George Williams

On 27 June, I had the opportunity to visit Bletchley Park. It was a bright, warm afternoon, and a small group of twelve of us made our way individually to this unassuming Buckinghamshire estate, a place that quietly reshaped the…

Britain’s railway network is in the middle of one of the most significant transformations in its history. As passenger demand evolves and infrastructure ages, the industry is being asked to deliver a safer, more reliable, and more flexible railway. At…

When people talk about the history of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the story usually begins in 1871 with the formation of the Society of Telegraph Engineers, followed by familiar milestones, mergers, and global growth. These narratives are important,…

The future of space operations will not be defined by launch vehicles alone. It will be shaped by what happens after spacecraft reach orbit. At the 2025 In-Space Assembly and Manufacturing (ISAM) Conference in Belfast, one capability emerged repeatedly as…

As global focus on climate action intensifies, aviation finds itself under sustained and growing scrutiny. Few sectors face such a difficult balancing act: enabling global connectivity while significantly reducing environmental impact. A recent webinar hosted by the IET’s Aerospace Technical…

The UK has a long and well-earned reputation for innovation. From the industrial revolution through to modern advances in digital technology, British ideas have shaped industries far beyond its borders. Today, that same inventive spirit is visible in the country’s…

On 12 August 1981, IBM released a machine that didn’t look revolutionary. The IBM 5150 Personal Computer arrived without spectacle, without bold consumer branding, and without claims of redefining the future. Yet few decisions in modern engineering history have had…

Electric vehicles are often framed as a transport story. In reality, they represent a much broader shift that sits right at the intersection of energy, infrastructure, regulation, and skills. As EV adoption accelerates across the UK, the demands placed on…

That deceptively simple question — “Are you really an engineer if you can’t fix my washing machine?” — has a habit of sticking with people. It was first put to me by my mother when I was still at secondary…

On 12 August 2025, the IET Auckland Network returned to Waikowhai Intermediate School to deliver its second annual Project X electronics workshop. While the programme itself ran for just one day, its impact reached far beyond the classroom, offering students…