Creative explosion: when the brightest minds meet the most experienced leaders

In just under a month Future of Design, the sixth young engineers’ conference organised by the International Association of Bridge and Structural Engineering British Group takes place at Imperial College London.

Antony Oliver
20 August 2014

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It’s a day when some of the brightest and most demanding young minds come face to face with some of the most experienced and challenging leaders in engineering design. The result rarely disappoints.

Having been involved in the last few of these events I can only really describe them as being inspiring, eye-opening, challenging and hugely rewarding. Engineering and architecture “superstar” speakers talking about mind blowing projects; intriguing explanations of fascinating research projects; passionate discussion about the future of the profession that really makes you stop and think.

While shortage of skills is a threat to the industry, a shortage of creative ambition and desire to support innovative, sustainable solutions would be so much worse.

As the event blurb puts it, the day is a “unique platform for networking and to be inspired by the leading figures in the design world” and include presentations on “current cutting edge designs as well as discussions about the future challenges of our profession”.

Every year I have left the post conference dinner feeling reassured that, for all the challenges facing young engineers today as we move from recession to under-resourced growth, the future is in safe hands. 

It is interesting to consider this in the context of the challenges facing so many of the businesses in the expanding infrastructure sector right now. 

These challenges could be summed up as being: how to find innovative solutions to meet the needs of increasingly demanding clients;  while simultaneously finding and retaining the staff that are needed now and in the future to deliver those innovate solutions;  while also operating in an environment demanding ever increasing economic and low carbon efficiencies.

We don’t have a full on skills shortage yet. But whichever way you look at it infrastructure businesses are only going to succeed if they inspire, attract and invest in the best staff and talent and create the environments in which innovative ideas and creativity can flow. 

Certainly it’s a must attend for all young engineers but don’t be put off by the conference title. Even if you no longer consider yourself to be in the “young” category you really do need to be there on 18 September.

Without a doubt we always need more fantastic great young minds to join in and work to create the global infrastructure of the future. There is no question that those we do have coming through our schools, colleges, universities and now increasingly apprenticeship schemes, really do have the ideas, passion and skills needed to create a sustainable future.

While shortage of skills is a threat to the industry, a shortage of creative ambition and desire to support innovative, sustainable solutions would be so much worse.

So to put it bluntly, I recommend that you book you ticket for the Future of Design conference today – wherever you sit in the profession chronological hierarchy.

Certainly it’s a must attend for all young engineers but don’t be put off by the conference title. Even if you no longer consider yourself to be in the “young” category you really do need to be there on 18 September.

In short if you have any interest in design, the future shape of the profession or the kind of thinking that is going to be driving the infrastructure and the industry of the future you will not be disappointed.

And I can’t imagine that that isn’t everybody.

Antony Oliver is the editor of Infrastructure Intelligence

Details of the IABSE Future of Design conference are here.