GET INVOLVED
If you would like to contribute
Chairman’s
to any discussions write to
Professor Blount, Chairman, at
The Institution of Engineering Designers,
Courtleigh, Westbury Leigh,
Column
Westbury, Wiltshire BA13 3TA or
email gordon@ied.org.uk.
Blowing the Engineers’ trumpet scale is very different to that which exists.
A recent television programme in the However, doing nothing is not an option.
UK featured the 150th anniversary of the
opening of the Tamar railway bridge that Online journal
crosses from Cornwall to Devon. The The online version of Engineering Designer
camera shots showed clearly ‘Engineer IK is about to be launched. This is described
Brunel’ in very large letters on the portals elsewhere in this issue but I hope you will
to the bridge. make good use of it and give us feedback
I was reminded of two occasions on of your views. I have been privileged to
holiday in the Canary Islands earlier this have a preview and found it very easy to
year. A new road tunnel in the town where navigate around and attractively designed.
we stayed had its engineer’s name displayed The ease of keeping it up-to-date will be a
on a sign at its entrance. Also, our hotel was big advantage.
proud to have a marble panel showing its We hope that it will be of particular value
constructor in its lobby. to our members who are based outside
Why has the UK stopped being proud of the UK. It is an example of the desire of
its engineering achievements? Why do other Council to provide additional benefi ts to This hotel proudly
countries celebrate them? What can we do members as they become technically feasible displays the name
about it? There has been a very, very long and available. of its constructor
running whinge from engineers about their
status. I am not normally given to grumbling
but I was quite saddened by these examples.
I would be interested to hear the views of
others, especially our members that live in
other countries.
Climate Change continued
This is the fi nal Chairman’s column that I
shall write. A recurring theme of mine has
been climate change or its consequences
and the responsibilities and opportunities This road tunnel in
that it presents to us as designers. In the Canary Islands
December of this year, the United Nations’ has its engineer’s
Climate Change Conference takes place name, Julio Luengo,
in Copenhagen. So much depends on the displayed at the
outcomes of this event. The delegates will entrance
need considerable negotiating skill, as well
as determination, but the problem is fi ercely Annual General Meeting so many people who are dedicated to the
urgent so the conference has to succeed. This issue should reach you just before the Institution and the profession that it serves.
There is new hope in the acceptance of AGM. We have continued our recent policy It has also been a pleasure to work with the
the reality of climate change by the new of holding it at venues around the country staff at Courtleigh, the Editor of the Journal,
administration in the US. The American that are interesting and easy to get to. This our President and my fellow Councillors.
Secretary of Energy is Steven Chu, a Nobel year it is at Ironbridge. Tours and lunch are I give my thanks to all these people.
prize-winner, who seems determined to already fully booked. Members can still Thank you also to those members who
make up for lost time. attend the AGM. I look forward to seeing have written or emailed me over various
An article about climate change that you there. issues that they wanted to raise. It is such
I read recently asks us to focus on the interaction that makes the Institution alive
dreams, not the nightmares. There are Valediction and well.
solutions and some of us, as designers, As I said earlier, this is my fi nal column as I shall, of course, continue to serve on
are going to be at the forefront of the Chairman because my term of offi ce ends at Council as Immediate Past Chairman and
implementation of these solutions. All of the AGM in July. It has been a great honour look forward to working in that new role.
the solutions present special challenges, to represent the Institution of Engineering G N Blount
either because the technology is new or the Designers. It has been a privilege to meet 2 June 2009
4
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