We are an informal learned society of engineers and scientists. We are a very friendly organisation and give equal importance to the quality of our technical activities and our fellowship. We involve our partners in everything we do. These are two things we do:
• Arrange high quality lectures and technical visits on diverse engineering and scientific subjects.
• By virtue of our history, connect with French engineering and science, and of course enjoy French culture and cuisine.
Our lectures are delivered by speakers who are leaders in their fields, and our visits have insightful guides. All our often complex topics are fully understandable to general audiences.
The British Section of IESF serves an unusual mix of interests amongst its senior engineer, scientist or medic Members, and, over the years, membership numbers have Been maintained at a few hundred. We are always interested in welcoming new members who share the current membership’s interest in the Anglo-French Connection with Engineering and Science. Our costs are modest since we rely on voluntary support for most of our administration.
Our history
Our parent French body traces its origins to 1848, when the Société Centrale des Ingénieurs Civils was founded immediately after the second French Revolution. Its successor, IESF, now embraces a broad spectrum of engineering and scientific organisations throughout France, and in several countries around the world.
The British Section was formed in 1919, immediately following the end of the first World War, to ‘make a connection with French engineering and science’. It was a natural evolution from the strong relationships that had developed between British and French military engineers during four years of collaboration in trench warfare. For more details visit the History page.
Our pre-Covid activities
We have three principal sets of activities:
Firstly, there are technical lectures followed by dinners at a range of London venues. Lecturers are asked to present their often complex subjects assuming no previous knowledge in their audiences. Memorable events have included topics as diverse as the building of the Panama Canal, the origins of SI standard measurements and the current Antarctic research programme.
Secondly, there are one or two visits that are of particular interest to the current President. Recent visits have included the Crossness Pumping Station, a Grade 1 listed site designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette, and the Hydraulics Research Station at Wallingford.
Finally, and importantly, there normally two ‘Voyages’ each year, generally but not exclusively to France, where we have visited many regions over recent years. These are residential events extending over long weekends and have equally enjoyable technical and social components, also taking the opportunity to sample local cuisine.
Our first ‘Voyage’ of 2019 was to Chester, where we learned much of the history of that fascinating ancient city and visited notable local engineering projects, such as the Dinorwig Power Station.
The second ‘Voyage’ in 2019 was to Paris, where we enjoyed excellent French cuisine, were hosted by the British Embassy and visited such engineering marvels as the extension to the Metro, driven through exceptionally challenging ground conditions. The tunnels are below the water table, in permeable ground!
Our activities during Covid
We have continued our high quality technical lectures, moving them on-line. We also organise informal ‘Meet the President’ events and a Carol Service, all virtual but with good fellowship nonetheless.
During this period, we have developed some very useful communication skills which will stand us in good stead once we get back to normal in a post-vaccine world.
Our first lecture of 2021 is ‘The Oxford Covid-19 Vaccine Production – a year in the Fast Lane’ by Dr Cath Green, who heads the Clinical Biomanufacturing Facility at the University of Oxford. More details can be found on our Recent Meetings page.
Our planned activities post-Covid
We cannot wait to get back to a more normal modus operandi once the various vaccines have been rolled out sufficiently, from summer 2021. We will remember the skills necessarily learned in lockdown and use them to improve both our sociability and the electronic storage and distribution of our unique knowledge.
There will be two themes to each year's programme. By tradition, the President chooses one that is central to his or her interests. The second will be an enduring focus on a topic of existential importance, probably sustainability, including the all-important Net Zero commitment. The selection of this enduring topic will reflect its importance and will seek to identify how we may contribute as individuals.
Current details of our evolving 2021 programme can be viewed by clicking on the menu at the top of this page under Programme.
Membership
We greatly value diversity and the perspectives people from different backgrounds bring to our fellowship. We are therefore committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in our membership, which is open to engineers, scientists and medics of professional standing. More details can be found on our Membership page.
In addition to our core membership, we have an Ami category for those who have been associated with the Society for many years, usually as partners of former full members, and who wish to retain this association.
We are always delighted to welcome new members. If you would like to join us or need any further information on membership (see Membership Page) please either contact an existing member or the Membership Secretary, Ron Walker, ron.walker1@tiscali.co.uk