This year’s EPC Public Lecture will be delivered by one of the greatest living scientists, Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell CH DBE FRS FRSE FRAS FInstP HonMRIA HonFLSWn, the astrophysicist who, among her many accolades, discovered pulsars while still a doctoral student – a breakthrough that subsequently attracted a Nobel Prize for her supervisor.
Bell Burnell has worked tirelessly to support women scientists, donating and raising millions of pounds to fund scholarships. Fittingly, she will take ‘Women in science & engineering’ as her theme.
The lecture will be hosted by the University of Strathclyde as the opening session of this year’s Engineering Academics Network Annual Congress.
You do not have to register for the whole Congress to attend the lecture, but you can do so here.
If you do register to attend Congress, you do not have to register separately for the public lecture.
EAN Congress 2026: Evolution or revolution invites delegates to explore whether incremental change in engineering education is enough to make it fit-for-purpose in the face of significant global and sectoral challenges – or whether engineering education now demands something more radical. As global challenges intensify, disciplinary boundaries blur, and AI reshapes every profession, there is a broad consensus now that engineers of the 21st century must pair technical expertise with sustainability literacy, ethical awareness and an entrepreneurial mindset. This year’s EPC Congress explores what a truly “fit‑for‑purpose” engineering education looks like – one that harnesses AI while safeguarding against its risks, embraces interdisciplinary thinking, and expands the role of active and experiential pedagogies – and critically, how we can deliver this. Through provocative presentations and discussion, the congress will examine who engineering education serves and how institutions can reimagine their role in shaping future‑ready engineers.
Join EPC’s resident data expert, Stella Fowler, for a one-hour webinar exploring the newly released UCAS applications and admissions data for 2025/26 using our exclusive member-only Data explorer.
Each year, UCAS publishes a wealth of data—so we’ve extracted the key engineering trends for you. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights with ease.
Diego is a Director in the Building Structures team at WSP. His experience includes tall building design in the UK and the Middle East, complex basements under historical buildings; residential towers and office refurbishments, cultural venues, art installations. He was the lead structural engineer for 22 Bishopsgate in London.
As a Decarbonisation Lead Diego works towards creating zero carbon buildings to address the climate emergency. Diego led WSP’s Structures decarbonisation roadmap and continues to deliver on its commitment to half the emission of their designs and advice by 2030.
Diego’s current focus is on digital innovation, harvesting the power of AI to create tools and processes that help engineers, designers, and clients to create better buildings.
The Royal Academy of Engineering’s 2026 EDI Conference, themed Engineering for Communities, will explore how fostering psychological safety empowers engineers to speak up, challenge constructively, and contribute ideas that lead to more inclusive and equitable outcomes for both the profession and wider society. Since its launch in 2021, this flagship annual event has brought together engineering leaders, practitioners, and innovators to share best practice, address sector‑wide challenges, and inspire meaningful action on equity, diversity, and inclusion.
The Academy invites you to register via this LINK for the online event, and if you would like to attend the in‑person, please fill in this expression of interest form as places in person are limited.