagship event,
organised entirely by volunteers from its
Power and Energy Section. First held in 1991,
it has now evolved into a triennial event.
The conference is aimed at stakeholders from
across the power industry, as T.K. Chiang CEng
MIET, the Organising Committee Chairman
of APSCOM 2015, observed: “In the past,
the conference has attracted experts and
practitioners such as academics, regulators,
generation companies, network managers
and operators and manufacturers. With the
increasing interest in promoting a low carbon
economy, it’s also attracted participants from
the renewable energy sector.”
“It is a truly international conference.
Although it is based in Hong
Kong… attendees have come from
all over the world - Taiwan, Japan,
Korea, Thailand, Singapore. We’ve
also had attendees and speakers
from the UK, USA, Sweden,
Denmark, Dubai and Columbia.”
Over the five-day event, more than 180
delegates attended sessions and took
part in technical visits to Macau’s 110kV
substation and the CLP Smart Grid Centre
and Nuclear Resources Centre. There was also
an opportunity for delegates to network at a
spectacular skyline banquet.
“The conference has become an important
event for power system professionals to share
state-of-the-art technology developments,
knowledge and experience in power system
control, operation and management,” said C.K.
Lau CEng MIET, Vice Chairman of the APSCOM
2015 Organising Committee. “It serves as an
excellent platform for networking. Furthermore it
is a great opportunity for scholars, researchers
and university students to showcase their work
and invite suggestions from experts in the field.”
The Hong Kong LN worked with the wider IET
to source speakers and promote the event
internationally, as Francis Fung CEng MIET,
Treasurer of the APSCOM 2015 Organising
Committee and 2015-16 Chairman of the IET Hong
Kong LN, explained: “We leverage the IET’s network,
working closely with the IET’s UK Headquarters
to promote the event in many ways. This
includes highlighting the event on the Energy
Sector webpage and advertising it in E&T
magazine and Member News. In addition, we draw
the attention of members from around the world
by using online and printed Sector Newsletters, IET
promotional emails, and social media including
Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+...”
Post-event, the presented papers were
catalogued in the Engineering Index and
several were put forward for publication in
the journal, IET Generation, Transmission and
Distribution. In addition, keynote speeches
were recorded and interested parties can
watch these online on IET.tv.
What’s going on in your Local Network?
Find your nearest LN and get involved in its
activities, by visiting www.theiet.org/local
continued T.K. Chiang.
The theme of the 2015 conference was
Powering Our Society Towards a Sustainable
Future - Challenges, Needs, Solutions and
Opportunities of the Modern Power System.
The conference provided a forum for experts to
share ideas on the development of the power
supply industry, with a focus on reliable,
efficient and sustainable power.
Delegates on technical visit to 110kV substation in Macau
www.theiet.org/communities
25
Young engineers in the Middle East
take part in robotics challenge
by Keri Allan
The IET Kuwait Local Network (LN) has
developed an annual Gulf Corporation
Council (GCC) Robotics Challenge to
engage with more young engineers
from across the Middle East.
O
pen to young professionals and
students from GCC countries, local
heats took place in Kuwait, Saudi
Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain and Oman. The
winning teams then gathered in Kuwait in
December 2015 for the first ever final.
Headquarters, the IEEE and the Sabah Al-Ahmad
Center for Giftedness and Creativity. “IET Kuwait
was the main organiser of the competition,”
said Abdelrahman Abdelazim, Chair of the IET
Kuwait LN. “Twenty IET volunteers prepared and
ran these events from A through to Z.”
Teams were tasked with building a robot
capable of completing challenges within specific
space and time constraints. They were assessed
on their creativity, as well as the technical
feasibility and efficiency of their creations.
The organisers wanted to come away from
the competition having engaged with and
inspired more young engineers in the region.
Abdelrahman has already seen some
promising results.
Each team faced six challenges, which
included controlling their robot to move
handles, push buttons and carry objects,
and programming their robot to move around
obstacles and follow a line.
“For me, the highlight of the event
was seeing the excitement in
the young engineers and their
innovative ways of solving
the challenges. An interesting
case study was the Arab Open
University in Kuwait,” he said.
