Art and Approximation: A Review

“It’s better to be roughly right than precisely wrong”

Attributed to John Maynard Keynes (an economist), few quotes so accurately reflect my experience in design. Throughout my career I’ve become increasingly technical- I even…Read More

#IStillLoveCivilEngineering

I won* the #ILoveCivilEngineering competition! I’m a bit late reporting on this, but in my defence I had been waiting for a go-ahead that never came. (*) I also didn’t win precisely, my python-esq entry got the creativity accolade, which … Read More

Getting Chartered: The Last 5%

If you’re working in a design office (like me), then you will likely have heard the old adage that it’s the last 5% of the work that takes 90% of the time. Achieving chartered status with the Institution of Civil…Read More

Getting Inclusive About Global Mobility

One of those lies we tell children growing up to be civil engineers is that the career is an international one. Of course, it’s not a complete fiction- I do know a few engineers who have left the rule of…Read More

Engineers: Become A TV Star

Every now and again I get my ego stroked by someone who thinks my blog is important enough to be a credible news outlet for their latest promotion; it’s touching, and just one of many reasons…Read More

Engineers: Fill In Your LinkedIn Profile

Following a random series of events, I found myself talking with a hiring manager last week. It was a fairly enlightening experience- I already had some experience as an interviewer; but I’d never had…Read More

Engineering On Stack Exchange

It’s here! We finally have an Engineering Stack Exchange! It feels a bit like I’ve been talking about this forever- so it is fantastic to see a community finally form and begin to create something. But now we’ve got it, we…Read More

Let’s Get Chartered

With the new year, must come new resolutions; to replace the old resolutions that remain dusty and unfulfilled in the guilty corners of our minds. And although I, of course, have a million and one…Read More

The Future of Design 2014: Part 2

I’m sure you’ve all been at the edge of your seats waiting for the second part from the highlights of the IABSE 2014 Future of Design conference; and for that I can only apologise- some times life gets in the way. I expect it’s a good sign…Read More

Big, Medium Or Small Companies?

Interesting fact: I’ve worked for small, medium and large engineering companies. The question of what size company is the best for civil engineers to work for is something that I see get….Read More