ICE Tech Talks

Explainer: The four-minute decarbonising the water sector overview

Water is an essential resource, and water infrastructure is a fundamental component of prosperous, healthy economies. However, like all infrastructure sectors, the water industry has a responsibility to reduce its impact on climate change. 
This ICE audio explainer explores strategies to decarbonise the water sector, and how engineers can play their part.
Episode produced by Steph Fairbairn.

Explainer: The five-minute ground source heat pump overview

The term ‘ground source heat pump’ (GSHP) refers to a buried network of fluid-filled pipes that are connected to a compressor and pump unit to provide heating for buildings. GSHPs offer less carbon emissions, lower running costs and greater efficiency than gas boilers.
This audio explainer explores how GSHPs work, the application of them in both domestic and larger-scale settings, and the potential future of the solution.
Produced by James Crumly.

The transport sector’s journey to net zero

Transport is the UK's largest emitting sector. By adopting new technologies and overhauling old systems, the transport industry can drastically cut its carbon emissions. Civil engineers working to decarbonise transport must play a careful balancing act, generating value and increasing efficiency while also reducing risk. Where are there big opportunities for decarbonising the transport sector? And what obstacles are we still trying to overcome?
In this ICE podcast, ICE knowledge content director Alex Wynne is joined by Stephen Elderkin, director of environmental sustainability for National Highways, and Conor McCone, carbon manager at Skanska UK, to explore what needs to be done to decarbonise the transport sector, tracking the 'easy wins' for sustainability in transport and examining the complications that can arise on the journey to Net Zero.
Episode produced by Steph Fairbairn and Dr Joe Jackson.

Explainer: The five-minute decarbonisation in transport overview

The transport sector accounts for the largest proportion of the UK’s carbon emissions, and infrastructure is responsible for more than half of the UK’s total carbon emissions. While engineers  have a variety of tools and options available that can support carbon reduction within the transport industry, much more still needs to be done.
This ICE audio explainer explores how a shift in principles will be required – both now and in the future – to effectively and efficiently decarbonise transport.
Speaker: James Crumly
Producer: Dr Joe Jackson

ICE in conversation with Grenfell Next of Kin

The Grenfell Tower tragedy, its causes and its consequences cut to the heart of the practice of civil engineers. In 2021, the ICE received a request for support from Grenfell Next of Kin, a grassroots support initiative representing immediate family members of the disaster’s victims. The ICE called on John Carpenter, an ICE member at the forefront of driving competence around safety in construction, to assist.
In the support he provided the group, John embodied the ICE’s Code of Professional Conduct, demonstrating how members can enact their ‘overriding responsibility to the public good’.
In this ICE podcast, ICE director of engineering knowledge, Mark Hansford, and knowledge content director, Alex Wynne, are joined by Kimi Zabihyan, an advocate of the Grenfell Next of Kin group, to discuss the support John provided.
Episode produced by Steph Fairbairn and Dr Joe Jackson.

Explainer: The seven-minute ICE Code of Professional Conduct overview

Members of the Institution of Civil Engineers should always be aware of their overriding responsibility to the public good. This includes care and respect for humanity's cultural, historical and archaeological heritage and a duty to protect the health and wellbeing of present and future generations, and show due regard for the environment and the sustainable management of natural resources. 
These obligations form the basis of ICE's Code of Professional Conduct, which is explored in this explainer, including thoughts from Gordon Masterton, chair of future infrastructure at the University of Edinburgh School of Engineering and ICE past-president and Micheala Chan, assistant engineer at Arcadis and ICE sustainability champion.
Episode produced by Steph Fairbairn.

Structural resilience and the role of the civil engineer

Whether it be from deterioration and ageing, a change of use, or the impacts of climate change, modern day structures must be more resilient than ever to hazards and stressors. But what are these hazards? How resilient are current structures? And how important is it to consider resilience in a holistic sense?In this podcast, Stergios-Aristoteles Mitoulis, senior fellow at the University of Birmingham and Sotirios Argyroudis, lecturer at Brunel University London – founders of InfrastructuReseilience and bridgeUkraine – join hosts Mark Hansford, ICE director of engineering knowledge and Alex Wynne, ICE knowledge content director, to explore these questions, and discuss the civil engineer's role in ensuring structural resilience.
Episode produced by Dr Joe Jackson.

Explainer: The four-minute structural resilience overview

Whether it be a change of use, increase in load, or hazards caused by climate change, modern buildings and infrastructure are subject to a number of hazards to which they must be resilient. This audio explainer explores what resilience really means, and the civil engineer's role in ensuring structural resilience, and resilience in a more holistic sense.
 
Produced by Steph Fairbairn and Dr Joe Jackson.

Explainer: The five-minute health and wellbeing overview

The mental health and wellbeing of those working in the construction industry should be a key priority for organisations, leaders, and individuals alike.
This audio explainer looks at the elements impacting mental health and wellbeing in the industry, how these are exacerbated for those working in remote locations, and what can be done to improve the status quo.
Content warning - please note, this audio explainer makes reference to mental ill-health, and briefly mentions suicide.
 
Speaker: Steph Fairbairn
Producer: Dr Joe Jackson
 
This audio explainer relates to the CPD framework sector Maritime.

Manchester’s Mayfield Depot project – retrofit in action

ICE director of engineering knowledge Mark Hansford and ICE knowledge content director Alex Wynne are joined by Stephen O'Malley, chief executive and co-founder of Civic Engineers, for a discussion about the approach taken to retrofit Mayfield Depot. This former railway station in Manchester is undergoing regeneration as an arts, music, culture and community space - and retrofitting plays an integral role. 
Episode produced by James Crumly and Steph Fairbairn.This podcast relates to the ICE CPD framework sector Core.