Podcast
Engineering Matters
Hosted by Reby Media · EN
Five times winner of the Publisher Podcast Awards, including Best Technology Podcast, Engineering Matters celebrates the work of engineers who use ingenuity, practicality, science, theory and determination to build a better world. In the UK alone 5.7million people work in engineering related enterprises from manufacturing and agriculture to construction and transportation. Their work ensures that the country has sustainable power supplies, better connectivity between cities, increasing efficiency in production processes; advanced manufacturing methods; and is embracing the digital transformations that include virtual modelling of our environment, and development of intelligent machines. Our episodes will examine the vital work of engineers using a mix of interviews, analysis and site visits.
26episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
#366 Diversity & Inclusion Champion – Engineering Matters Awards
2w ago00:30:26Tap to summarizeIn this special Engineering Matters Awards episode, we celebrate excellence across the industry, highlighting our Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners in the Diversity & Inclusion Champion category. Engineering suffers from a ‘leaky pipe’ problem, where a great many potential professionals count themselves out of a career long before university. It is a problem that has been clearly identified, but that the industry has long struggled to correct. Our featured guest and Gold Winner is Stuart Naismith, primary teacher, STEM communicator, and Gold Award winner, and the creator behind STEM with Mr N, a platform bringing accessible science and real-world STEM stories to young audiences worldwide. Click the link below to find out more about Stuart’s great work. Special thanks to our judges from Engineers Without Borders UK, and from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Guest Stuart Naismith, STEM with Mr NThe post #366 Diversity & Inclusion Champion – Engineering Matters Awards first appeared on Engineering Matters.
Transcribe →#365 Making a Success in British Construction
4w ago00:15:01Tap to summarizeGreg Wilkes has seen the highs and lows of running a small business in the UK construction sector. From being talked into staying with his apprenticeship by his father as a young carpenter, to success, failed partnerships, and success again, he began to make it a point to note down everything he did that worked, and everything that did not. Now with a seven-step program, that in keeping with the best traditions of the sector he has decided to streamline to five, Greg is training builders and other trades to scale their businesses, swim in the same waters as contract sharks without getting eaten, and make a success in a sector that can demand so much from entrepreneurs. This episode tells his story, and his method. Guest Greg Wilkes, Develop Coaching Resources To download Greg’s book, ‘Building your Future’, click hereThe post #365 Making a Success in British Construction first appeared on Engineering Matters.
Transcribe →#364b Environment Champion – Engineering Matters Awards gold winner
Apr 900:32:12Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we tell the story of MERMAID from the Wildlife Conservation Society, this year’s Engineering Matters Awards Environment Gold Champion. Emily Darling, director for coral reef conservation at WCS, describes why scientists need better ways of sharing coral data, and how MERMAID helps them do so. Rita Bento, a researcher at NYU Abu Dhabi joins the episode, in an interview recorded in January 2026, to describe the work the university has been doing with regional partners to map coral reefs in the Persian-Arabian Gulf. And Angie Braithwaite, co-founder of Blue Alliance, describes how the nonprofit organization is using MERMAID to understand the effectiveness of marine protected areas. MERMAID allows the scientists to more easily map and understand the world’s coral reefs, helping identify those that are more resilient to climate change. Its latest update adds more, using AI to speed up the slow work of identifying species in reefs. Guests Emily Darling, director for coral reef conservation, WCS Rita Bento, researcher, NYU Abu Dhabi Angie Braithwaite, co-founder, Blue Alliance Category sponsorSupport for this episode and the Environment Champion Category comes from FuturePlus. FuturePlus helps businesses measure, manage and improve their environmental and social impact – with a live ESG platform and a named expert to guide you through it. Three hundred businesses are already Impact Certified, from hospitality to engineering. Find out more at future-plus.co.ukThe post #364b Environment Champion – Engineering Matters Awards gold winner first appeared on Engineering Matters.
