#311 Transforming The World, And The Economy — Engineering Matters Awards 2025 Shortlist, Planet, Part 3 Engineering Matters podcast

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On the coast of rural Cumbria, in England’s northeast, a once-secretive nuclear site is transforming its legacy by investing in the engineers of tomorrow. Sellafield, known historically for producing weapons-grade plutonium and nuclear energy, has now begun the 100 year process of decommissioning. At the Sellafield Engineering & Maintenance Centre of Excellence, engineers research and develop new technologies for the nuclear industry and engage with the local community. As the 2025 Community Gold winners at the Engineering Matters Awards, the team at Sellafield has been recognised for their exceptional outreach to local schools, students, and SEND communities, using engineering to inspire and empower the next generation. In this episode, we explore their work, Claire O’Connor, the social impact and community lead and Angela Broggins, work experience lead from the Centre of Excellence, along with Jo Hedley from Branthwaite Academy, explain how their unique, inclusive programmes give students not only technical skills but also the confidence to envision futures in STEM. Whether it’s hands-on robotics with primary pupils, bespoke work experience for neurodiverse students, or creating pathways into apprenticeships and employment, this team is reshaping what access to engineering education can look like. Listeners will learn how the Sellafield Centre of Excellence has shifted the narrative around nuclear engineering, from secrecy to openness, from decommissioning to development. We uncover how strategic, long-term community engagement can spark real change, and how tailored learning has already helped hundreds of young people find their place in the engineering world. The post #327 Nuclear Engineering for School Children – Engineering Matters Awards 2025 first appeared on Engineering Matters .…

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#326 Revisited: The Green, Green, Shores of Home 36:37

8 days ago36:37

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The past months have seen a shift in international trade, of a scale not seen for decades. New US tariffs have created uncertainty for investors, and promise to spark a global trade war. While these new challenges to cross-border trade are unique, recent years have seen another shift in industrial policy, particularly in the UK, with leaders on both sides of the political divide emphasising a pro-growth, abundance agenda. With such pressures on existing supply chains, and renewed attention to growth and productivity, can manufacturers still aim for decarbonisation? In this episode, first aired in March 2023, we present an idea that promises to boost growth, while meeting climate goals and protecting local supply chains. Sam Turner, Net Zero champion for the UK’s High Value Manufacturing Catapult , proposes a new approach: not offshoring, but ‘greenshoring’ . The strategy would see countries competing not just on their ability to supply cheap labour and materials, but on their ability to reduce carbon emissions and other environmental harms. It’s an approach that has been adopted by Frog Bikes, a manufacturer based in the UK’s Bike Valley, a regional cluster of businesses that aims to develop bicycle manufacturing in the country. But the company has struggled to find the data it needs to prove its ability to compete in terms of carbon costs. Doing this will require the development of new carbon accounting tools , and of standards that allow them to be validated. Guests Katherine Bennett, CEO, High Value Manufacturing Catapult Sam Turner, Net Zero champion, High Value Manufacturing Catapult Russ Hall, chief engineer, Net Zero, High Value Manufacturing Catapult Shelley Lawson, director, Frog Bikes Jerry Lawson, chief frog, Frog Bikes The post #326 Revisited: The Green, Green, Shores of Home first appeared on Engineering Matters .…

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#325 Real world sustainability and the digital revolution 33:58

15 days ago33:58

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The rise of AI and machine learning promises a revolution in how we live and work. Expert reasoning and mundane tasks will be completed for us in the cloud. But the cloud is not ethereal or abstract. It is a globe spanning mass of physical infrastructure. Enabling this transformation will demand a huge expansion in data centre construction. Data centres house the processing and computing power that the world relies on. Investors have pledged trillions for their construction. But their costs are environmental, as well as financial. From energy, to water, to materials, data centres require a lot of resources to build and operate. By 2030 the IEA (International Energy Agency) estimates that worldwide data centres will consume 1,000 terrawatt hours of electricity. Today an average data centre uses 300,000 litres of water a day. However sustainability in the industry is improving. In this episode, Josh Parker, head of sustainability for Nvidia, explains how improvements in chip design and accelerated computing have led to massive gains in efficiency over the last ten years, doing the same AI workload uses 100,000x less power. Sustainability gains go beyond operational energy use. As Professor Deborah Andrews highlights, e-waste and water usage are key issues the industry must address. And, as Damien Dumestier explains, the scale of this new sector will, perhaps, push innovation all the way into space. In this episode we explore what the industry is doing to become more sustainable, from improving energy efficiency, building data centres in novel and remote locations and by using AI itself to improve sustainability across industries. Guests Professor Deborah Andrews, professor of Design for Sustainability and Circularity, London South Bank University Josh Parker, head of sustainability, Nvidia Damien Dumestier, head of the ASCEND feasibility study, Thales Alenia Space Resources IEA 2025 Energy and AI report The post #325 Real world sustainability and the digital revolution first appeared on Engineering Matters .…

