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This week (6th and 7th March) sees the IMechE host its fourth hydrogen economy conference in London. The international event will focus on infrastructure challenges as well as the storage and management of hydrogen as part of a wider ‘green energy’ supply.
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Given the UK Government’s ambition for a decarbonised power sector by 2050, which will see the share of renewables in our generation mix increase significantly, a stable supply from these somewhat variable energy sources, will become ever more important. The UK will therefore need substantial investment in its energy infrastructure to ensure that energy can be efficiently stored for days, months even years at a time.
Engineers across the globe are looking at a range of technologies which incorporate not just hydrogen but compressed air, molten salts, and synthetic fuels to determine how energy could be stored in different forms, or for different durations, ensuring that our energy requirements remain affordable, secure and stable while delivering on crucial emissions reductions.
Home 3-phase battery storage installation - H Hudson & Imp Electrical
In this month’s episode Helen talks with Professor Tony Roskilly Chair of Energy Systems at Durham University about the future of energy supply decarbonisation and what engineers are doing to address the challenges of energy storage, management and infrastructure of clean energy sources.
Professor Roskilly has over 30 years experience in the design, control, and operational optimisation of energy systems and energy management, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology. He sits on the UK Government’s Hydrogen Advisory Council Research and Innovation Working Group,and is a Member of DfT Multi-Model Hydrogen Transport Hub Board.
Tony is also a Co-Director of the Durham Energy Institute, leading on Industrial and Internationalisation Strategy, and is the UK representative for the European Energy Research Alliance’s Joint Programmes for Energy Efficiency in Industrial Processes and Energy Systems Integration.
If that didn’t fill all of Tony’s time he also leads the UK hydrogen fuelled transportation network and is responsible for a large team at Durham University which leads national research on the decarbonisation of heating and cooling, focusing on the utilisation of solar, thermal and geothermal energy, thermal energy recovery, storage and utilisation and energy systems integration.
Unsplash free image
Useful Links
Prof. Tony Roskilly
Net-Zero Research Network
Making Waves: The Future of Shipping
Durham Energy Institute
We would love to hear your thoughts and comments on this episode. If you would like to get in touch, email us at [email protected]
You can find more information about the work of the IMechE at www.imeche.org
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The ever-present challenges of climate change, over-reliance on limited resources and a global demand for new technologies, is pushing the engineering community to find more innovative ways to design and manufacture products.
Image Source: UK Metamaterials Network https://metamaterials.network/what-are-metamaterials/
Engineers and scientists working in the materials science sector have been exploring the properties of everyday materials such as metals, plastics and glass for centuries, to identify new properties and behaviours which might enable us to conserve the world’s finite resources.
In this episode Helen talks with three leading experts in the field of Metamaterials - engineered materials that have unique 3-dimensional structures, which cause them to behave in ways not found in nature.
Image Source:Exeter University Centre for Metamaterial Research and Innovation https://www.exeter.ac.uk/research/groups/physics/emag/themes/mmto/
Their precise shape, geometry, size, orientation and arrangement gives them ‘smart properties’ capable of unconventional shape changes and the ability to manipulate electromagnetic waves: achieving benefits that go beyond what is possible with conventional materials.
With incredible versatility and innate sustainability built directly into their structures, metamaterials have the potential to be used in the electronics, communications, healthcare, aerospace, automotive, and energy sectors.
This episodes guests are:
Dr Claire Dancer - associate professor & reader in Materials Science & metallurgy at WMG – University of Warwick and vice chair of the Metamaterials Network, who is working on ceramic metamaterials and manufacture processes.
Dr Calum Williams – lecturer in Physics at the University of Exeter who is focusing on photonic and optical metamaterials and their surface properties.
Dr Tom Allen - Fellow of the IMechE and senior lecturer in sports technology at the Manchester metropolitan university who is looking at how mechanical metamaterials can change athlete’s performance.
Useful Links
https://metamaterials.network/
https://www.exeter.ac.uk/research/metamaterials/
We would love to hear your thoughts and comments on this episode. If you would like to get in touch, email us at [email protected]
You can find more information about the work of the IMechE at www.imeche.org
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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The implementation of net zero initiatives across the globe is at the forefront of most governments and leadership authorities' strategic policies, none-more-so than China and India; two of the world’s biggest carbon emitters.
South Asia has witnessed a growth in energy demand over the past two decades, increasing by over 50% since 2000. Rising demand has been driven by factors such as an increasing population and growth in the manufacturing sector. In Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka in particular, electricity demand has grown on average by more than 5% annually over the past two decades and is expected to more than double by 2050.
However, approximately two-thirds of the energy use in South Asia is imported and the region is marred with electricity shortages, erratic electricity supply, underinvestment in renewables, and energy access challenges.
Growing populations, burgeoning energy demand, frequent extreme climate events like the recent record-breaking heatwaves in India and Pakistan, and geopolitical shocks like the Ukraine war are all likely to exacerbate these difficulties.
According to the International Energy Agency, rapid GDP growth and electrification of energy services caused China’s electricity demand to grow by 10% in 2021 to a massive 157.65 exajoules. That is faster than its economic growth at 8.4%.
Yet despite the implementation of net zero policies, such as its plan to be net zero by 2060, China is still responsible for around a 1/3 of global carbon dioxide emissions, remaining heavily reliant on coal as an energy source and for manufacturing.
The Middle East too is powered almost exclusively on gas and oil, 77% of power came from gas in 2021, and 18% from oil, and despite its perpetual sunshine it stands out as one of the only regions in the world where solar and wind have yet to establish themselves. Saudi Arabia has published big plans for renewables, but there has been limited demonstrable progress towards those so far. Jordan is the exception, generating 23% of its electricity from wind and solar in 2021.
According to the African Development Bank Group, Africa has an almost unlimited potential of solar capacity (10 TW), abundant hydro (350 GW), wind (110 GW), and geothermal energy sources (15 GW). Yet the investment gap in African renewables is still overwhelming, and fossil fuel companies continue to invest heavily in new fossil fuel exploitation in 48 out of 55 African countries.
