Opinion

Delivering the 2023 Rankine Lecture, Mark Wild CEng – the former Chief Executive of CrossRail – recently outlined the “key strategic lessons” from the Project. In an otherwise excellent, and entertaining, talk he failed to make reference until asked to two aspects which clearly had a major bearing on the project finishing many years late and more than 25% above budget. One of these aspects was the form of contract adopted.

Let’s start with how the concept of ‘Waste as a Resource’ came about in the early 2000s. Although engineers involved in the industry initially welcomed the publication of the well-known Waste Hierarchy, it soon became apparent to them that it would be very difficult to implement in practice.

Researchers from the University of Glasgow are among the founding members of a new national consortium to guide the development of responsible and trustworthy artificial intelligence.

Researchers at the University of Strathclyde have been working with an energy storage company to improve the efficiency of an innovative battery that could offer reliable, low-cost, low carbon power to homes and businesses in sub-Saharan Africa.

Footprint Tools – one of the leading manufacturers of traditional hand tools in the UK – is at the heart of a research project that could see Sheffield spark a recycling revolution in industrial forging that unlocks a step change in the manufacture of safety critical components for the aerospace, defence and energy sectors using machining waste and state-of-the art linear hammer technology.

More than $2M has been awarded to marine-based research projects at Heriot-Watt University as part of the race to avoid the worst effects of climate change.

Glasgow Science Centre is delighted to announce the installation of floating wetlands in the Canting Basin, part of the old Prince’s Dock, the large, square area of water that flows in from the River Clyde. The addition of floating wetlands further develops the science centre’s bid to enhance the surrounding natural environment, having completed work on the outer area and moat in 2021.

Which governments are tackling overall emissions?

CIC has joined councils, housebuilders, housing associations, charities and planners have called on the government to scrap a key part of its flagship planning reforms, warning its proposals could see a reduction in affordable homes delivered and less money for vital infrastructure.

Understanding AI should be part of teacher training courses and headteachers' leadership qualifications, the professional body for computing has recommended.

In the first official engagement since his coronation, King Charles III has given a speech on the importance of engineering skills in saving the planet from a climate catastrophe. Breaking ground for a new laboratory that aims to speed up the development of net zero aviation and energy, the King visited the new centre at Cambridge University yesterday which aims to bring together experts from research and industry.

Electric remotely operated vehicles (eROVs) that perform maintenance and repair tasks on offshore wind turbines are being developed by the National Robotarium in partnership with Fugro, the world’s leading Geo-data specialist. Deployed from Fugro’s uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), the companies are working closely together to explore how the offshore energy sector can benefit from advancing this autonomous technology.