Transcribe →#364a Environment Champion – Engineering Matters Awards shortlist
Apr 900:41:58Tap to summarizeAround the world, engineers are working to protect the environment. In this episode, we introduce eight companies who are taking steps to safeguard the natural world. All have been shortlisted for the Engineering Matters Awards. The first three shortlisted entries look at ways of understanding the natural world. Petra Ringeltaube explains how RWE’s SeaMi is taking a less invasive, ecosystems-based approach to monitoring biodiversity on wind farms. Emily Darling of the Wildlife Conservation Society explains how its tool MERMAID is allowing coral scientists to share data, and now, with new AI tools, identify species on reefs. Next, Peter Salome explains a new tool from Fugro that will speed the delivery of vital new subsea powerlines. We then look at the challenges of building new homes and the infrastructure needed to support them, while limiting harmful environmental impacts. Edward Selvey, a senior ecologist with Avove describes how the company helped mitigate the biodiversity impact of a new water pipeline. Helen Gibbon, a director at Renaissance, explains how the engineers implemented sustainable drainage for a new estate in Salford. And Siobhan Warfield-Beattie talks us through how Ayesa helped lower the carbon impact of a wastewater treatment plant in Arklow. At Derne Reach, in Yorkshire, Olivia Rowe tells us, Mott MacDonald Bentley has taken a different approach to wastewater, helping build an integrated constructed wetland. Finally, we learn about two projects seeking to restore nature. Matthew Hay of Nattergal describes the company’s work at High Fen Wildland, where it is helping re-wet peatlands, in a way that shows how boosting nature can be a commercially viable investment. And Nick Cooper of Haskoning describes how the company has helped remove colliery waste from a Northumberland coastline. Stay tuned to the end of the episode to learn which entries won a position in this year’s awards. Guests Petra Ringeltaube, environmental manager, RWE Emily Darling, director, coral reef conservation, WCS Peter Salome, innovation manager, Fugro Edward Selvey, senior ecologist, Avove Helen Gribbon, director, Renaissance Siobhan Warfield-Beattie, marketing director, Ayesa Olivia Rowe, project leader, Mott MacDonald Bentley Matthew Hay, natural capital manager, Nattergal Nick Cooper, technical director, Haskoning Category sponsor Support for this episode and the Environment Champion Category comes from FuturePlus. FuturePlus helps businesses measure, manage and improve their environmental and social impact – with a live ESG platform and a named expert to guide you through it. Three hundred businesses are already Impact Certified, from hospitality to engineering. Find out more at future-plus.co.ukThe post #364a Environment Champion – Engineering Matters Awards shortlist first appeared on Engineering Matters.
Transcribe →#363 Uncrewed Vessels and Unprecedented Data
Mar 2600:36:07Tap to summarizeIn its seventh Allocation Round the UK executed the largest offshore wind auction in European history, putting pen to paper on 8.4GW of new capacity, enough to power 10 million homes. Allocation Round 8 is expected to be even more ambitious, as the UK looks to upgrade its radar systems to enable a 10GW installation, according to Windtech International. Offshore wind projects require complete understanding of conditions on, and below, the seabed. As projects proliferate and demand for surveys and more accurate data becomes truly vast, the deployment of cutting edge technology becomes essential. Uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) patrolling the surface and remotely operated vehicles diving beneath the waves have been key to sustainable offshore operations. Not just in environmental terms and added human safety, but to achieve reasonable operational costs in increasingly asset-rich coastal seas. From the early, smaller vessels designed for a specific purpose, designers and builders have increased size and diversified the capabilities of individual platforms. Today, Fugro’s Blue Prism®, it’s first fully dedicated site screening geophysics USV – can do much more. In this episode, we look at these state-of-the-art vessels, the challenges of multi-sensor data collection and how they can help meet the unprecedented demand for timely surveys. Guests Roger Birchall, Technical Authority – Geophysics, SSE Renewables Marco Gilissen, Global Director – Marine Geophysics, Fugro Simon McIlroy, Survey Systems Architect, Fugro Resources To learn more about the Geo Risk Management Framework mentioned in the episode, listen to the first part of a three part episode we released last year: click here Partner Fugro is the world’s leading Geo-data specialist, collecting and analysing comprehensive information about the Earth and the structures built upon it. Through integrated data acquisition, analysis and advice, Fugro unlocks insights from geo-data to help clients design, build and operate their assets in a safe, sustainable and efficient manner.The post #363 Uncrewed Vessels and Unprecedented Data first appeared on Engineering Matters.