With the likes of Sichuan hit by record-breaking high temperatures, unseen in 60 years and water in the region’s rivers dropping to historical lows, what can the engineering community do to effect change across these vast tracts of land?
Helen spoke with three of the Institution’s leading international engineers working in the energy sector, to get their take on energy use and impact in India, China, Africa and the Middle East.
Vijay Raman is a management consultant with over 50 years experience in logistics, transport infrastructure and energy. He has worked predominantly in India and South Asia but his career has taken him all over the world. He is a fellow of the institution, past trustee and international vice president.
Chris Cheung Chief Operating Officer of energy company CLP Holdings Limited in Hong Kong. Chris is responsible for a portfolio of diversified assets including coal, hydro, solar and wind generation in China.
He has over 30 years of experience in the power industry covering maintenance, plant enhancement, technical services and project engineering. Chris is a fellow of the institution and has held international strategy board positions including Hong Kong Branch chair and North East Asia regional chair.
Hassan Ansari is an accomplished business executive with over 37-years experience; delivering engineering projects in Nigeria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia China and Europe.
He is a fellow on the institution, an active member of the Pakistan regional board and Immediate past Chair of the Middle East and Africa region.
Useful Links
China's Renewable Energy
Energy Requirements in India
Africa's Energy needs
We would love to hear your thoughts and comments on this episode. If you would like to get in touch, email us at [email protected]
You can find more information about the work of the IMechE at www.imeche.org
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“Adapting industries to, and preparing them for, a warmer world will be essential for the future successful functioning of societies of all nations.” Said Dr Tim Fox, co author of the IMechE’s latest report on Climate adaption.
The report entitled 'Adapting Industry to Withstand Rising Temperatures and Future Heatwaves' was published in April 2023 and produced in conjunction with the IMechE’s Process Division and a plethora of leading climate change and sustainability experts from across the globe.
While many engineers work on technologies that will help mitigate the climate crisis itself, Authors Dr Fox and IMechE Policy advisor Dr Laura Kent believe that more should be done to prepare industry for future climate change-induced, heat-related impacts. Their work demonstrates how increases in ambient temperatures and more frequent, severe, prolonged heatwaves could have a devastating impact on industry and its workforce.
They outline the urgent need for engineering-related standards and design codes to be based on expectations of future climate rather than past climate, adaptation solutions to be sustainable and result in net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, and strategies to be developed to make workplaces and work practices comfortable and safe.
Helen spoke with Tim and Laura about the climate adaptation report and discussed with them their reasons for bringing together such an international team of experts to advise on its content, what adaption technologies engineers are developing and how, as a leading voice in policy, the IMechE could galvanising political change.
Tim Fox is an internationally recognised expert in climate change mitigation and adaptation with specialist knowledge of clean energy, sustainable cooling, process engineering based industries and sustainable food system. He is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the IMechE andthe immediate past Chair of the Process Industries Division. Tim represents the IMechE on the UK Infrastructure Operators Adaptation Forum and is a member of the Adaptation to Climate Change Group of BSI Committee.
Dr Laura Kent joined the Imeche in June 2022 as a Public Affairs and Policy Advisor. Prior to joining the IMechE, Laura held roles at the Government Office for Science and Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy working on policies and advice to support innovation in the UK. Before starting a career in policy, Laura was a scientist at the National Physical Laboratory.
Useful Links
Adapting Industry to Withstand Rising Temperatures and Future Heatwaves Article
Adapting Industry to Withstand Rising Temperatures and Future Heatwaves Policy Report
'The urgent need for climate adaptation solutions' article
PE Magazine Report on Sustainability
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During the first week of September the Institution hosted Volunteer Week. A back-to-back week of committee meetings and networking, enabling members from all over the world to take part in a wide range of activities.
As a Chair of a Division of the IMechE, this was a great opportunity for Helen to meet up with not just her division members but members from across the Institution. Helen personally always find it a fulfilling and enjoyable time, meeting new members, seeing a few old faces in some cases, ones she had not seen since covid.
Catching up with old friends - Volunteer Week enables international members to share their experiences
Helen decided, as she was going to be there for 2 days, she would take the opportunity to record some interviews for the podcast. Helen spoke with members about why they were there, what they hoped to gain from attending sessions and what got them excited about being a volunteer.
On day 1 of her visit she attended Council. As a divisional chair Helen has an ex-eficcio seat on Council which enables her to represent the over 3000 members who identify as Biomedical Engineers in the Institution. In the last few years, the structure of Council has changed significaly, with a much more streamlined membership.
Council in its simplest form acts as both a sounding board and mirror for the trustees, reflecting the views and ideas of members, to help the Trustee Board make informed decisions on behalf of the whole membership. Its work however, is much more nuanced than that, with small task and finish and sub-groups being formed to ensure every aspect of a topic is analysed and agreed.
To some of you listening that might sound like your worst nightmare; sitting in lots of meetings, it's something we do at work all the time. Of course, it can be laborious at times, but surprisingly it is an excellent forum in which to test your negotiating and management skills, as well as listening abilities, and learning new ways to view opinon, ensuring that everyone has a voice and that a well-reasoned outcome can be agreed upon.
Taking a break - Council Members chat over coffee
Despite the hectic Council agenda, Helen was able to sit down with Council Chair Martin Robinson to ask him about the structure and purpose of Councill and how Council’s decisions flow down to the grassroots members. They also discussed the impact of the newly released strategy and why members should consider getting actively involved in the operational and governance committees at HQ.
Helen spoke with Emil Tschepp, Chair of the Young Members Board. Emil has been actively involved in young engineer’s activities for many years, with various roles on the YMB committee, taking up the position of Chair of the Board just a few months ago. When Helen caught up with him, he was just coming out of his first Council session. She asked Emil, what was the value of having young member representation on Council and what he hoped to achieve as YMB Chair in the coming years.
