The IET celebrates its 150th anniversary
To find out more about the IET’s 150th anniversary and the 150 show, please visit: www.theiet.org/150.
Europe’s largest engineers’ body, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), is celebrating its 150th anniversary today (Monday 17 May 2021).
The IET can trace its rich history back to the foundation of the Society of Telegraph Engineers, which held its first meeting on 17 May 1871 at 2 Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, London. At the meeting, Charles William Siemens was appointed President.
Current day IET President, Professor Danielle George, said: “Although the world has changed since those Victorian days, one thing that still connects us with our history is that engineers continue to solve many of the challenges facing communities across the globe – making an ongoing difference to the world around us.
“Many people still don’t understand the work of engineers or appreciate how much society depends on their skills and innovation to improve our world and make it more sustainable.
“Our 150th anniversary gives us a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our rich history. We also want to use it to engage and inspire young people so that engineering and technology are seen as a force for good and key to solving many of the biggest challenges facing our world.
“We have planned a range of fun and creative activities for the year, which we hope will be the start of an ongoing conversation about the significant positive impact engineers are having, and will continue to have, on our world.”
To celebrate the milestone, the IET is broadcasting a one-hour magazine programme each day of its anniversary week, called the 150 Show. The 150 Show gives the IET an opportunity to mark this important milestone and to celebrate engineering with its 158,000 members across the world, as well as inspiring those from outside the Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) community.
The 150 Show will be shown live on YouTube at 1pm every weekday during the week and will also be available on-demand. The programmes, filmed from its flagship venue, Savoy Place, will focus on digital futures, healthy lives, sustainability and climate change, hidden stories and youth engagement.
All of the shows include interviews with inspirational engineers who are making a positive impact on our world as well as Parliamentarians including Greg Clark MP, Chair of the Science & Technology Committee, Darren Jones MP, Chair of the BEIS committee, Stephen Metcalfe MP, Chair of the AI APPG and Chi Onwurah MP, Shadow Digital Minister.
To find out more about the IET’s 150th anniversary and the 150 show, please visit: www.theiet.org/150.