Transcribe →#362 Revisited: Skyscrapers, Predicting The Future
Mar 1200:44:07Tap to summarizeThe London skyline is undergoing perhaps its most significant transformation in decades as a new ‘vertical renaissance’ is sending tremors of excitement from Guildhall to Mansion House. The City of London Corporation says that over half a million square metres of office space was granted planning permission in the City in 2025, equivalent to more than ten ‘Gherkins’ with around half of this amount already under construction. This includes the leviathan 309.6m ‘1 Undershaft’ which will be as tall as the Shard when completed. But it is not all about the capacity, unlike the Financial Fortresses of the 20th century, as the earlier skyscrapers in the City were sometimes called, the new structures will be more open to the street, with pedestrian access, parks and commercial arcades, to make the city feel more vibrant and less sterile, than it has to previous generations. The City’s largest office building, 22 Bishopsgate has led the way in a period of challenging economic headwinds, fully occupied and seeing record high rents, it is perhaps the first of these post-financial crash, vertical villages in the Square Mile that can be considered part of this renaissance. Guests Paul Hargreaves, Construction Director, Lipton Rogers David Healy, Mechanical and Electrical Lead, WSP in the UK Amy Holtz, Director – Head of Sustainability, PLP Architecture Diego Padilla-Philips, Technical Director, WSP in the UK Partner As one of the world’s leading engineering professional services consultancies, WSP brings clarity and vision to complex challenges. Their team of technical specialists and strategic advisers across the UK is part of a talented global family of expertise. Together, they ensure innovative solutions solve complex problems for our clients and the communities we serve, meeting both the needs of today and addressing the challenges of the future.The post #362 Revisited: Skyscrapers, Predicting The Future first appeared on Engineering Matters.
Transcribe →#361 Revisited: Space – The Robotic Age
Feb 2600:28:18Tap to summarizeHumanity’s furthest ever journey into space has been delayed. Again. An interruption to the flow of helium forced NASA to scrap the revised 6 March launch date of the Artemis II mission, and begin the slow process to roll the increasingly unfortunate rocket back to the vehicle assembly bay. While the delays are frustrating for the engineers involved, and space enthusiasts alike, every precaution has to be taken when a human crew is involved. While we wait for this historic mission, we thought we would revisit an episode where we examined progress in robotic systems in space. The deployment of which removes the risk to human life and will be a critical part of the future of space operations. A future that Artemis 2 crew will spearhead. Space offers certain conditions that make it more favourable to manufacturing than Earth. Near zero gravity, extreme cold temperatures and a complete vacuum means certain industries such as quantum computing, semiconductors and human organ growth have already demonstrated the benefits of being manufactured in space. We explore how close we are to seeing manufacturing industries existing in space and what barriers there currently are. In this episode, two experts from the Satellite Applications Catapult explain how they are working with a variety of companies in the in-orbit service and manufacturing sector to try and make the UK a world leader in this new frontier of space. Guests Mike Curtis-Rouse, Head of Access to Space, Satellite Applications Catapult Jeremy Haddall, Robotics Development Lead, Satellite Applications Catapult PartnerThe Satellite Applications Catapult is one of nine Catapults, uniquely established to transform the UK’s capability for innovation in specific areas and to help drive future economic growth. They work with companies of all sizes in the UK space sector to help with their business, access to infrastructure for testing and bringing their product to market.The post #361 Revisited: Space – The Robotic Age first appeared on Engineering Matters.
