IES is a multi-disciplinary engineering body, founded in Scotland in 1857, that provides a forum in which individuals from all engineering and related disciplines can discuss and exchange information, generate ideas and encourage young engineers. IES works with kindred bodies to promote a wider understanding of the role of the professional engineer in society.
Our next lecture - 20th Oct
Biomedical Engineering:- Digital Integration of Medical Diagnostics
into Connected Healthcare
Have a look at our 2026-2027 programme!
IES Events
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IES - The Rankine Memorial Lecture - Joint lecture with IMechE - The Challenges and Opportunites at Scotrail Engineering
10th November 2026 6:30 pm -
IES & RINA Joint lecture - Details to follow
7th December 2026 6:30 pm
Other Institutions’ Events
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RSSA - Keeping the UK's Lights, Hobs and Radiators on: The Challenges and Solutions for Energy and Electricity Systems in Transition
26th October 2026 7:00 am -
BCS - Self Driving Vehicles or Sleep Driving Vehicles
26th October 2026 6:30 pm
Opinion
Nuclear production lines: How will SMR factories work?
23 July 2026
The case for small modular reactors (SMRs) is compelling. Unlike traditional nuclear power plants that take years – or even decades – to build, SMRs will largely be made inside factories. Identical reactors will roll off the production line, ready to be shipped to site, fixed together and switched on. Once the production line is up and running, the companies selling SMRs will – in theory – be able to predictably churn out multiple units a year.
Featured Event
10th November 2026 6:30 pm
IES - The Rankine Memorial Lecture - Joint lecture with IMechE - The Challenges and Opportunites at Scotrail Engineering
This talk will cover the engineering challenges associated with delivering trains into service in Scotland and what ScotRail’s engineering team is doing to improve performance, reliability and customer experience. From modernising…
Publication of the Month
Great ships, solitary waves, and solitons
John Mellis
John Scott Russell was one of the foremost naval architects of his time. Born near Glasgow in 1808, he became a noted and popular lecturer, before moving away from academia to focus on industrial engineering. Among his many achievements, two stand out. First, the design and construction of the SS Great Eastern in collaboration with Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Second, the discovery and study of a strange wave phenomenon he acutely observed on the Union Canal near Edinburgh. Scott Russell’s ‘Wave of Translation’, now known as Solitary Waves or solitons, turned out to have significance and application in many fields, including optical telecommunications.
