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And now for the good news about UK apprenticeships
The news that Rolls Royce is planning to increase the number of apprentices it hires shows that the engineering sector still values traditional apprenticeships.
Wind farms, female engineers and Thameslink under the spotlight
The controversy that mires onshore wind continued over the weekend with a number of MPs writing to the PM arguing for a cut in wind farm subsidies.
Mind over matter
Machine-brain interfaces are becoming ever more complex and no longer limited to the basic movement of neuroprosthetics but cognitive functions like language and music.
Scotland's renewables ambition
Aiming to be 100 per cent renewable powered by 2020, Scotland hosts a major offshore wind conference and exhibition this week
Backup plan
A number of promising announcements this week suggest that grid technologies might finally be able to keep pace with the drive for renewable energy.
How to engineer a business, and space for vision
Advice for engineers on how to become entrepreneurs and an in-depth look at how space science is contributing to medical imaging head the list of this week’s events.
Leading the charge
Hopes are on the private sector to fund the roll-out of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the UK. But it may take more than commercial opportunities to be successful.
A week of transport icons
Transport dominates this week’s Briefing, with a lecture on the return of a London icon and a conference addressing barriers that stand in the way of electric vehicles.
Is shale gas all it's 'fracked' up to be?
Cuadrilla is looking to the home counties for shale gas reserves fit for ‘fracking’. But is this energy resource all it’s ‘fracked’ up to be?
Technology takes to the farm
A futuristic farming project in Japan could set out the model for transforming the countryside to meet our growing needs.
Could you be the secret engineer?
We’re looking for a mystery blogger to write a monthly column for The Engineer magazine. Could it be you?
The Engineer's Top 10 Technologies of 2011
It’s time for The Engineer’s roundup of the year’s best technology stories, our pick of the most groundbreaking, influential or exciting developments in engineering over the last 12 months.
Science, engineering and sport: what do we think?
Steve Haake looks back at his first Olympic-themed science lecture of 2012, where the audience was asked their opinions on the morality of technology-based training — and how it compares with illegal performance aids such as doping.
From the track to the air
In a new series of guest blogs from motorsport and composites specialist Lola, commercial director Paul Jackson explains why multi-discipline adaptability is so important for SMEs, and how it is contributing to Lola’s performance.
Flight deck
Aircraft Carrier Alliance guest blogger David Downs visits the UK home of the F35 project at Samlesbury, where the carriers’ main weapon is taking shape
Electric vehicles: a numbers game
The take-up of electric vehicles is slower than anticipated. Guest blogger Peter Young takes a look at why this might be.
Surgery as you’ve never seen it before
Of all the hurdles faced by aid organisations after a major natural catastrophe, performing emergency surgery in the middle of a disasterzone must be amongst the toughest. But, with a bit of ingenuity, humanitarian engineers can help make a real difference, writes RedRMember Paul Jawor.
How your Christmas present might revolutionise sports science
As consumer gadgetry becomes ever more popular, sports science is making increasing use of these sensors and devices. The latest generation of video-game controllers is proving particularly useful, as Steve Haake explains.
Elite swimming and the bodysuit question
Does technology in sport work? Is technology fair? And what happens if you ban it? Prof Steve Haake takes a look at the polyurethane swimming bodysuit, which led to a spate of world records until it was banned in competiton
Designing in a disaster zone
Back-of-envelope, jury-rigged engineering is sometimes the best, and indeed only, option when you’re in the middle of a major humanitarian crisis. What’s important is to keep the needs of the people in mind and make sure solutions are appropriate, says Paul Jawor
Composite performance boosts Bloodhound build
With Bloodhound SSC now well into its build phase, the chassis is starting to come together, and some vital mechanical components are ready for assembly, says chief engineer Mark Chapman
Engineering for earthquakes
The cost of ensuring that structures in earthquake zones are resistant to collapse is low, and the result could save thousands of lives and prevent damage to stricken nations’ economies. Engineers have a responsibility to show leadership and make structural safety an absolute priority, argues Kubilay Hicyilmaz.
Of cranes and catapults
While the Queen Elizabeth starts to come together in dry dock at Rosyth, the team has been visiting the US to look at aircraft launch and recovery systems.