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#324 A Shift of Power on Europe’s Borders 48:11

22 days ago48:11

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This February, with the flick of a switch, there was a vast shift of power on Europe’s borders. The Baltic states’ electrical grids, built in the 1960s while these countries were forcibly incorporated into the Soviet Union, had been under the control of Moscow. In one weekend, the transmission system operators in Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, working with partners in Poland and across continental Europe, disconnected from Russia, and synchronised their systems with those of their neighbours to the West. While the switchover took only a weekend of testing, and synchronisation occurred in an instant, the project was decades in the making. For the Baltic nations, the threat of Russian aggression had been clear as early as 2007, when Estonian institutions suffered a massive cyber attack. But securing the political and financial support of their neighbours would take careful diplomacy. The €1.6bn project would also require the deployment of cutting edge grid systems. These included synchronous condensers, needed to add inertia to grids as they move towards widespread use of renewable energy; new connections with the continental European grid; and investments in new high voltage lines and battery storage. In this episode, three of the leaders of this project, from Lithuania, Estonia, and Poland, share how they made the case for this investment in European energy security, and the work needed to upgrade grid systems across the region. They describe the excitement of the moment when synchronisation occurred, and the benefits to countries across Europe of a grid system that is secure and ready for the energy transition. Guests Hannes Kont, director of the synchronisation programme, Elering Donatas Matelionis, head of power systems operations, LitGrid Remigiusz Warzywoda, deputy director, international cooperation, PSE Photo A new pylon in Estonia, part of the upgrade necessary for synchronisation. Courtesy of Tönu Tunnel The post #324 A Shift of Power on Europe’s Borders first appeared on Engineering Matters .…

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#323 Engineers Deliver Impact: The Engineering Matters Awards 2025 41:10

29 days ago41:10

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Engineers from around the world gathered at the Postal Museum in London for the Engineering Matters Awards 2025, presented in partnership with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, IMechE, and Engineers Without Borders UK, EWB UK. In this episode, we introduce the award gold champions. In episodes to come, we will look in more detail at each winning entry. The awards celebrate the impact that engineers have on people and the planet. This year, Gold Champion trophies were awarded to adi Group, ABB, Fido, Keltbray, the Lightyear Foundation, National Highways, Red Pitaya, Rolls Royce, and Sellafield Centre of Engineering Excellence. The Engineering Matters Awards will return in 2026, with entries opening soon. Guests Mateja Lampe, CEO, Red Pitaya Matt Lamb, Senior Design Engineer, Hiperenergy, Keltbray Melissa Giusti, Principal Innovation Advisor, National Highways Thomas Huggenberger, Product Manager, ABB Fabiana Cavalcante, Global Head of Mobile E-Power, ABB Victoria Edwards, CEO, Fido Katie Jarman, Assistant Chief Engineer, Rolls-Royce Novel Nuclear Alan Lusty, Founder/CEO, adi Group Emma Zeale, STEM Outreach Programme Manager, The Lightyear Foundation Rosie Mellors, Community Manager, The Lightyear Foundation Angela Groggins, Work Experience Lead, Sellafield Centre of Excellence Claire O’Connor, Social Impact Community Lead, Sellafield Centre of Excellence The post #323 Engineers Deliver Impact: The Engineering Matters Awards 2025 first appeared on Engineering Matters .…

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#322 Engineering Ecosystems: Italy’s Seagrass Meadows 32:16

