IET marks 150th anniversary

May 17 2021 marks the 150th anniversary of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, an organisation that now spans 153 countries.

The IET is one of the world’s oldest professional engineering institutions, beginning life as the foundation of the Society of Telegraph Engineers when it first met in May 1871, with a focus primarily on electrical engineering. Over the years, more than 40 predecessor organisations have amalgamated into today’s IET, the name by which the ever-evolving body has been known since 2006.

With offices in the UK, China, India, Hong Kong and the USA, the IET’s remit continues to be to inspire, inform and influence the global engineering community and its impact on society, with much of its resource aimed at nurturing STEM education for the next generation of engineers.

“Although the world has changed since our foundation in the 1800s, one thing that still connects us with our history is that engineers continue to solve many of the challenges facing communities across the globe – making an ongoing difference to the world around us,” said IET president Professor Danielle.

“Engineers throughout the ages have shaped the way we live today, from innovators and forward-thinkers to influencers you wouldn’t typically think of. Our profession is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge, and we’re proud to play a pivotal role in uniting forces from across the industry to engineer a better world, together.”

Celebrations throughout the year to mark the 150th anniversary will see the IET promoting STEM across wider society and highlighting how crucial it is to the world around us. It is also using this year to engage and inspire young people so that engineering and technology are seen as a force for good and central to solving many of the biggest challenges facing our world. Further information on the anniversary and events planned across the year can be found herev.