IET Kuwait brought the competition into
existence with the help of other IET networks in
the region, as well as support from the IET’s UK
Teams’ robots were assessed on creativity, technical
feasibility and efficiency
“Four teams from this university
participated in the challenge
and all of the members had no
background in robotics before the
competition. Nevertheless, they
learnt new skills in a very short time
and successfully participated. And
now, as a result of the competition,
many universities in the GCC
have started robotics clubs.”
“This event is the first of its kind in the Gulf
area, and has been a great success,” noted
Robert Allen, IET Community Manager and
Senior Staff Member for the EMEA Communities
Committee. “It’s not only been great for
engaging with young professionals, but also in
linking together the different LNs in that area.”
“Encouraging young engineers to work in
STEM-related fields was the main aim of the
competition, which in my opinion has been
achieved,” concluded Abdelrahman, “but
raising the profile of the IET was another
important target, and one I think we’ve also
accomplished.”
To find out more about the IET’s
activities in the Middle East, visit
www.theiet.org/cc-emea
26
MEMBER NEWS
It has never been easier
to connect with IET members
Engineering Communities,
the IET’s online community
platform, has undergone
a facelift – now it is even
easier to connect with IET
members online.
Engineering
Communities,
formerly known
as MyCommunity,
has been online
for almost four
years and in that
time has reached approximately 40,000
users. Feedback, however, suggested
that improvements could be made to the
overall user experience, and in particular,
the layout of the website.
In January, it was given a completely new
look, with a much cleaner layout and
easier navigation. Initial feedback has
been very positive.
The website has also been developed so
that you are directed to content which
is more tailored to your interests and
requirements, you can find and connect
with other members more easily and you
can receive online recognition of your
status and achievements.
NOTICE
Four reasons why you should consider social
networking on Engineering Communities:
join communities around the world in geographical or technical fields
raise your professional profile in the global engineering community
connect with like-minded people to share ideas, learn and collaborate
discuss engineering challenges with fellow professionals.
Step by step guide
for new users
1. Go to communities.theiet.org
(don’t use the www. prefix).
2. If you are an
IET member with an
online MyIET account but you are not currently
using the Engineering Communities platform, then you can just log
in using your MyIET login details.
3. If you are an IET member but you don’t have an online MyIET account, then you
will need to register on our website. Your MyIET account is where you can update
your personal details and manage your communication preferences. When you
have finished, you will be taken back to Engineering Communities where you can
start making connections.
MEMBERS ANNUAL INFORMATION EVENT
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Members Annual Information Event, including the Annual General Meeting of
the Institution of Engineering and Technology, will be held on Thursday, 16 June 2016 at 5.30 pm at the Institution
of Engineering and Technology, Savoy Place, London WC2R 0BL, United Kingdom, for the following purposes:
1. To receive the minutes of the previous meeting.
2. To receive a report from the Chief Executive
and Secretary on the IET’s achievements in the
previous year.
3. To receive a report from the President about the
Institution’s plans for the future.
4. To receive a report on Horizontal Innovation.
5. To receive a report from Council.
6. To receive a report from the Young Professionals
Community Committee.
7. To receive a report from IET Connect.
8. To receive and consider the Trustees Report
and Financial Statements for the year ended 31
December 2015.
NOTES: T he Annual General Meeting will be held in accordance with Bye-laws 52-53. The quorum shall be 25 members. The Annual General
Meeting does not have the power to accept or reject the Trustees Report and Financial Statements.Copies of the Trustees Report
and Financial Statements will be available at the meeting. Advance copies can be obtained on application to the Chief Executive
and Secretary approximately 14 days before the date of the meeting. Members who are unable to attend the Members Annual
Information Event can participate in the live webcast. Members may suggest subjects which they would like to hear about.
9. To appoint auditors for 2016.
10. Q&A session.
11. Vote of thanks to:
(a) The honorary officers and members of
all Institution Boards and Committees;
(b) The staff of the Institution.
By order of the Board of Trustees
Mr Nigel Fine
14 March 2016
27
Sectors Update
Some of our greatest challenges
may already have an answer...
Help us find them
other sectors, such as defence, food, healthcare,
energy, retail, agriculture, communications,
transport and the built environment.