5 weeks ago32:16

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Seagrass meadows are the engineers of the marine ecosystem. They provide habitats, support biodiversity, prevent coastal erosion and sequester carbon dioxide. For this reason Italy has embarked upon a world leading project to map these coastal ecosystems at a national scale, enabling it to plan protection and restoration measures that will improve ocean health and meet legislative targets. This is only possible thanks to recent advances in coastal mapping technology and the sophisticated integration of state of the art data collected by a range of sources from satellite sensors, lidar and multibeam echosounders to hyperspectral cameras on autonomous underwater vessels. Guests Dr Hannah Brocke, co-founder and chief strategy officer, PlanBlue Benoit Cajelot, regional manager climate and nature, Europe and Africa, Fugro Professor Francesco Cinelli, Professor of Marine Ecology at University of Pisa Dr Knut Hartmann, chief operating officer EOMAP , a Fugro company. Featuring Giordano Giorgi, project director, Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) Resources Mapping Italy’s seagrass for biodiversity gain by Planet Beyond Partner Fugro is the world’s leading geo-data specialist, collecting and analysing comprehensive information about the Earth and the structures built upon it. Through integrated data acquisition, analysis and advice, Fugro unlocks insights from geo-data to help clients design, build and operate their assets in a safe, sustainable and efficient manner. The post #322 Engineering Ecosystems: Italy’s Seagrass Meadows first appeared on Engineering Matters .…

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#321 Circular Construction – Designing for Disassembly 20:39

6 weeks ago20:39

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We can reuse and retrofit buildings to extend their lifespans, and reduce their embodied carbon impact. But some structures may not be suitable for full reuse: some will have reached the end of their safe life; others will have no viable reuse; and some retrofit projects may require partial dismantling to reduce loadings on the original structure. But demolition or disassembly does not need to mark the end of the life of building materials. With care and planning, these can be dismantled and used anew. Around the UK, we see centuries old pubs and homes built using recovered timbers, from ships and structures. But this is just a starting point for materials reuse. In this episode, a follow-up to episode 315 Renewing the world, without costing the planet , we learn why architects and engineers should plan for materials reuse, from design through to demolition or disassembly. We examine how different materials can be reused. And we look at the development of trading platforms that enable the use of reclaimed materials at scale. Guests Will Arnold, head of climate action, IStructE Prof. Katherine Cashell, Department of Civil, Environmental & Geomatic Engineering (CEGE), University College London Mike Davies, co-founder/director, SD Engineers Image credit Installing a Re:Crete bridge in Wallis, Switzerland, courtesy of EPFL , under CC-BY The post #321 Circular Construction – Designing for Disassembly first appeared on Engineering Matters .…

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#320 International Year of Quantum: 100 Years of Quantum Mechanics 35:34

7 weeks ago35:34

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Quantum mechanics has transformed our understanding of reality, but how did we get here? In this episode, we celebrate the International Year of Quantum, marking 100 years since the birth of this groundbreaking field. From the fierce debates between Einstein and Bohr to the mind-bending implications of superposition and entanglement, we explore how quantum mechanics has reshaped modern science and technology. Dr. Paul Cadden-Zimansky, Associate Professor of Physics at Bard College, a physicist and science communicator, untangles the complicated history and science behind quantum mechanics. With years of experience bridging complex scientific ideas and public understanding, Paul takes us on a journey through the milestones and debates that defined quantum theory in the early years of its development. The episode explores how quantum mechanics emerged from early 20th-century experiments, the heated philosophical battles that shaped its interpretation, and why its implications continue to challenge our understanding of reality. Paul explains how quantum mechanics has shaped groundbreaking technologies throughout the 20th and early 21st century. We learn how quantum theory is fuelling today’s cutting-edge technologies, from quantum computing to secure communications. Guests Paul Cadden-Zimansky The post #320 International Year of Quantum: 100 Years of Quantum Mechanics first appeared on Engineering Matters .…

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#319 Revisited: Green Engineering, with Bison 23:31

8 weeks ago23:31

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Britain’s biodiversity has been declining sharply over the last 50 years. The country is now one of the most nature-depleted nations in the world. Despite legislation and efforts to stem the tide of wildlife population decline, little has helped. In February 2025, the UK government announced a new approach to reintroductions of beavers in England. The animals’ dam-building helps maintain wetlands and dissipate floods. But they are not nature’s only green engineers. Looming above the charming rodents are bison, whose grazing can help maintain biodiverse woodlands. In this episode, originally aired in 2023, we look at a project to make use of this behaviour. Some Wildlife Trusts and organisations now support a more nature based approach to wildlife and land management. Rewilding is the process of helping nature return to its natural state and one of the best ways of doing that is by letting big animals do the job of wildlife managers. In Kent, in the Summer of 2022, a family of European Bison, the first to roam wildly in the UK for thousands of years, were released into the Blean Woods. The hope is as they move through the woods, they will interact with the environment around them creating better, more livable habitats for the entire ecosystem. It’s also not just Bison, across the UK species that once lived here are being returned to see if they can play a role in managing and improving this island’s depleted wildlife. Guests Paul Hadaway. Kent Wildlife Trust Sara King, Rewilding Manager, Rewilding Britain Resources For more on the Bison reintroduction project, click here For more on Rewilding Britain, click here 2025 Defra Guidance on wild release and management of beavers in England The post #319 Revisited: Green Engineering, with Bison first appeared on Engineering Matters .…

