IES is a multi-disciplinary engineering body, founded in Scotland in 1857, that provides a forum in which individuals from all engineering and related disciplines can discuss and exchange information, generate ideas and encourage young engineers. IES works with kindred bodies to promote a wider understanding of the role of the professional engineer in society.
Have you thought about joining?
Have a look at our 2025-2026 programme!
Our next lecture will be on Tuesday 28th Oct - a fascinating look at Carnot batteries.......could they be the answer to the problem of energy storage?
IES Events
-
IES - Let's talk about hydrogen - Hydrogen for the Net Zero Energy Trilemma
9th December 2025 6:30 pm -
IMarEST and IES - Sustainable Marine Propulsion with Next Generation Fuels
13th January 2026 6:30 pm
Other Institutions’ Events
-
IET - Heating Systems for Fusion Machines
12th November 2025 12:00 pm -
IChemE - Managing Climate Risk and Adaptation Using High-Resolution Modelling
13th November 2025 12:00 pm
Opinion
The North Sea’s carbon-advantaged barrel: decoding the “50% more” claim
07 November 2025
The UK’s North Sea debate often swings between absolutes—“expand” vs “shut it down.” A better lens is substitution. The question is not whether the UK will use gas during the transition (it will), but whether the molecules it uses arrive via low-emission supply chains—or via the highest-emission paths on the planet. Recent modelling suggests the UK can raise commercially recoverable reserves by roughly half and remain inside stringent climate pathways—if that extra output displaces higher-emission imports and keeps cutting its own operational footprint
Featured Event
9th December 2025 6:30 pm
IES - Let's talk about hydrogen - Hydrogen for the Net Zero Energy Trilemma
Joint lecture with RINA
The Energy Trilemma highlights the often-competing challenges with cost of energy, security of energy supply, and adverse environmental impacts from energy production and use. The switch from use of…
-
Engineering meets espresso: robot barista launched at Strathclyde
11 November 2025 -
Secret new tours offer behind-the-scenes access
08 November 2025 -
The North Sea’s carbon-advantaged barrel: decoding the “50% more” claim
07 November 2025
Publication of the Month
Great ships, solitary waves, and solitons
John Mellis
John Scott Russell was one of the foremost naval architects of his time. Born near Glasgow in 1808, he became a noted and popular lecturer, before moving away from academia to focus on industrial engineering. Among his many achievements, two stand out. First, the design and construction of the SS Great Eastern in collaboration with Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Second, the discovery and study of a strange wave phenomenon he acutely observed on the Union Canal near Edinburgh. Scott Russell’s ‘Wave of Translation’, now known as Solitary Waves or solitons, turned out to have significance and application in many fields, including optical telecommunications.
