Events in January 2008

IET London, Savoy Place Section

9th January 2008 - Powering the Railway of the Future: A joint debate with the Institute of Railway Operators

Professor Roger Kemp, Lancaster University
Derek Chapman, DfT Head of Rail System
Speaker from IRO (TBA)

Over the last year debate has grown about the merits of electrification of the UK rail system. The visibility of the debate as well as the positions of interested parties changes over time, often linked to external factors. UK electrification systems cover 25kV AC overhead catenary, 750V DC third rail, LUL 4th rail as well as the DLR and other light rail designs including the Parry People Mover. Whilst debate often focuses on 25kV systems, others have also been discussed, for example, infill of the Southern system to Uckfield, Brighton - Hastings not to mention Redhill - Reading. But 750V DC was also proposed for expanding the Merseyrail electric network from Bidston to Wrexham. Yet it was not long ago that a very prominent operator suggested taking down the wires, so unreliable were they proving and freight operators continue to build on a diesel traction policy.

What is the true position today? What do the operators both passenger and freight really want? Is their focus on performance, fuel costs, acceleration or appearing green? What can the engineers provide? Is there a reasonably priced system available that will provide reliability and security of supply and that can be installed cost effectively? Apart from diesel, what are the other realistic options for "self powered" trains? Finally, what is the Governments actual position? Can it be stated clearly and unambiguously so that the industry can plan around it?

These are questions that we hope to address at the joint debate hosted by the IET and IRO(SE).

Roger Kemp is in the Engineering Department at Lancaster University. Until 4 years ago he was UK Technical and Safety Director of Alstom Transport and has worked on a wide range of rail projects including metro systems in Hong Kong and Korea, freight locos in Taiwan and S. Africa, suburban railways in Australia, Brazil and India, Docklands Light Railway and Eurostar. Since joining the University, Professor Kemp has been involved in many studies on energy use of transport systems. He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering as well as the IET and the IMechE.

Derek Chapman is a Chartered Electrical Engineer with a first degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering and an MSc in Biomechanics. The continuous thread in his professional development has been the implementation of vital control systems. He started work in a lung ventilator development laboratory and continued through applications to major moving structures including Tower Bridge and the Thames Barrier to software based systems for fissile material movement in the nuclear industry. An initial exposure to railways as Project Director for the upgrading of the Docklands Light Railway in the early 1990s led to a wider interest in railway systems engineering and involvement in the Thameslink 2000 and West Coast Train Control projects, followed by work for Union Switch to lead the very successful implementation of Automatic Train Control for the Copenhagen Metro. After a two year period working for Vossloh AG. in York, accountable for ! a number of railway operational planning projects in UK and Scandinavia, he left the private sector in early 2004 to join the UK Strategic Rail Authority, taking overall responsibility for the application and implementation of the European Train Management System (ERTMS) in the UK. He now works for the UK Department for Transport leading the team developing a long term Technical Strategy for the UK main line network.

Lecture: Powering the Railway of the Future
Date & Time: 9th January 2008, Networking and refreshments 17:30 - 18:30. Lecture: 18:30 - 20:00
Cost: Free
Venue: The IET, Savoy Place, London, WC2R 0BL
Registration: Registration is free and open to non-members but a requirement for logistical and security purposes. You can register online Register (Opens in a new window)

For more infomation about lectures at Savoy Place go to the Savoy Place Homepage

Top of the page

IET London, Younger Members Section

14th January 2008 - Professional Registration Workshop

Many IET members will pursue their professional registration to become Engineering Technician, Chartered or Incorporated Engineer through the IET. This can be a complicated process and to support you with your registration, the IET is organising this Professional Registration Workshop.

If you intend applying for registration as Engineering Technician, Chartered or Incorporated Engineer in the near future you may be interested in the chance to attend this local event, where you will be able to discuss your case one to one, during a 20 minute meeting with a Professional Registration Advisor. The time slots range from 6.10 to 8.30 and will be filled on a first come first served basis.

Also, During the event information about the IET, the Younger Members, STEMNET and the On-line Career Manager will be provided.

The event will be held on Monday 14 January 2008 at Savoy Place and will be run in the evening.

Please email getregistered@theiet.org, with “Stevenage” in the subject box, and give your name, membership number, time you would like your appointment and your daytime telephone number.

Event: Professional Registration Workshop
Date & Time: 14th January 2008, 18:00
Venue: The IET, Savoy Place, London, WC2R 0BL
For further information on the event please visit: www.ieelym.org.uk

  Top of the page

IET London, Hammersmith Section

15th January 2008 - Serving Those Who Serve - British Forces Broadcasting Today

Talk by Simon Shute BSc CEng FIET - Director of Technology - Services Sound and Vision Corporation

BFBS, the British Forces Broadcasting Service, provides radio and television to British Forces and their families serving overseas.

Simon will describe the service and how it works, covering some of the technical challenges involved in creating the multi-channel digital television and radio services and delivering them to where they are needed, ranging from quarters in Germany and Cyprus, through some far flung (and in some cases hostile) territories to ships of the Royal Navy at sea.

Simon Shute graduated from the University of Nottingham in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and joined the BBC in the Television service as a recording engineer. After some years as a lecturer in the Engineering Training department, which included a period on secondment to the ITU in Kuwait, he moved on to senior positions in the Engineering, Radio and Resources divisions. He joined SSVC in his current role in 2004.

Lecture: British Forces Broadcasting Today
Date & Time: 15th January 2008, Doors open 7:30pm for 8pm talk
Cost: Free
Venue: 'Novotel', One Shortlands, Hammersmith, London W6 8DR
Registration: For us to plan numbers, please register click on the link: Register (Opens in a new window)

For more infomation about lectures at Hammersmith and direction to the new venue go to the Hammersmith Homepage

Top of the page

IET London, Savoy Place Lunch Event

18th January 2008 - Laboratory Instruments in Psychology

Lecture by Prof F.M Caudle PhD, FIET, FRSA. Professor of Psychology, The College of Staten Island, City University of New York, USA.

Lunch & Lecture: Laboratory Instruments in Psychology
Date & Time: 18th January 2008, 12:30 for lunch, lecture starts at 1:45 pm
Time: Lunch at 12.30pm followed by the lecture at approximately 1.45pm.
Venue: The IET, Savoy Place, London, WC2R 0BL.

Laboratory instruments have played a central role in the historical development of scientific psychology. The discovery that mental processes were not instantaneous led to the study of reaction times as a psychological problem. Instruments developed for other disciplines were adapted for psychology laboratories, leaving some instrumental “dinosaurs”. While some instruments were successful and mass produced, others still need an engineering solution. Close collaboration between engineers and psychologists in the design of laboratory instruments will help to ensure psychology's continuing development.

Lunch at a cost of £11.50 each, payable to staff at Savoy Place on the day by cash or credit card, to be booked at least a week in advance with Mike Ward, email: m.r.ward@btinternet.com Phone 020 8508 7116
The lecture is free.

Lunches at Savoy Place are held on the last Friday of each month except July and August ( Bank Holidays etc. permitting).

For more information about lunch lectures at Savoy Place go to http://www.ietlunch.org

Top of the page