Sylvain Jamais has been an active volunteer for many years, both at regional level, being Chair of the BmED Cambridge centre and at board level as a Trustee, Vice-Chair of Council and CLC and several strategy sub-groups. During a quick tea break, Helen asked Sylvain what being on Council meant to him and what impact the new strategy would have on the future of the IMechE.
With a short overnight rest, Helen headed back to HQ for Technical Strategy Board. The TSB is one of seven operational boards. Its role is to represent members across their industrial sectors and technical specialisms, which are divided into eighteen divisional boards and groups.
Inclusive Discussion - IMechE IT enables members to dial in and be part of the conversations
TSB's purpose is to develop and support the engineering and technical activities across the Ds and Gs as well as advise the Trustee Board on technical issues facing industry and coordinate strategic development by producing reports and advice to Government authorities through the IMechE’s policy team.
Earlier in the year Helen spoke with the then Chair of TSB Paul Jones about the work TSB had been doing in the development of the Instituion’s strategy document. In June, Paul finished his tenure and James Collinson, past-chair of the railway division, took up the post.
Just before they went into the TSB meeting, Helen caught up with James to ask him why he felt driven to volunteer on the Technical Boards and how the members of TSB engage with the wider membership to ensure they have a voice within the Institution.
Useful Links
If this episode has got you keen to find out more about volunteering within the Institution then check out our web page www.imeche.org/get-involved
You can also find out more about the structure, operation and governance of the Institution at www.imeche.org/about-us
If you would like to speak to a member of staff or ask a question about volunteering then email the Member Engagement Team at [email protected]
We would love to hear your thoughts and comments on this episode. If you would like to get in touch, email us at [email protected]
You can find more information about the work of the IMechE at www.imeche.org
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Impulse to Innovation was back at Formula Student this year to celebrate the competition's 25th Anniversary. The episode went out live on the 20th July and this podcast is an edited version of that live show.
It is great to be back in the race control building overlooking world-famous Silverstone Circuit, home of the British Grand Prix. From our studio we could see the National Pits straight and out across to the Silverstone UTC.
And what an amazing 25 years its been for FS, with over 45,000 students having taken part in the event since its inception. And tens of thousands of hours of design, prototyping, building, testing and competing. Not to mention the time and effort put in by the judges, who are all volunteers, and the staff at IMechE who put on this incredible event each year with new and exciting challenges for the teams.
Helen was joined by a plethora of guests including competitors, judges, FS staff and sponsors and a few special guests along the way. We discussed the legecy of the competition and what potnetial technical challenges the teams might face in the future.
Giles Hartill - 138th President of the IMechE
Ella Barrington - Senior Business Plan Presentation Judge & FS 2008 Alumni
Elliot Hemes - Managing Director IPG-Automotive UK & FS Sponsor
Naomi Rolfe - Senior Projects Executive of Competitions IMechE
Andrew Deakin - Chairman of Formula Student
Lucas & Callum - University of Glasgow Racing & 2022 Overall Winners
Dan Jones - FS Chief Judge, Simulation Racing Series
Sam Reinsel - Education Technical Lead for Student Competitions, Mathworks
Christian Dix - Satellite Communication Systems Engineer, Babcock International & FS 2017/20 Alumni
Gilles Eggenspieler - Worldwide Sales Academic Director, Ansys
Useful Links
https://www.imeche.org/events/formula-student
https://www.youtube.com/@fsimeche
We would love to hear your thoughts and comments on this episode. If you would like to get in touch, email us at [email protected]
You can find more information about the work of the IMechE at www.imeche.org
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The T-level was initially mooted back in 2017 by the British government as a new, unified technical qualification which would replace the BTEC and simplify vocational education routes.
After several years of development, The Department for Education (DfE) launched the t-level in 2020 with the aim of enabling students to directly enter employment on completion of a programme in further education or Sixth Form college.
The unique aspect of the T-levels is that the courses have been developed in collaboration with employers and education providers so that the content meets the needs of industry and prepares students for entry into skilled employment, an apprenticeship or related technical study through further or higher education.
The T-level is a 2-year course which can be taken after GCSEs and is broadly equivalent in size to 3 A Levels. It offers students practical and knowledge-based learning and on-the-job experience through an industry placement of approximately 45 days.
The first 16 have now been launched and all 24 T-levels will be available by 2024. Under the Engineering and Manufacturing T-level there is a choice of 3 courses:
Design and Development for Engineering and ManufacturingMaintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and ManufacturingEngineering, Manufacturing, Processing and ControlTo find out more about what this new vocational training programme would mean for the engineering industry Helen spoke with chartered engineers Lydia Amarquaye, professional development and education policy adviser for the IMechE and Andrew Livesey, consultant, further education lecturer, and author of T-Level Engineering - Technology, Manufacture and Maintenance
Lydia works with key stakeholders outside the IMechE to identify gaps in the education landscape which could help address workforce challenges and equip engineers with the right skills for a successful career. She also works with the Education and Skills strategy Board to develop the Institution’s strategic direction in education.
Andrew is an experienced company director as well as having authored several engineering textbooks. He is passionate about stem education and lectures at Ashford college in Kent. In 2018 his was part of the employer-led panel set up by the government to develop the T-levels in engineering.
In the first half of this episode Helen spoke with Lydia about how the IMechE was working with industry to ensure they understood the value of T-levels. In the second half Andrew talks to Helen about the importance of creating a flexible vocational qualification in engineering for young people and what he hoped the T-level would bring to the workplace.
Useful Links:
What are T-levels
What Students need to know about T-levels
Government info for Employers
C&G info for Employers
We would love to hear your thoughts and comments on this episode. If you would like to get in touch, email us at [email protected]
You can find more information about the work of the IMechE at www.imeche.org
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Leading and managing people, projects, or teams, requires more than a high degree of technical knowledge. Experience and education provide the foundation for success in an engineering manager's role, but it also requires a great deal of foresight and strategic thinking and just like any skill, becoming an effective manager and leader takes time and effort.
