» Issue 2: Spring 2005

Engineering in the information age

The banqueting room of the 14th century Saddlers’ Hall was at capacity on 3 March when members, guests and nearly 40 students gathered for CGCA’s annual dinner. Colleen Richardson reports.

AFTER warmly welcoming everyone, President Barry Brooks said how grateful the CGCA was to the Master of the Worshipful Company of Saddlers, Mr Dyson-Laurie, for allowing members to enjoy the splendour of his hall.

Barry introduced Sir David Brown, Chairman of Motorola Ltd, a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and past-President of the Institution of Electrical Engineers amongst many other high-profile appointments.

Forward move

Sir David talked about how engineers’ understanding of mobility has changed during the 103-years’ life span of our mascot Bo and is changing still.

He went on to tell us that the car is a classic example of engineering vision inspiring profound societal change. Many of a car’s silicon chips are for engine management but many more now support information, communication and entertainment systems. When, 75 years ago, Motorola began, engineers wondered if radios could be installed in cars. Then came mobile phones and texting. In the future, there might well be more communications between ‘things’ than people.

Engineering in the information age is fundamentally interdisciplinary, inclusive and global. ‘Are engineers doing enough to engage society in a discussion of choices that information age engineering could deliver?’ Sir David asked.

‘We must harness it to respond to challenges of poverty, social cohesion and sustainable development as audaciously as we have responded to the challenge of mobility. How better than to begin now with this famous Association, involving itself with this here and now?’

After thanking Sir David, the President presented two awards. First the Holbein Memorial Award, to a ‘sportsman’ in the widest sense, went to Andy Towers. The second award – part of a Peter Moore Memorial – was a tankard to the year’s official Boanerges’ driver. This went to Dan Reader.

Barry introduced the Association’s guests, all of whom reflected the theme of collaborative working with CGCA and with interdisciplinarity – AVM Graham Skinner (Clerk to the Worshipful Company of Engineers), Tim Statham (Secretary to the City &Guild of London Institute), Lady Sue Garden who manages the FCGI awards and Keith Read, DG of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology.

Example institute

He recalled how Keith had set an example to other professional insitututions by reorganising his institute into one that encompasses scientists and technologists as well. This sets an interdisciplinary example for other professional institutions.

From the College, the President welcomed Dr Digby James (President of RCSA), Professor Richard Kitney (Dean of FoE), Richard Martin and Dr Julia King (his boss and Principal of the Faculty of Engineering), and, particularly, the senior officers of the students’ union.

Replying to the toast to the guests, Dr Julia King said how privileged the Faculty was to have two such active alumni associations. She had witnessed this first hand at Chapter board meetings.

She quoted from a letter she’d had from Alexis Biller (COMP 1998). Alexis said that Imperial College students receive increased respect from both employees and their peers. This is in part due to their ability to apply their training to new areas. The courses are also structured to provide firm foundations, building knowledge across a wider span, not just on pillars of specialised knowledge.

Julia also mentioned an interesting letter she had received from Hugh Chare – a mining engineering student from the 70s.

Vision applauded

In his last paragraph he said: As you take the reins of the Faculty, one of your goals will be to graduate engineers, who are not only academic engineers, but who can be readily and usefully employed by the industries that you support and that support you. Having had the most difficult times in the past, of trying to recruit engineers who had an innate curiosity, and who would truly think outside their discipline of education, I applaud your vision of ‘the interdisciplinary bit’. In her view, this echoed Sir David’s theme to educate ‘interdisciplinary engineers’ for today’s challenges. After thanking Dr King for her speech, which emphasised the links we are strengthening between Faculty and Association, and the chant of Boomalaka led by CGCU President John Collins, discussions continued round the bar.