b'Member News March 2021 15My working lifeMy working life: advice from Octogenarian, Richard (Dick) Swann CEng MIETIt was a difficult decision, butThis finding has opened a new his wisdom proved to provideworld of possibilities, including its the better option, since I wasuse in making semiconductors, To young innovators: do notinvolved in the innovativesolar cells, manufacturing TV and despair at poor exam results;development of the Transistor.computer screens (especially So, I returned to the Lab! OLEDs), the deposition of theres always another way toAim for professionalgraphene, and medical and biological applications.achieve great things. recognition and find yourI knew what I wanted my next support network.step to be: to work on the After two years, the Lab hademerging integrated circuit to close, and I moved to a newtechnology in the US. So, I involved in the developmentpurpose build laboratory, STL inrelocated my family to Palo Alto, of Thermistors (a temperatureHarlow, Essex. I was given theCalifornia, to begin working in sensitive resistor) fabricatedchance to study part-time for thethe Shockley Labs in 1966. After from sintered metal oxides. ONC/HNC exams, which wouldmoving from California to Florida Following that, I was enlistedlead to attaining Charteredto take on a new role, I helped to serve my National Service asEngineer (CEng) status anddevelop the MOS silicon gate a Radio Mechanic in the Royalmembership of the IERE (latertechnology, which led to even Signals. After six months training,the IEE, and now the IET). more patents; one of which I was posted to Germany toAchieving CEng status andis listed in the Smithsonian Growing up in Somerset, afterjoin an experimental group tobecoming an IET member hasNational Museum of American assess the newly designed,not only provided professionalHistory, The Chip Collection.relocating from Surrey to avoidtransportable VHF ANTRC recognition for my work, but the German bombs of theTx/Rx equipment in conjunctionalso a global support network Second World War, my olderwith STC telephony equipment.of likeminded engineers, of all brother set a high academicThis work lead to rapidbackgrounds. standard: he graduated frompromotion as an NCO to Working in the laboratory, Manchester University withActing Troop Sergeant. surrounded by enthusiastic a First Class Honours Degreescientists and engineers, proved in Electrical Engineering. IThere will be times whereto be an excellent recipe and attempted to follow in hisyoull have to make toughenvironment to avoid student footsteps but couldnt attainchoices; always keep in minddebts, learn in the real world and his impressive record in GCEs. your goals and true passions.earn money and professional To add insult to my careerTrust the advice of peoplerespect in the process.prospects, my Science teacherwho have your best interest at the time said I would bein mind. Seize the opportunity forBe diligent in your work and ill-advised to seek a career inAfter two years in the Army, Iadvancement, even if it meansremain motivated throughout Science. So, I spent the nextwas approached to considerstepping outside of youryour career. 54 years doing just that!a Foreman of Signals Coursecomfort zone. After even more patents and Its important to believeto attain the highest NCOMy breakthrough came whenpapers, my career progressed, in your own abilityhaverank in the Royal Signals. Thispioneering the deposition ofand I took on roles all over the confidence in yourself. was going to mean a differentsilicon layers by PECVD onto world. From leading strategy at route entirely to the one I hada single crystal silicon wafer.the ITT European Headquarters Although the traditionalpreviously begun at STC beforeThis deposition method using in Brussels, Belgium followed academic route was not thethe Army. I shared this with mya much lower temperature thanby transfer to the Alcatel HQ journey I took to launch myformer boss at the STC Lab, andby pyrolysis alone, resultedin Paris and finally to continuing working life, I knew a career ineven though this new coursein patents, technical articlesthe global work in Zug, Science and engineering was forand subsequent role soundedwritten and presented atSwitzerland. As a reward for the me. To gain practical experience,like an excellent opportunity, heconferences and universities,projects success, ITT presented I started as a Lab Assistantconsidered that my prospectsas well as creating interest andme with the coveted Ring of with STC Ilminster, where I wasin the Lab would be greater.work in laboratories worldwide. Quality in Lisbon, Portugal.As the engineering and technology landscape continues to evolve, even in uncertain timessuch as this, always remember why you chose to be an engineer in the first place.Are you a retired member who would like to be featured in our next issue? Please contact us at: membernews@theiet.org'