With businesses emerging from COVID-19 to a new and rapidly changing professional landscape, it is more critical than ever that companies take a proactive approach in developing and supporting engineering leaders of the future. Remote and hybrid working practices are now routine for many businesses and employees, and organisations can no longer rely on young engineers picking up communication and teamwork skills ‘by osmosis’ in the office environment.
The IMechE’s Essential Management Skills conference has been running for over 20 years and offers three days of workshops, networking, and site visits to equip early-career professionals with the knowledge they need to make the step up in their careers. Helen had the opportunity to attend this year's conference in April, to find out more about the value of leadership training, some 20-odd years since she last went to it.
Before she arrived Helen spoke with Dr Vasileios Samaras, a senior lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Swansea, and a fellow of the IMechE. Vasileios teaches the principles and application of leadership and management to undergraduates and having spent many years in industry before returning to academia, is keen to ensure young engineers are well prepared for the challenges that leadership brings.
Stephen Brown is the chair of the EMS organising committee and got involved having previously attended the conference as a delegate. He found the conference to be extremely insightful and feels that all early careers and recent graduates should take the opportunity to attend.
Emma Wilson is one of the delegates attending the conference from Howden based in Scotland. Helen asked Emma why having the opportunity to learn about leadership early in her career, was so important, and what she hoped to take away with her from the experience.
Maira Bana is Co-Chair of the IMechE’s Construction and Building Services Division and an ambassador for She Can Engineer. She also attended EMS back in 2018. Poppy Harrison is a young engineer; D&I officer for the Greater London region and one of the organising committee members for the EMS 2023/24 conference. Helen spoke to both of them about the conference itself, why it is important from a D&I perspective and how leadership in industry has changed over the last 10 years.
Paul Taylor has been providing training in the IMechE for many years and feels leadership and management skills are a fundamental part of what it means to be an engineer. Helen asked Paul to share his thoughts from a trainer’s point of view.
Jack is a young engineer working at Sellafield and is looking to move into his first leadership role. Helen asked him why his company felt leadership and management skills were valuable to them.
Robin Safas is Programme Development Lead for the IMechE. It’s his job to ensure events such as the EMS run smoothly by supporting the organising committees in developing and planning their events. Robin sees this conference as an investment in the careers of future engineers and a way for companies to empower their workforce.
Robyn Stark, is also a an engineer from Howden. As a recent graduate she felt that she was a long way from being a leader in her career, but she recognised that the skills she was learning would be very useful for building relationships with her colleagues in the future.
David Edmondson, is one of the guest speakers at the conference who has had a varied career in both the military and industry and feel passionate about leadership training and how engineers can learn from best practice in the armed forces.
Useful Links:
IMechE Training - Early Career Development Programme
Details of the Essential Management Skills 2023
PE Magazine Report on Sustainability
We would love to hear your thoughts and comments on this episode. If you would like to get in touch, email us at [email protected]
You can find more information about the work of the IMechE at www.imeche.org
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The idea of 'a machine that thinks' dates back to ancient Greece times, but since the advent of electronic computing and the overwhelming amount of data generated by the human race in the last 50 years, the realisation of intelligent machines that can think like humans has been almost tangible.
In 1950 Alan Turing published his seminal work Computing Machinery and Intelligence. In the paper, Turing proposed to answer the question "Can machines think?" and introduced the Turing Test to determine if a computer could demonstrate the same intelligence as a human.
In 1956 John McCarthy coined the term 'artificial intelligence' at the first-ever AI conference at Dartmouth College saying Artificial intelligence, " …is the science and engineering of making intelligent machines, especially intelligent computer programs. It is related to the similar task of using computers to understand human intelligence, but AI does not have to confine itself to methods that are biologically observable."
Today, there is a great deal of hype surrounding AI systems and intelligent machine development, which is of course to be expected of any new emerging technology. But what exactly is AI and what does it mean for the world of mechanical engineering?
In this I2I podcast special, Helen speaks with Neil Lawrence and Alan King about what AI and machine learning is all about, what their uses will be, and how engineers will benefit from using these systems in their working environments.
Professor Neil Lawrence is the inaugural DeepMind Professor of Machine Learning at the University of Cambridge, Senior AI Fellow at The Alan Turing Institute, and Visiting Professor of Machine Learning, University of Sheffield.
He received his bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Southampton in 1994 and spent his early career as a field engineer on oil rigs in the North Sea. He has been working on machine learning models for over 20 years and recently returned to academia after three years as Director of Machine Learning at Amazon where he worked on deploying machine learning solutions for Prime Air, Alexa and the Amazon supply chain.
Alan King is Head of Global Membership Strategy at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He joined IMechE as a Business Development Executive in 2004 with a background in both engineering and business. His father, both an engineer and joint owner of an engineering firm, introduced Alan to engineering at an early age and he then combined his fascination for the subject with an interest in business at university, studying for a Master's in International Business.
As the Head of Global Membership Strategy, Alan supports the development of IMechE's comprehensive 5-year strategy. Collaborating with organisations worldwide, his team delivers exceptional support to IMechE members while crafting engaging membership marketing content for pivotal campaigns throughout the year.
Alan is now focusing his attention on how Artificial Intelligence could enhance both member services and support staff in their everyday tasks within the IMechE. He also recently wrote a fascinating article for Institution News on the practical applications of AI and Machine Learning in the engineering sector.
Useful Links:
Challenges in Deploying Machine Learning - Case Studies
How AI is Already Changing Engineering and the Role of the Engineer
Understanding Artificial Intelligence
PE Magazine report on Sustainability
We would love to hear your thoughts and comments on this episode. If you would like to get in touch, email us at [email protected]
You can find more information about the work of the IMechE at www.imeche.org
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The UK’s first-ever Hydrogen Strategy was released in 2021 and was revised last year, as part of the Government’s commitment to a green industrial revolution. The strategy lays the foundation for how Government will work with industry to meet its ambition for 10GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030 – the equivalent of replacing natural gas in powering around 3 million UK homes each year, as well as powering transport and businesses, particularly heavy industry. This has the potential of delivering emissions savings equivalent to the carbon captured by 700 million trees.
