b'20 Member News July 2022Policy and insightPublic Affairs updateIts been a busy few months for the IETs Public Affairs activities. The third is asking how we can effectively decarbonise travel, featuring Kerry Following the major refurbishment andWe launched an additional fourMcCarthy MP, Trudy Harrison MP, and reopening of our Stevenage office episodes of our Parliamentary podcastProfessor Phil Blythe CEng FIET, IET Vice Futures Placewe welcomed the MPEngineering a Better WorldwhichPresident and former Chief Scientific for Stevenage, Stephen McPartland, featured around the issues discussed Adviser at the Department for Transport. for a tour of our impressive staff base. at the COP conference. The final podcast launched in the series The first focuses on strengtheninglooks at the skills required to make net our climate resilience, featuring Werazero happen. The episode featured Hobhouse MP, Liberal DemocratSiobhan Baillie MP, member of the Spokesperson for Climate Emergency Conservative Environment Network, and and Energy, and Philip Dunne MP,Alex Burghart MP, Parliamentary Under-Chair of the Environmental AuditSecretary of State (Skills). Select Committee, as well as IET Fellow, Dr Simon Harrison CEng FIET. The podcasts are a key part of our The second podcast was releasedstrategy to position the IET as a source before Christmas and focused on howof independent, impartial engineering achieving net zero starts at home. Itexpertise. features Anthony Browne MP, Chair of the Environment APPG, alongside Rick HartwigThe podcasts are available to listenIET CES, Nigel Fine at Futures Place with the MP for Stevenage, Stephen McPartland and Stephanie Baxter from the IET.to at: theiet.org/podcastsEmbedding engineeringinto the UK curriculumThe IET is leading work toengineering skills shortage. The letterChildren eagerly learn about science tackle the UKs engineeringwas co-signed by over 150 world- and maths, but the connection to leading engineers, STEM ambassadors,engineeringthe link between these skills shortage byprofessional institutions and celebrities. subjects, their purpose and application embedding engineering intoto the world in which we liveis not The IET has since hosted a series of the UK school curriculum. roundtables across England to discusscurrently being made. We need to ensure the issues and come up with practicalthere are clearer learning outcomes for The work, taking place as part of therecommendations that can be put tothese subjects linked to engineering.#EngineeringKidsFutures project,government to ensure engineering is started in autumn 2021. Past President,embedded into the curriculum. We must provide teachers with the tools Professor Danielle George CEng FIET,they need to showcase that science, wrote to the Prime Minister urging theDavid Lakin, IET Head of Education,design and technology and maths all have Government to help tackle the UKsSafeguarding and Education Policy, said:vital elements of engineering within them and proactively encourage the teaching of engineering in primary schools.This is vital if we are to reinforce the link between the more academic subjects and their practical application through engineering in our everyday lives.An IET report with key recommendations is planned#EngineeringKidsFutures roundtable at IET London: Savoy Placeto be published this summer.'