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#318 Gaming Out a Career in Nuclear 33:56

9 weeks ago33:56

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At a unique hackathon in Manchester, a diverse group of hackers, coders, and gamers gathered to design digital solutions for the nuclear industry, blending innovation, teamwork, and pressure-driven problem-solving. The event, called HackAFuture, served as a groundbreaking careers initiative, offering the winning team not just bragging rights, but jobs with AtkinsRéalis developing their solution. This was the brainchild of Darren Grears, Director, Head of Digital, Nuclear & Power EMEA at AtkinsRéalis and Sam Stephens, Head of Digital, Nuclear, at AtkinsRéalis. They share insights into what made them want to set up the HackAFuture event and why digital and gaming skills are required in the nuclear industry. This episode travels through the 24 hours of the hack, from the kick off, to the winner being announced. With insights from judges, organisers and competitors on the HackAFuture event, it gives a glimpse of the future of the nuclear industry. Guests Darren Grears, Director, Head of Digital, Nuclear & Power EMEA, AtkinsRéalis Sam Stephens, Head of Digital, Nuclear, AtkinsRéalis Candice Long, Digital Solutions Wngineer, AtkinsRéalis Alexandra Hussenot, Chief Revenue Officer, Igloo Vision Partner AtkinsRéalis is a world-leading professional services and project management company dedicated to engineering a better future for our planet and its people. Employing over 37,000 people across Canada, the US and Latin America, the UK and Ireland, and Asia, the Middle East, and Australia, AtkinsRéalis creates sustainable solutions that connect people, data and technology to transform the world’s infrastructure and energy systems. The post #318 Gaming Out a Career in Nuclear first appeared on Engineering Matters .…

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#317 Human Factors, Human Error, and Safety by Design 28:38

10 weeks ago28:38

28:38

When we search for causes of accidents, we often assume a binary: either mechanical failure, or human error, were to blame, and we must pick between them. But labelling an accident as caused by human error doesn’t teach us anything. It makes no effort to understand what caused people to make the decisions they did.... The post #317 Human Factors, Human Error, and Safety by Design first appeared on Engineering Matters .…

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#316 What Can AI Engineers Learn From Medical Professionals? 43:29

11 weeks ago43:29

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AI is evolving so fast it eludes definition. The potential impact of the field is barely understood, even by those working in it. ‘Move-fast-and-break-things’ practitioners are deploying AI systems in autonomous vehicles, in courts, in medical diagnosis, and now even at the heart of the US federal government. Few of the constraints that govern individual... The post #316 What Can AI Engineers Learn From Medical Professionals? first appeared on Engineering Matters .…

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#315 Renewing the World, Without Costing the Planet 43:23

12 weeks ago43:23

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How should engineers think about their duty to design safe structures? For IStructE’s head of climate action Will Arnold, this duty extends beyond the structure, to the safety of everyone on the planet. With renewable energy cutting operational carbon emissions, the majority of the engineering sector’s impact on climate change now comes from embodied carbon.... The post #315 Renewing the World, Without Costing the Planet first appeared on Engineering Matters .…

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#314 Remote Operations, To the Moon and Back 44:54

13 weeks ago44:54

44:54

Ten years ago, Fugro set out on an ambitious mission: to bring expert staff off of vessels, and into a purpose built remote operations centre, or ROC. The first of these ROCs, in Houston, now allows specialist staff to work on multiple projects at once, giving customers the real time data and analysis they need... The post #314 Remote Operations, To the Moon and Back first appeared on Engineering Matters .…

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#313 Introducing: Mapping Italy’s Seagrass for Biodiversity Gain, from Planet Beyond 40:09

14 weeks ago40:09