Transcribe →#360 Systems Change: Thinking in Patterns
Feb 1200:31:23Tap to summarizeSystems thinking allows engineers to understand complex systems and the second-, third-, and nth-order effects of their interventions. It avoids the accidental creation of new problems when solving a first, and allows for the identification of effective leverage points for more impactful, sustainable change. The world, the built environment and our infrastructure all have patterns that can be understood with a few changes in thought process. In this episode we’re looking at the work Engineers Without Borders UK has done to promote systems thinking in engineering, through a programme of Systems Change Labs. Guests Mark Enzer, Strategic Advisor, Mott MacDonald Eva Fernandez, Strategic Sustainability Consultant, Ramboll Jonathan Truslove, Education and Skills Lead, EWB UK Supporter From prototyping to full-scale production, Xometry UK is the leading on-demand manufacturing marketplace. With a network of over 2,000 manufacturing partners across Europe and 10,000 worldwide, Xometry provides the capacity and expertise to handle projects of any size, making advanced manufacturing accessible to all. Resources To read the Connect to Change report from the Built Environment Connective, click hereThe post #360 Systems Change: Thinking in Patterns first appeared on Engineering Matters.
Transcribe →#359k Transit-Oriented Communities in Toronto
Jan 2900:12:50Tap to summarizeAround the world, urban planners are seeking to deliver urban growth and increase access to city centres through the development of transit-oriented communities. These combine new publicly-backed transport infrastructure, with privately-financed residential and commercial development. It’s a route to more sustainable cities, but it involves careful navigation of budgetary constraints and the needs of existing communities. Michael Matthys explains some of the challenges of delivering transit-oriented communities in Toronto. He explains some of the challenges, both in terms of engineering, and in terms of meeting community needs. For stations in crowded downtown areas, he describes the importance of maintaining local character, and explains how retrofit might be a suitable solution. Looking further out into the suburbs, he describes policies that can help maintain affordable options for residents, and the engagement needed to ensure community support. Guest Michael Matthys, Planning Lead, SvN Architects + Planners Partner Egis is a leading global architectural, consulting, construction engineering, operations and mobility services firm. Egis creates and operates intelligent infrastructure and buildings that both respond to the climate emergency and contribute to balanced, sustainable and resilient development.Its 22,000 employees operate across over 100 countries, deploying their expertise to develop and deliver cutting-edge innovations and solutions for clients. Through the wide range of its activities, Egis plays a central role in the collective organisation of society and the living environment of citizens all over the world.The post #359k Transit-Oriented Communities in Toronto first appeared on Engineering Matters.
Transcribe →#359j – Modern Vernacular in Saudi Arabia
Jan 2900:12:01Tap to summarizeIn the 1970s, Saudi Arabia, buoyed by a surge in oil prices, embarked on an ambitious building programme. The country moved rapidly to develop its cities and infrastructure. However, Prince Salman, then the governor of Riyadh, now the country’s King, saw that this was resulting in cities that were unmoored from their local context. This episode traces the evolution of modern architecture in Saudi Arabia, from the economic boom of the 1970s and the development of a distinctive Salmani-style. We look at the national program of incorporating the vernacular in individual buildings, before moving on to the current Vision 2030, describing its approach to wider urban development, passive temperature control, and sustainability. Lastly, we examine lessons for other nations engaged in a phase of rapid growth and urbanisation, and what they can learn from this history. Guest Lana Al-Dwehji, Lead Architect, Omrania Partner Egis is a leading global architectural, consulting, construction engineering, operations and mobility services firm. Egis creates and operates intelligent infrastructure and buildings that both respond to the climate emergency and contribute to balanced, sustainable and resilient development. Its 22,000 employees operate across over 100 countries, deploying their expertise to develop and deliver cutting-edge innovations and solutions for clients. Through the wide range of its activities, Egis plays a central role in the collective organisation of society and the living environment of citizens all over the world.The post #359j – Modern Vernacular in Saudi Arabia first appeared on Engineering Matters.
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