“I think it’s a really good initiative.
It sends the right message to the
industry that we can work across
sectors and that we can bring
technology from one to another...
A common message in the engineering
industry has got to be a good thing.”
Mark Garrett, Chief Operating Officer at Ricardo.
T
Neonatal Transport Team creates safer journey for premature babies using motorsport technology.
he IET and the Motorsport Industry Association (MIA) have joined
forces to address the current lack of widespread exploitation of
horizontal innovation in the UK business technology community.
The partnership aims to recognise, encourage
and reward horizontal innovation - the effective
transfer of knowledge and technology from one
sector to another, which could deliver huge
economic and societal benefits.
The Horizontal Innovation initiative was
launched at a prestigious event hosted by
the IET and MIA on 20 January, which brought
together over 100 key decision-makers from
motorsport, automotive, aerospace, defence
and a multitude of other sectors at the newlyrefurbished IET London: Savoy Place.
Hosting the launch, IET President Naomi
Climer said: “If we get this right, this will drive
growth, create jobs and opportunities for future
engineers and most importantly make sure that
solutions that already exist are used to address
some of our greatest challenges.”
Several examples of successful horizontal
innovation were showcased at the special event.
Formula 1 motorsport technology is currently being
trialled by Greater Manchester Neonatal Transport
team at St Mary’s Hospital, Manchester, which
could transform the care of critically ill newborn
www.theiet.org/sectors
babies. Delegates at the launch event were also
able to hear about the successful adoption of
horizontal innovation from motorsport companies
Williams, Ricardo and Prodrive. They are tackling a
diverse range of challenges including the reduction
of energy consumption of supermarket fridges
and the design and manufacture of unique yacht
components for Landrover Ben Ainslie Racing,
Britain’s entry for the 35th America’s Cup.
“What unifies all of these examples of horizontal
innovation is that it is not about expensive R&D,”
said Gordon Attenborough, IET Head of Sectors.
”There was not a call for massive public or private
investment or even new technologies; these were
solutions that each company already had which
have simply been applied differently and have
had a huge impact. There must be thousands of
other examples of cross-sector innovation waiting
to happen and that is why the IET has decided to
do something about it”.
The Horizontal Innovation event marked the start
of a long-term programme of knowledge-sharing
activities between the IET and the MIA. These
will highlight UK motorsport as a best practice
example of what could and should be achieved by
In addition to a planned series of brokerage
events, the IET announced a new Horizontal
Innovation category in its annual Innovation
Awards and a funded R&D programme, to be
delivered by the Manufacturing Technology
Centre targeting SMEs. Also announced was
a new bespoke online engineering community
dedicated to horizontal innovation.
“We need to reach out beyond the engineering
world to the people that have these problems
and challenges that we are trying to solve,
and include them as an integral part of this
new online community,” commented Megan
Phipps, Head of Sector, Design and Production.
“I would urge our members to not only join
themselves, but also help us build this
community with those outside of the IET.”
To learn more or get involved, visit
www.theiet.org/horizontal-innovation or
email [email protected]
Left to right, IET Head of Sectors Gordon Attenborough,
IET President Naomi Climer and CEO of MIA Chris Aylett
28
MEMBER NEWS
Member Spotlight
By Paul Doherty CEng FIET, Chief Engineer at Klaret Group
With the recent launch of the world’s largest superyacht in Northern
Germany, one of only 36 in the world above 100 meters in length,
IET Fellow and Chief Engineer Paul Doherty discusses some of the
technical challenges in bringing such a project to delivery.
T
he challenge for engineers involved in the
design and construction of superyachts is
bringing the requirements of the owner to
reality. We have to investigate unique features
of the build, whether these are giant aquariums,
submersible vessels for exploration, retractable
helicopter hangers or glass bottom hulls – if it
can be conceived, then engineers need to find
a way for it to be achieved. These requirements
often push the boundaries not just of engineering,
but also of regulation. Each superyacht
represents a bespoke design and the risks
associated with stepping outside of a regulatory
framework requires a close liaison with statutory
and classification bodies to ensure that risks are
properly assessed and managed.
As with all engineering projects, clarity of contract
specification is a critical component to its success.
