b'Member News November 2019 15Career supportMore money for postgraduatesFrom 2020, the IET will be increasing fundingto people with hearing impairments. Shes contributed to this project on her PhD, towards its Postgraduate Research Awards, so thatworking with her university (University more researchers receive support for their work inof Salford), BBC R&D and Casualty. engineering and technology.My PhD lasts for three and a half years and my funding was for three The extra funding means that twoyears, so the scholarship helped cover more awards, worth 2,500, will bethat extra six months, she says. available, in addition to the existingIve been able to continue focusing offering.on experiments, rather than rushing through the write-up.We will have the top award of 10k, two at 5k and four at 2.5k, saysLaurens also had opportunities to Professor Jan Sykulski CEng FIET, Chairraise awareness of her work. At the of the IET Postgraduate and Travelend of last year, the IET invited me Awards Panel. This funding will beto a Communications Technology available to IET members wishing toluncheon at the House of Lords, expand their research undertaken asshe says. That was an awesome part of their registration for PhD oropportunity to network and share EngD programmes and will be awardedmy research with everyone from on a competitive basis. I have no doubtLords and MPs, through to colleagues they will have a real impact, especiallyLauren Ward, 2018 IET Postgraduate Research Award winnerId never crossed paths with.on early career researchers.Here at the IET, weve seen manyLooking for extra funding? researchers progress their work with theIve been able to continue focusingFind out more about our 2020 support of our awards. In June, Laurenon experiments, rather thanPostgraduate Research Awards Ward MIET, one of our 2018 winners, ledrushing through the write up. and how to apply at:a pilot on new audio technology, whichtheiet.org/postgradawardsaims to make television more accessible Your Foothold is hereIET Connect adopts a new approach from October. Their Marketing and Communications Officer Eranta Andersone tells us more. With more knowledge on what engineers and their families need, Weve been supporting engineers and theirwill have a mental health problem this year.were working to change for the families since 1890, but we know from ourDid you know that seven out of ten engineersbetter. And were starting with a research that a lot of IET members dont knowworldwide wouldnt ask for help even if theynew namewe are Foothold. who we are or how we can support them.needed it? Like most engineers faced withFoothold is a starting point, giving a problem, I would try to solve it myself,you the tools to make your life better So earlier this year we put the engineeringsaid one engineer responding to our survey.community in the driving seat and askedright now. Funded by engineers for youhow could we do more? Almost 1,700When you do ask for help, you told usengineers, Foothold is here for you and of you got in touch to tell us about the areasthere isnt enough support out there forthe people who matter most to you - of your life where youd like more support.day-to-day problems, let alone a crisis.whatever the problem, big or small. Ive been to counselling which helped More of us are feeling stressed at work andsomewhat, but I cant attend whileFind out more about Footholdneed career guidance. And one in four of usworking, said another engineer. and our services at: myfoothold.org'