E+T Podcast

Dawn Ohlson joined E+T for a podcast at the start of her presidential year, promising added support and recognition for the IET's volunteers. Now, as her year is coming to an end, Dawn returned to the podcast studio to report back on the progress made in volunteering, but also to answer any questions that IET members had sent in. It was quite a varied mix and sometimes quite direct!

In this episode of E+T Off the Page, hosts Tim Fry and Jack Loughran sit down with Professor Siddartha Khastgir, head of safe autonomy at WMG, University of Warwick, to explore the real-world arrival of robotaxis on the streets of London.The episode covers why it took a full decade to move from early experiments to commercial driverless fleets, highlighting the immense engineering required to solve the final 5% of safety challenges. Prof Khastgir breaks down the milestone global UN safety regulations and explains why London’s historic, chaotic road network has become the ultimate commercial testbed for autonomous technology.The discussion also dives into the biggest hurdles facing public trust, from cybersecurity "computers on wheels" to debunking the famous Trolley Dilemma. Prof Khastgir also addresses the broader societal impacts, examining how autonomous vehicles can revolutionise accessibility, elevate job quality across the transport sector, and why human driving will always have a place on the road.

Is deep geothermal energy the missing piece in the UK’s green transition?In this episode of E+T Off the Page, hosts Tim Fryer and Jack Loughran sit down with Dr. Ryan Law, CEO of Geothermal Engineering Limited, to look inside the UK's first operational deep geothermal power plant at United Downs in Cornwall.The episode covers how geothermal energy succeeds as a reliable, green, 24/7 base-load power source where intermittent options like wind and solar face daily challenges. Dr. Law also explains the massive "lithium bonus," detailing how extracting critical minerals directly from deep geothermal fluids is completely reshaping the economic landscape of clean energy.The discussion also dives into the real-world logistics of deep-earth engineering, exploring the unique financial, planning, and scaling hurdles facing the industry in the UK today.

The IET’s Wiring Regulations BS 7671, colloquially known as the wiring regs, are a constantly evolving body of work and its latest iteration was launched in April 2026. It contains substantive changes in areas such as batteries, medical environments and power over Ethernet. E+T asked Mark Coles, head of technical regulations at the IET, to both explain the background to the update and summarise the key changes in the latest revision, and what practical changes they will make to the world of the electrical designer, installer and maintainer of electrical installations.This article also touches on the evolution of the wiring regs and the need for regular revisions to ensure the electrical world is a safe world.The print version of this article appeared in the May/June issue of E+T.

What does it mean to map the future? In this episode, E+T regulars Tim Fryer and Jack Loughran are joined by Tom Gray from Ordnance Survey to explore how mapping has evolved into a critical layer of modern technology.Now largely digital, Ordnance Survey’s data is constantly updated - capturing everything from major infrastructure projects to small, everyday changes - and powering systems far beyond traditional navigation. The conversation looks at how tools like AI and machine vision are enhancing mapping, and how geospatial data is being used to plan EV charging networks, support autonomous vehicles, and optimise infrastructure like data centres.They also dig into the National Underground Asset Register and the challenges of mapping what lies beneath our feet, before touching on the future of fully digitised road networks and national-scale digital twins.A concise look at how mapping underpins the technologies shaping modern Britain - and what comes next. 

Artificial intelligence has already transformed how we watch, listen and scroll — but is it about to reshape how entertainment is actually made?In this episode, E+T regulars Tim Fryer and Jack Loughran are joined by Sarah Atkinson, professor of screen media at King’s College London, to explore how AI is filtering into storytelling, production and performance. From Netflix algorithms and virtual actors to deepfakes, holograms and interactive cinema experiments, they examine whether AI is a creative partner, a cost-cutting disruptor, or a threat to already fragile creative careers.The conversation ranges from the legacy of early interactive film experiments to modern tools like generative video, asking whether audiences really want adaptive narratives — or simply better stories. As AI promises faster post-production and lower barriers to entry, could it democratise filmmaking and diversify voices, or will it accelerate job losses and homogenise culture? And in an industry built on illusion, does it matter if the magic is human-made?With Hollywood strikes, ethical concerns and education systems struggling to keep pace, the episode asks a bigger question: is AI the next evolutionary step in entertainment — or just another cinematic gimmick that will fade when the novelty wears off?“On one side, there’s very much a fear narrative. But then on the opposite scale, you have experimentation and eagerness to use this new tool to actually improve and enhance creativity.”

Venezuela sits on some of the largest oil reserves on the planet — but after years of nationalisation, sanctions, brain drain and crumbling infrastructure, is that oil actually worth the trouble?In this episode, we step away from the politics and dig into the realities of reviving Venezuela’s oil industry. What would it take to get production back online? Who would invest, who would take the risk, and how long would it really take to make a difference to global oil markets?Joining the discussion alongside E+T regulars Tim Fryer and Jack Loughran is Alan Gelder, senior vice president of refining, chemicals and oil markets at Wood Mackenzie, who brings a clear-eyed view of the technical, financial and geopolitical hurdles — from heavy crude and broken refineries to sanctions, emissions, and investor confidence.Is Venezuela a future energy powerhouse waiting to be unlocked — or an uninvestable headache in a world already awash with oil?"Resources that are in unstable regimes that look like they’re very costly to develop and also have a very high emissions intensity, don’t go to the top of the list.”

What difference can a President make in a year at the helm of the IET? How do individual agendas fit in with the overall strategy of the IET? And how do you measure success? These are some of the issues E+T's editor Tim Fryer put to the new President of the IET Dawn Ohlson. The conversation highlighted the importance to the IET of volunteering and why this is core to Dawn's objectives for the year.

Electric Vehicles are seen as part of a sustainable future, but irrespective of affordability and appeal, are there more fundamental issues facing the electrification of the car fleet? Have we optimised the technology and, more specifically, do we have the resources to fulfil future requirements? Essential materials are not always abundant. E+T’s Tim Fryer and Jack Loughran discussed the issues with Louis Piper, Professor of Electrochemical Materials at WMG, University of Warwick.

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