Contract specifications have a negotiated meaning
to both parties, that is to say, the meaning that the
builder attaches to a clause in the specification
may not be the same as the meaning attached to
it by the owner’s representative. So an important
skill for the engineer to have is that of spatial
interpretation, to visualise a material system from
prescriptive text. In the long run, this anticipates
potential conflicts between parties and potential
flaws in construction.
Overseeing the technical design and construction
of a superyacht is the responsibility of the Chief
Engineer and one which requires pulling resources
together to ensure that the right level and type of
expertise is brought in – and brought in at the right
time. Projects involve complicated integration of
heavy propulsion and generation packages, auxiliary
domestic systems, comfort consumers such as
heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and audio
visuals, advanced security systems and specialist
equipment and systems which are usually
specific to the vessel. In sum, this is a career
which offers an opportunity to push boundaries
and oversee unique projects on a grand scale!
Are you a maritime engineer keen to
progress in your career? Find out more
about what the IET has to offer at
www.theiet.org/marine-eng
John Quinn
@Billiephons
Social round up
In November 2015, the IET published its top 10 career
hacks (tips for getting ahead in engineering) and called for
engineers and technicians to add their own to the list. The
responses can be found by searching #IETCareerHacks
@IETEarlyCareer #IETCareerHacks use any opportunity to
give a presentation. Explaining to others richens your own
understanding.
Bob
@DrCyberBob
1) Build a professional network. 2) Never stop learning.
3) Value perspectives that complement/differ from your own
#IETCareerHacks
Abbie Hutty
@a_hutty
@IETEarlyCareer Read around your subject. Knowing the
design drivers and sources of your requirements is invaluable!
#IETCareerHacks
Guy Parker
Victoria Bunyard
@VBunyard
1) listen and really understand what is being asked
2) act with integrity 3) understand the impact of your actions
#IETCareerHacks
@gapgb
@TheIET Learn a second language - it’s a massive boost in
international companies #IETCareerHacks
Chris W
@chewybiscuits
Have something to share? Tweet us @TheIET
Regularly take time out to look back at your development
- it only gets harder the longer you leave it! #IETCareerHacks
@IETEarlyCareer
29
Whistleblowing: what it is and
where to get support
‘Whistleblowing’ is defined by the UK
Whistleblowing Commission as ‘the
raising of a concern, either within the
workplace or externally, about a danger,
risk, malpractice or wrongdoing which
affects others’. The Engineering Council
adds that engineers’ and technicians’
work revolves around managing risk; so
‘risk’ is better interpreted in this context
to mean ‘inadequate quantification or
management of risk.’
T
he Engineering Council recently
issued new guidance on
whistleblowing and in support
of this, the IET has published
information on its website for
members. There remains some
confusion as to what whistleblowing
actually is, particularly as the media
can use this term liberally. Here we
define what it is and what it is not.
IET members may encounter something
in their workplace which is inconsistent
with the IET’s Rules of Conduct - in
which case, they are obligated to act.
Examples include an organisation
endangering health and safety or
engaging in financial malpractice.
Note that the malpractice or wrongdoing
‘affects others’ and disclosing
must be in the public interest.
Whistleblowing procedures should
not be used for personal grievances,
where the complainant seeks redress
for themselves. Examples include
a breach of individual employment
rights, bullying or discrimination.
Most organisations have a grievance
procedure, which is more appropriate
for making a complaint.
An IET member faced with a potential
whistleblowing situation should, in the
first instance, consult their employer’s
procedure for reporting wrong-doing.
Where this fails, you might need to look
for advice outside of your organisation.
The IET has very limited scope to directly
support members who feel an obligation
to whistleblow. However, should a
member wish to seek legal advice on a
potential whistleblowing situation, then
we recommend they contact IET Connect
and ask to be put through to their legal
helpline: +44(0)20 7344 5498.
Further information is
also available on the IET’s
website: www.theiet.org/
whistleblowing
Good news for jobseekers and
recruiters: E&TJ gets a makeover!
E
ngineering &
Technology Jobs
(also known as
E&TJ) has undergone a
huge makeover. With a
brand new mobile-optimised platform, recruiters and
jobseekers can browse the website with ease. The new
website showcases jobseeker advice - on CVs, interviews
and securing your dream job - as well as news from
various sectors.
