It appears fusion is creating a big bang with some of you. At Harwell in the 1980s we had the fun of being involved in the "coal fusion" event where a number of you, as researchers, were suggesting that fusion could happen at room temperature using pure heavy water (deuterium oxide).  As a manager of the nuclear reactors at the time we were responsible for providing the heavy water to test the coal fusion period.  Great idea although it didn't work!

On 5 September I visited the North East and if you are from the area you would have seen the blanket media coverage the Skills and Energy Debate got. Lord Digby Jones of Birmingham was inducted as an Honorary Fellow earlier this month at the IMechE and his address on trade and industry in the UK reminded all of us that in a global market you should worry less about who wins the business than the fact that it is done in your country.  We make more cars in the UK than we have ever done in the past is one example.  Interested to hear bloggers views on that point and the skills issue in general.

My visits to Britvic and Ford in our Eastern region and the Wilton site at Teeside really enforced my view that there is still significant inward investment into the UK and a vibrant engineering economy along side our very significant financial services in London.

In Benelux, another recent visit,  we spent some time interacting with the European Commission.  One official remarked it was good to have people in Brussels talking in an authoritative manner on important issues.  Does that imply not much of that happens in Brussels?! I also visited the Netherlands Delta Project where the sea defences have been developed over the past 50 years to cope with climate influence and climate change on that country.  My impression is that the world can learn a great deal from the Dutch approach and although I acknowledge there is much that man can do to counter the anthropogenic affect on the environment we should also consider the alternative of letting it happen and then engineering the measures to protect populations. The intellectual argument on countering climate change is compelling but I do wonder if Government's around the world really do have enough influence to impose taxation and other measures to meet emission reduction targets. 

In my view Europe will not meet the current EU 2020 requirements but I will be interested to be hear otherwise.

If we are to have the same Government for the next two years in the UK then this gives me, in my capacity as President, some stability to talk to ministers who might feel less vulnerable now from being ejected from their posts.  We are working on our four themes - Education, Energy, Environment and Transport and producing the Institution's views in each of these areas.  In some cases we will combine with others to propagate these - for energy I think we should be pushing ourselves. I am of the very strong view that the UK must rapidly move towards a new nuclear bill.  Thoughts on this?

Yours Aye

John

Comments

[Andy]

1. Should "coal" fusion actually be "cold" fusion?

2. I think there is a good possibility that Europe will met the EU 2020 CO2 emission targets simply by doing nothing in that:

a. There is growing evidence that oil production has peaked (see www.theoildrum.com)
b. Europe must compete with Brazil, India, Russia and China for coal and oil.

3. I hope that your considerations on energy and transport will consider reduced supplies of oil, for example there is little point in building infrastructure such as new roads and runways that will not be needed.

[Ken McDougall]

The I Mech E and the President are all for Education of engineers.
Engineering relies on people with Physics training. In state schools, ALL science teachers teach ALL of the sciences, while physics is regarded now as a failing subject. (See University of Buckingham report of 2005)
Now we have an educationalist calling for the sacking of poor teachers.
When will the I Mech E take a leading role and press on Government to sort this mess out, as physics teaching in schools and colleges is of prime importance to this country and its engineering sector.
Ken McDougall

[Peter]

The naming of Sir Anthony Cleaver as new Chairman of the Engineering Technology Board (ETB) is disgraceful and that the I Mech Eng welcomes him is testament to our decline.
I fail to see why it is something to be celebrated that a former professional marketing executive should be good for Engineering.
I would have thought that a professional engineer would have been a better choice.