A UK-wide hydrogen economy could be worth £900 million and create over 9,000 jobs by 2030, with the potential to increase to 100,000 jobs and £13 billion by 2050.
In the coming years hydrogen could play an important role in decarbonising polluting, energy-intensive industries like chemicals, oil refineries, power and heavy transport like shipping, HGV lorries and trains, helping these sectors move away from traditional fossil fuels.
With Government analysis suggesting that 20-35% of the UK’s energy consumption by 2050 could be hydrogen-based, this new energy source could be critical to meet the UK's target of net zero and could help to cut emissions by 78% by 2035.
But is this just a flight of fantasy by the UK Government or a real opportunity for the UK to lead the way in hydrogen technology and production?
To find out more about hydrogen as a fuel source, its application in the aviation industry and what a hydrogen economy looks like, Helen spoke with engineers Tim Podesta & Stephen Phillips.
Tim is a consultant engineer with over 30 years’ experience in the oil, gas, petrochemical and energy industries, focusing on project management, investment analysis and process improvement. Tim’s focus is on the net zero agenda and the potential for a hydrogen economy alongside clean electricity. He is actively involved in the IMechE’s Hydrogen forum which has been set up to look at the long-term implications of hydrogen as an alternative fuel. Tim is a fellow of the Imeche and a committee member of the Institution’s Management Group
Stephen is a sustainable aerostructures lead engineer with Spirit AeroSystems and has been actively involved in working with the Aerospace technology Institute on their FlyZero project to realise zero-carbon emission commercial aviation by 2030. He is a chartered mechanical engineer has recently become the chair of the aerospace division at the IMechE.
Useful Links
If you would like to speak to a member of the Hydrogen Technical Committee or get involved with its work please contact IMechE Enquiries at [email protected]
Engineering Challenges in the Hydrogen Economy 2023...Roundtable interview with six of our conference speakers
UK Hydrogen Strategy
Aerospace Technology Institute FlyZero Project
PE Magazine report on Sustainability
We would love to hear your thoughts and comments on this episode. If you would like to get in touch, email us at [email protected]
You can find more information about the work of the IMechE at www.imeche.org
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Its safe to say that the engineering community has been under a great deal of strain over the last few years, with socio-economic and political upheaval across the global. None-more-so than the manufacturing industry.
Both here in the UK and worldwide, the manufacturing sector is facing a number of urgent challenges which are driving transformational change across the entire industry. The ambition to reach Net Zero, finding reliable access to sustainable resources, and the accelerating pace of emerging technologies and workforce mobility are some of the key issues the industry is having to address.
Manufacturing executives are now not only being held accountable by their shareholders for the company’s bottom line but they are now, more than ever, being scrutinised by the public and policy makers for the adherence to sustainable processes and supply chain management.
Despite all these challenges the manufacturing industry has managed to remain resolute; finding new ways to address sourcing bottlenecks, logistics backlogs and supply chain collapse. By creating resilience in their networks and apply new tools and approaches such as distributed manufacturing, manufacturers are turning critical risks into strategic advantage.
To find out more about the last few years of challenges, Helen spoke with engineers Nigel Pekenc and Professor Kostantinos Salonitis to get their views on emerging transformations and whats next for the manufacturing industry.
Nigel is a Partner in Kearney’s Strategic Operations Practice, based in London. He has advised clients in industries from engineered equipment to healthcare. Nigel has been focused on the reconfiguration of global value chains to meet changing needs as supply and demand shocks continue.
Kostas is Head of the Sustainable Manufacturing Systems Centre and the Deputy Director of Manufacturing at Cranfield University. He is a Fellow of the IMechE and chair of Manufacturing Industries Division. His current research focus is on the sustainability of manufacturing systems and processes, the design and optimization of manufacturing systems, and the use of lean and green approaches for managing manufacturing.
We would love to hear your thoughts and comments on this episode. If you would like to get in touch, email us at [email protected]
You can find more information about the work of the IMechE at www.imeche.org
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Hello and welcome to the new season of Impulse to Innovation.
Believe it or not, as of the end of December 2022 we have produced 30 episodes of the podcast, reaching 98 countries with over 14 ½ thousand downloads. Thank you so much to you, our listeners for continuing to support our show, we really appreciate it.
Don’t forget you can subscribe to the show here on our main site or via any podcast services you use. If you prefer, you can also listen to us on the IMechE’s website via the newly embedded audio link on the home page. We also love hearing from our listeners so don't forget you can email us via [email protected] Let us know what you think of the show, experiences you’d like to share with us or even to give us ideas for things you’d like to hear.
We have some fascinating engineering topics planned for the coming year, including innovations in composite materials, how measurement standards are created and maintained and energy and transport issues. We will be looking at the latest developments in education and skills for engineers, as well as the public perception of our profession.
We will also be sharing some of the policy work the HQ team will be undertaking and the extensive events calendar planned by both the technical divisions and groups as well as across our 16 regions. There's going to be something for everyone.
In this month's episode Helen kicks off with a look at what the year ahead has in store for the IMechE; focusing on the Institution’s up-coming strategy release in May and its 2023 aspirations, as well as the role the Technical Strategy Board plays in ensuring the IMechE’ s members have a platform to share the latest thinking and expertise from its 18 groups and divisions.
Helen's guests are James Partington and Paul Jones.
James is the newly appointed Director of Engineering Policy and Impact and joined the Institution in October last year with the task of ensuring members’ engineering expertise is heard as widely as possible in Government and the broader community.