Since its launch last year, E&TJ has seen over 100,000 users
search for 795 jobs featured from nearly 200 recruiters. There are
job opportunities with huge worldwide companies such as BAE
Systems, as well as with start-up companies that are looking to
hire their first staff.
If you’re searching for jobs on the go, you can register for alerts
matching your specified criteria, or follow us on social media
(facebook.com/eandtj, @EandTJ and https://www.linkedin.com/
groups/5168171).
Visit E&TJ at: http://engineering-jobs.theiet.org
Recruiting engineers?
If your company is recruiting engineers, you can easily
advertise on our site with various effective packages.
Jobseekers are using E&TJ in ever increasing numbers – making
E&TJ an essential part of recruiters’ strategies to find engineering
talent. In the recent IET Skills & Demand survey, 61% of engineering
employers stated the challenge they face in recruiting the skills that
they need – E&TJ is here to help you find that expertise.
30
MEMBER NEWS
Obituaries
Thomas John Simmonite CEng MIET (MIEE)
April 1930 - October 2015
B
orn April 1930 in Crosby, Merseyside, Tom
Simmonite was educated at St Mary’s
College and showed a keen interest in
engineering and technology from a young age.
On leaving school, he started work as an
apprentice with Campbell & Isherwood
in Bootle, Merseyside, specialising in the
design and manufacture of ships’ motors,
during which time he also gained his
engineering qualifications.
After National Service in the Royal Navy, Tom
joined English Electric at their Netherton
works in Liverpool, where he became a
Chartered Engineer, specialising in turbine
design and manufacture for major hydroelectric projects, including the Ffestiniog
Pumped-Storage Scheme.
From 1963, he and his family spent several
years in Bhopal on behalf of English Electric,
where he worked as a consultant to the
Indian Government. During his time there, he
was able to offer expertise and leadership on
the manufacture and installation of hydroelectric projects across India.
Soon after returning to the UK, Tom joined
Mott, Hay and Anderson as a Resident
Electrical & Mechanical Engineer working on
the design and construction of the Kingsway
Mersey Tunnel. Following completion of
this project and, after a brief spell as
General Manager with Wingrove & Rogers,
Tom moved to Dar Al-Handasah (Shair
and Partners), a firm of Architects and
Consulting Engineers with projects across
the Middle East and Africa.
As Head of the Electrical Department of
Dar Al-Handasah, Tom’s experience of the
Kingsway Mersey Tunnel was invaluable
Thomas John Simmonite CEng MIET
in designing mechanical and electrical
systems for Hadjj, Haram and Inner Ring
Road Tunnels in Mecca. In 1984, Tom joined
the Liverpool office of Mott McDonald, where
he worked until his retirement in 1992.
Tom was a consummate professional
and a real gentleman who made time for
everyone; he will be sadly missed.
Obituary provided by Philip Green MIET.
For a full list of obituaries visit www.theiet.org/obituaries
Free support, guidance and
information for IET members
and their families.
Legal advice
Employment
Health & wellbeing
Carers
Education
Financial assistance
Contact us today
Call: 020 7344 5498
09.00 – 17.00 UK time, Monday – Friday
Email: [email protected]
ietconnect.org/mn
@ietconnect
IET Connect, The Institution of Engineering and Technology Benevolent Fund a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England. Registration No. 00441284. Registered charity No. 208925.
Registered office: Napier House, 24 High Holborn, London WC1V 6AZ, United Kingdom.
