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[April 2008]
Dear Colleague,
It is with both some trepidation and excitement that I approach 2008 as your acting chairman. First I must thank Franz for steering us though the last few years and handing over an enthusiastic committee that can continue to provide an effective programme of events for our members.
Why trepidation? Just at the moment power generation is very much in the news and a political hot potato; not a place where most engineers are comfortable. With the climate change emphasising CO2 the debate on nuclear, renewables and carbon capture for fossil fuels is high up on the political agenda. We need to be in that debate providing a reasoned and factual account of what is possible and what is not. We must provide information that is both understandable and accurate, both to our members and to the wider public. especially those who will be making the decisions. This needs to be heard above the noise of self interested vested groups who try and distort the debate. We can do it by remaining professional in our approach and providing an accurate view of the pros and cons for the various alternatives.
Why excitement? At last we are reversing the decline in youngsters choosing engineering as a career. Bright students of both sexes are choosing engineering as a degree course and we have the opportunity as the mentors of the industry to encourage and train these agile minds and maintain the UK’s reputation for producing good engineers. This division can show them one aspect of that great field which is engineering, power in all its aspects.
I would love to hear from you, especially our younger and female members, and if there is anything you would like to add to the agenda for this year, please let me know.
Terence Tovey
Acting Chairman - Power Industries Division
2008
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