Paul Jones is a Fellow of the Institution, Past Chair of the Automobile Division and is presently the chair of the Technical Strategy Board, one of 7 operational boards, which provide insight and guidance to the Trustees. Helen spoke with Paul on the podcast this time last year and wanted to catch up with him to get his thoughts on the past year of events and happenings in the divisions and groups, as well as discuss the vital work being carried out by the TSB members in creating a long-term plan to raise the voice of mechanical engineering and generate greater impact in society.
We would love to hear your thoughts and comments on this episode. If you would like to get in touch, email us at [email protected]
You can find more information about the work of the IMechE at www.imeche.org
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Despite the all-consuming mission of the global healthcare sector to ‘do no harm’ and protect society from illness, disease, and death it is, according to NGO ‘Health Care Without Harm’, the fifth largest emitter of global emissions on the planet.
Indeed, healthcare’s climate footprint is estimated to be 4.4% of global net emissions; that’s equivalent to the output from 514 coal fired power stations, making it comparable in significance to the food sector in terms of climate impact. It seems ludicrous to think that the act of caring for those suffering from health conditions brought about by climate change, is partially responsible for their condition in the first place.
It is quite clear then, that the healthcare sector, both clinical and technological, must address their alarming contribution to the climate crisis. A two-pronged approach is needed, one which treats those made ill, injured, or dying from the climate crisis, and the second which drastically reduces its own innate contribution.
Many of the leading global healthcare companies and health service providers are already implementing sweeping changes and here in the UK the National Health Service (NHS) is leading the way. The paradox for the NHS is that while it accounts for around 5% of the country’s carbon emissions it also provides over 7% of the UK’s GDP, buying in goods and services from over 930 suppliers. Recognising its responsibility, In 2020 the NHS became the first national health system in the world to commit to delivering a net zero service by 2040 through its ‘Greener NHS’ initiative.
To achieve this, it will not only have to change the way it cares for patients across the hospital network; by opting to use more sustainable methods of treatment, but it will have to radically transform the way it selects and uses products and services, driving change across its entire supply chain network. The NHS believes that reaching the Paris Climate Change Agreement could see over 5,700 lives saved from improved air quality, 38,000 lives saved from a more physically active population and over 100,000 lives saved from healthier diets, each year.
The NHS and other global healthcare organisations cannot make these changes alone. Engineering will and is playing a significant role in improving care provision and in developing the technology that clinicians use. It is then, engineering that will drive the development and adoption of sustainable and green technology alternatives for the healthcare sector going forward.
In this month's episode Helen speaks to Dr Nick Watts Chief Sustainability Officer of the NHS, who knows just how critical tackling the NHS’ sustainability issues are and what it’s responsibility is to addressing the climate crisis.
Nick is responsible for the NHS’s commitment to deliver a world-class net zero emission health service. He leads the ‘Greener NHS team’ across the UK, which focuses on improving the health of patients and the public through a robust and accelerated response to climate change and broader sustainability agenda.Nick is a medical doctor licensed in Australia and the UK, and has trained in population health and public policy. He is a Member of the Royal College of Physicians’ Faculty of Public Health, and an Honorary Associate Professor of University College London’s Institute for Global Health.
Prior to the National Health Service, Nick worked internationally as the Executive Director of the Lancet Countdown and the Lancet Commission on Health and Climate Change, a collaboration of UN agencies and academic centres across the world. He has also focused on engaging the health profession on the links between public health and climate change, having founded both the Global Climate and Health Alliance and the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change.
Useful Links
Greener NHS
Delivering a ‘Net Zero’ National Health Service
HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS: ELEVATING THE ENGINEERING WORKFORCE
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In the second part of this month’s episode Helen speaks with Ian Clark, managing director of Ian Clark Restoration and Engtech fellow of the institution.
Ian is unreservedly passionate about the restoration and preservation of our historical and technological achievements, and it has been a part of his life for over 40 years. He has worked with the likes of english heritage, the national trust and hundreds of national and international organisations, conserving firearms, statutes, submarines, windmills and everything in between. He has received numerous awards for his work and his advocacy of conversation engineering and has played a leading role as a committee member of the heritage awards.
In part two of this episode on conservation engineering, Ian shares his thoughts on the value and legacy of the heritage awards and some of the ones that have significant meaning to him, why the preservation of buildings such as our own Birdcage Walk is so important and what his hopes are for the future of the heritage industry.
We would love to hear your thoughts and comments on this episode. If you would like to get in touch, email us at [email protected]
You can find more information about the work of the IMechE at www.imeche.org
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Our world is filled with structures, statues and artefacts that humankind has created. Throughout our history, we have utilised different materials, methodologies and technologies to help us innovate and construct ever-more complex objects. It is only in more recent decades that society has recognised the significance of these items and the responsibility it has, to conserve and protect them for posterity.
Across the world, many of these incredible technological and artistic objects have been safeguarded and restored by heritage specialists and artistic conservators, so why would we be talking about preservation and heritage on an engineering podcast?
Well, believe it or not, the protection and recognition of our heritage; particularly those artifacts, locations and landmarks with links to engineering, have been a focus of the IMechE since the mid 1980’s with over 130 of them being celebrated through its Engineering Heritage awards. We can of course consider our own birdcage walk building among these historic places and objects of significance, as it too represents over 120 years of engineering tradition yet is itself in need of significant maintenance to remain a useful part of the imeche’s legacy.
But what exactly is the engineer’s role in conversation? first thoughts bring to mind building conversation; the protection of architectural relics, their structural stability and repair - Like the recent work carried out on Big Ben in london for example and its easy to assume, that this would be the realm of the civil engineer. As it turns out, conservation engineering is a diverse, multidisciplinary profession, drawing, not just on the technical skills of the engineer, but on their creative and innovative talents to understand and protect all manner of objects, from artworks to engines.
In this month’s episode Helen had the opportunity to speak with Ian Clark, managing director of Ian Clark Restoration and Engtech fellow of the Institution. Ian is unreservedly passionate about the restoration and preservation of our historical and technological achievements, and it has been a part of his life for over 40 years. He has worked with the likes of english heritage, the national trust and hundreds of national and international organisations, conserving firearms, statutes, submarines, windmills and everything in between. He has received numerous awards for his work and his advocacy of conversation engineering and has played a leading role as a committee member of the heritage awards.