31
EngineeringLive
Live
Engineering
IET Colloquium on
Millimetre-wave and Terahertz
Engineering & Technology 2016
Call for Presentations:
The 4th Colloquium on Antennas,
Wireless and Electromagnetics
31 March 2016, London, UK
26 May 2016, Glasgow, UK
Organised by the IET RF and
Microwave Network
New Challenges in Tribology
5 April 2016, Birmingham, UK
Organised by the
IET Tribology Network
Big Data – large-scale
behavioural data analysis for
mobile consumer healthcare
11 April 2016, Worcester, UK
Organised by the IET Hereford
and Worcester Network
SSCS 2016:
11th International
Conference on
System Safety and
Cyber Security
Call for Papers deadline: 15 April 2016
Present your latest research at the only conference
in the UK where both safety and security
engineers can meet, network and share best
practice between the two disciplines. Taking part
as an author brings you a wider audience for your
work, the chance to extend your industry contacts
and publication benefits including submission to
IET Inspec and IEEE Xplore.
www.theiet.org/sscs
Symposium on Cost
Management for Mega Projects
6 May 2016, Cordis, Hong Kong
Organised by the IET Antennas
and Propagation Network
CIRED Workshop:
Electrical networks
for society
and people
14-15 June 2016,
Helsinki, Finland
The internationally renowned CIRED Workshop
returns this year to give members of the electrical
community the opportunity to come together to
share their wealth of knowledge and network with
prestigious international businesses.
Keynote speakers are now confirmed from EDP
Distribuição (EDPD), Power Delivery & Utilization
and Østkraft Holding A/S and registration is open
so book now to get the Early Bird rate.
12-13 May 2016, Brussels, Belgium
Organised by the
IET Railway Network
Antenna
Engineering in the
Era of Big Data
This year’s winner of
the IET A F Harvey
Engineering Research
Prize, Professor Yang
Hao, comes to Savoy
Place to give this year’s
Prize Lecture.
IET.tv invites you to watch live as
Professor Hao speaks about his ‘Tailoring
Microwave Antennas using Smart Materials
via Transformation Optics’ research, and
how it is developing a new generation
of antennae.
https://tv.theiet.org/?videoid=7990
www.cired2016-workshop.org
Some of our greatest
challenges may already
have an answer… Help us
find them
RSCS 2016: Railway
Signalling and
Control Systems
Working together in partnership to
recognise, reward and encourage the
successful transfer of innovative practices,
processes, skills and technology between
parallel sectors, the IET & Motorsport
Industry Association have launched their
collaborative Horizontal Innovation initiative.
Visit IET.tv to see some examples of
successful horizontal innovation and
the highlights from the launch event.
20-23 June 2016,
Derby, UK
Currently in its 25th year, this professional
development course offers railway engineers the
opportunity to learn more about Signalling and
Control Systems from more than 20+ industry
experts across 4 days. Useful to anyone moving
into train control engineering, both for graduate
engineers and more experienced engineers looking
to expand on their existing experience. Early bird
and group booking discounts available!
www.theiet.org/rscs
Organised by the IET Hong Kong Network
International Conference on
Railway Engineering 2016
(ICRE)
highlights
Key:
Sector:
https://tv.theiet.org/?series=19
PEMD 2016
IET.tv brings you all the conference content
from the 8th IET International Conference on
Power Electronics, Machines and Drives.
Catch up on the latest work from hundreds
of power electronics, machines and drives
specialists from around the world.
https://tv.theiet.org/?event=3571
Built Environment
IET.TV:
Live Streamed on IET.tv
Energy
On Demand at IET.tv
Design and Production
Information and Communications
Transport
For a complete list of events from
the IET please visit:
www.theiet.org/events
The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) is working to engineer a better world. We inspire, inform and influence the global engineering community, supporting technology innovation to meet the needs of society.
The Institution of Engineering and Technology is registered as a Charity in England and Wales (No. 211014) and Scotland (No. SCO38698).
4494 - IET - E&T Spring Event Listing_AW.indd 1
www.theiet.org/events
10/02/2016 12:04
IET Offices
New Jersey
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Edison NJ 08837
USA
T: +1 (732) 321 5575
F: +1 (732) 321 5702
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T: +44 (0)20 7344 5479
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T: +44 (0)141 566 1871
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T: +91 80 4089 2222
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Hong Kong
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Central
Hong Kong
T: +852 2521 2140
F: +852 2778 1711
@TheIET
www.theiet.org
The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) is working to engineer a better world. We inspire, inform and influence the global engineering community, supporting
technology innovation to meet the needs of society. The Institution of Engineering and Technology is registered as a Charity in England and Wales (No. 211014) and Scotland
(No. SCO38698).

Member News issue 41

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