Ian had so much enthusiasm and so many engaging anecdotes to share, that He and Helen truly lost track of time and so this will be the first I2I two-part episode. In the first segment of the show, Ian talked about the field of conversation engineering, how it came to be part of his life and career and what opportunities there are for engineers looking to join this small community.
We would love to hear your thoughts and comments on this episode. If you would like to get in touch, email us at [email protected]
You can find more information about the work of the IMechE at www.imeche.org
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Throughout this year Helen has attended several of the Institution’s challenge events in which students from across the UK and internationally, come together to compete for some of engineering’s most converted prizes and titles. This month she was able to travel to IMechE HQ and meet up with the teams, judges and sponsors at one of these competitions, the final of the Design Challenge.
The Design Challenge gives first and second year undergraduates a taste of ‘real world’ engineering, challenging them to design, create, present and run a device to a strict technical specifications. The completion is intended to complement their academic studies and has been incorporated into several university degree courses as part of their project modules. The Challenge is open to teams of up to five students. These teams compete in local regional competitions from March to May, leading to a national final for the regional winners hosted at the Institution at the start of the following academic year.
The challenge is made up of four key elements:
The design, build and test of a device to compete with other teamsProduction of a poster to publicise the team’s work - demonstrating the team’s ability to sell their design solutionA short presentation explaining the design and development of the device - demonstrating the team’s verbal abilityA peer review where all students have the chance to vote for the best engineered solution to the problemThis year the students were tasked with building a line launcher, based on those used for RAS systems on naval vessels. Despite the first year teams only having £30 to spend on their design, the quality and level of construction of the devices were way beyond expectations and the competition was extremely close; coming down to a matter of a few points between the teams on the final scores.
Between the presentations and heats Helen chatted to Tim Baker, Chair of the Design Challenge completion. Founder of the Design Challenge and chair of the northeast regional competition David Ball. Bridget Ogwezi Senior Academic Development Manager at ANSYS UK and Ioanna Pierou, Mechanical Design Placement Student, from Red Bull Powertrains Limited and previous competator in the challenge.
Useful Links:
How to enter the Design Challenge
Winners of the 2022 Design Challenge
online courses & software provided by the competition sponsors
We would love to hear your thoughts and comments on this episode. If you would like to get in touch, email us at [email protected]
You can find more information about the work of the IMechE at www.imeche.org
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In this months episode Helen hosted a live show from the Apprentice Automation Challenge, held at the MTC, Coventry.
The Apprentice Automation Challenge provides a brilliant opportunity for talented apprentices to compete in an innovative design and manufacturing challenge to improve an everyday home or garden device.
Organised by the Institution's Manufacturing Industries Division’s Young Members Committee, it engages with teams of apprentice engineers to design, develop and build a fully working system that solves a real-world problem.
All teams submit a report that includes a full design specification, manufacturing instructions, user manual and business case. The Challenge culminates in a live final showcase where teams are able to demonstrate their working prototypes and respond to questions from the judging panel.
This year saw eight teams taking part with technical prototypes varying from plant watering devices to fridge content monitors.
This years overall winners were Team Leonardo SAL for their plastic waste-saving prototype.
Helen interviews the AAC Chair Jason Yearsley, Head Judge Toby Heagerty and Leonardo Team Mentor Chris Sutton during our live show which took place on the 2nd September.
Useful links:
https://www.imeche.org/events/challenges/aac-challenge
https://www.imeche.org/news/news-article/leonardo-team-sal-crowned-winners-of-apprentice-automation-challenge-2022
https://www.the-mtc.org/
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With just five months to the official end of our 175th anniversary it seemed appropriate to take some time to speak with, not just one president, but three!
While the role of President is considered an honorary position as titular head of the Institution, it is the highest accolade any member can achieve. Each of the Institution's Past-Presidents has not only spent many years actively volunteering within the Institution on regional and divisional boards, Council and Trustee Board, but has also made a significant contribution to their specific field of engineering.
IMechE 137th President Phil Peel
Our most prominent past president is of course George Stephenson, father of the railways, but we have had 136 Presidents since George, working in areas such as steam turbine and jet engine design, tribology and materials applications, hydraulic systems and power generation to mention just a few.
Peter Flinn, 136th President, 2021/22
Although they are only in office for one year they are kept extremely busy, not only ensuring the Institution is run effectively through the executive team and that strategic and financial objectives are achieved through our various boards, but they also represent us beyond Birdcage Walk; working closely with Presidents from other PEIs to raise the profile of engineering as well as engaging with politicians and industry leaders to address societal challenges.
Giles Hartill, President-Elect will be our 138th President
You would think then that the chances of getting three of them in a room together were rather low, but we know how to pull strings here at Impulse to Innovation. In today’s episode Helen talks to Presidents past, present and future about how they see the role of IMechE President, why having a strategic plan for the future is so vitally important, our relevance to society in a digital world, if we can ever have any impact on Government policy and why the Institution sees equality, diversity and inclusion as the responsibility of all its members.
Useful Links:
Watch President Phil Peel's Inaugural Speech
Read President Phil Peel's Inaugural Speech
Meet The Institution's Trustee Board
Past Presidents of the Institution - Biographies
We would love to hear your thoughts and comments on this episode. If you would like to get in touch, email us at [email protected]
You can find more information about the work of the IMechE at www.imeche.org
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Ask most people what comes to mind when they think of mechanical engineering, and many will respond with railways and trains.
Our foundations as an institution are indeed firmly built on the traditions of railway engineering, with engineers who saw themselves no longer as civil engineers; building static infrastructure, but as innovators of moving machines, able to cross vast distances at speed, transporting limitless amounts of goods and people.
Our first two Presidents, George and Robert Stephenson are still revered today as the fathers of the railway industry and as we celebrate the institution’s 175th anniversary, we can look back with some pride at the achievements and innovations that continue to be developed across the rail industry today.
Those innovations can of course only take place if we have a new generation of engineers to drive them forward. The education of our future engineering workforce is undeniably woven into the institution’s ethos and mission across all aspects of engineering, and rail continues to play its part in delivering that objective. This passion and enthusiasm for educating the next gen is manifested in the Institution’s railways challenge held for the last 11 years at Stapleford Miniature Railway in Leicestershire.
Planned and delivered by a team of institution volunteers from the railway division, the competition, which brings together teams of international young engineers and apprentices from across the railway sector is, as one would expect, timetabled and executed with the upmost precision, with teams being tested on their technical skills, engineering knowledge and business acumen over three intense and long days.
The competition is friendly, yet fierce as the Grand Champion’s trophy is on show for all to see in the judging tent, making sure that everyone of the competitors plays their part.
It doesn’t matter if you are an ardent train fanatic, a keen enthusiast of engineering outside your own field like me or just a curious spectator, you cant help but get drawn in to the excitement and frustration as the completions days progress. And of course, the whole thing is topped off by a ride along the mile long track with the wind in your face and the clackity clack of the tracks beneath you.
What could be more evocative of our engineering ingenuity?
In this months episode Helen and the HQ AV team headed out to Leicestershire for a live recording of the sights and sounds of the Railway Challenge and spoke with the Challenge’s chair, several of the volunteer judges as well as team members as they prepared their locomotives for the first day of tests.
We wont give any spoilers as to who won, but you can read all about the winners and the teams participating in the link below.
Useful Links:
Aachen Reuschling win Railway Challenge 2022
The Railway Challenge Competition Details
IMechE Railway Division Webpage
We would love to hear your thoughts and comments on this episode. If you would like to get in touch, email us at [email protected]
You can find more information about the work of the IMechE at www.imeche.org
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At the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, engineers devoted their efforts almost entirely to making devices that functioned reliably and profitably, but with little attention to safety. Yet frequent disasters, mainly as a result of the growing use of high-pressure steam, led engineers to question increasing numbers of deaths and to assess problems with the technologies they were developing. Indeed, when Richard Trevithick began experiments with high-pressure steam engines to increase both efficiency and power, James Watt (and his partner Matthew Boulton) petitioned Parliament to pass an act outlawing the use of such engines as a public danger.
The protection of people from harm has increasingly been a focus of many fields of engineering since the nineteenth century. Over time, engineers began to propose design changes and build-in innovations to reduce risk, and thus the industry of safety engineering was born.
Safety engineering deals with accident prevention, reducing the risks associated with human error, and integrating safety benefits in engineered designs. The purpose of safety engineering is to control risk by reducing or completely eliminating it. It also aims to reduce the rate of failures and if failures do occur, that they are not life threatening. This work has led to the development of safety codes and standards governing technology design, including the use of natural gas and electricity, the building and use of steam boilers, and the storage and use of explosives.
Engineering societies and institutions like the IMechE, whose original charters stressed the promotion and facilitation of the profession's work, where, by the mid-twentieth century, beginning to impose safety as a primary moral duty of the engineer.
Today there are many engineers whose work is devoted entirely to the protection of the public and workers from the hazards of technology and natural phenomena such as Fire protection engineering and automobile safety.
Today these engineers often make use of computer models, prototypes, or recreations of situations to assess potential hazards and risks such as crash testing, and consider not only the situation or use of the product but the design processes applied, material reliability, legislation, and human factors.
The intertwining of engineering and safety will undoubtedly intensify in the future in response to constantly rising public expectations and the ubiquitous use of technology in our lives. So how do we make those risks as low as reasonably practicable?
In this months episode Helen discusses why safety and risk play such a key role in engineers’ decision making processes, the need for safety legislation and its impact, and how engineers mitigate risks using ALARP with guest chartered engineer Keith Miller, Technical Safety Consultant and one of the lead authors of the IMechE’s ALARP for Engineers Guide, published in 2021.
Useful Links:
ALARP for Engineers - A Technical Guide
IMechE Webinar on ALARP
"Engineers work in many disciplines but all of them have the ability to affect societal wellbeing to a very significant extent. The privilege of having the skills and knowledge to contribute so much to such important areas of life clearly brings with it the need for wise ethical judgement when exercising that privilege."
Royal Academy of Engineering 2011
With power comes great responsibility, and as engineering professionals we exercise significant power over the decisions we make on behalf of society every day. Just like doctors, Engineers are faced with ethical dilemmas where they can find themselves making life or death decisions.
Engineering ethics is a growing field of study that looks at the moral decision-making that applies to the practice of engineering. The field examines and sets the obligations by engineers to society, to their clients, and to the profession as a whole.
Engineering professionals work to enhance the wellbeing of everyone, and in doing so, they are required to maintain and promote high ethical standards and challenge unethical behaviours.
There are four fundamental principles for ethical behaviour and decision-making outlined by the Royal Academy of Engineering & the Engineering Council which include.
Honesty and integrityRespect for life, law, the environment and public goodAccuracy and rigourLeadership and communicationAs a professional body, The IMechE expects its members to maintain high standards of ethical conduct which requires us to ‘Protect members of the public’, ‘Protect IMechE members’ and ‘Uphold the reputation of the Institution and the wider engineering profession’.
To achieve this we have a ‘Code of Conduct’ which outlines these requirements and to which members are expected to abide by.
In the second segment of this episode, Helen talks with fellow of the IMechE, past Trustee and Council member Matt Garside to get a personal view of the importance of ethics in engineering, why engineers should use their privilege wisely and how engineers will safeguard society in the future.
Useful Links:
RAE Ethics in Practice
RAE Webinar on Ethics in Engineering
Engineering Council Statement of Ethical Principles
We would love to hear your thoughts and comments on this episode. If you would like to get in touch, email us at [email protected]
You can find more information about the work of the IMechE at www.imeche.org
- Visa fler
