Celebrating its 149th anniversary on 17 May 2020, the IET is kickstarting the countdown to its 150th anniversary with the launch of its #DifferenceMakers campaign.
The campaign aims to find those who are using engineering and technology solutions to solve a variety of global challenges across the world and to share these stories beyond the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) bubble, reaching new audiences globally.
From engineers and technologists that are inventing in their workplaces or even in their sheds, to the engineering community projects responding to local issues; from the activists that are challenging the status quo to the researchers finding novel solutions, the IET wants to give a global platform to showcase how they are contributing to making a real difference and more importantly inspire young people to take action themselves.
These #DifferenceMakers will be interviewed by young future influencers who will be chosen as part of the IET’s Youth Ambassador competition.
Professor Danielle George, incoming IET President, said:
“Although the world has changed since the Victorian times, one thing that still connects us with our history is that engineers continue to solve many of the challenges facing communities across the globe – making an ongoing difference to the world around us.
Just as in Victorian times, society today still depends on the skills and innovation of engineers and technologists to improve our world and make it more sustainable.
“Our 150th anniversary gives us a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our rich history.
We want to use it to engage and inspire young people so that engineering and technology are seen as a force for good and key to solving many of the biggest challenges facing our world.
This seems particularly relevant with the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, where we know that there are engineers and innovators making a real difference.”
As well as the #DifferenceMakers campaign, the IET has launched a Global Engagement Fund for its volunteers across the world to help them host special, celebratory events and activities in their regions.
Projects in South Asia include a competition in Sri Lanka to find engineering solutions for waste disposal, and a sustainability pentathlon competition involving five different events via the IET Chennai Local Network.
The anniversary year will also recognise the IET’s rich history and feature unexpected partnerships in unexpected places to inspire the next generation of engineers.
The IET is due to feature at the UK Pavilion at the World Expo 2020, Dubai UAE, as well as launch a junior membership club.
To find out more about the IET’s #DifferenceMakers campaign as part of its 150th year, please visit www.theiet.org/about/iet-150-anniversary/.
You can also send your nominations for #DifferenceMakers to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
About the IET
We inspire, inform and influence the global engineering community to engineer a better world.
We are a diverse home for engineering and technology intelligence throughout the world.
This breadth and depth means we are uniquely placed to help the sector progress society.
We want to build the profile of engineering and technology to change outdated perceptions and tackle the skills gap.
This includes encouraging more women to become engineers and growing the number of engineering apprentices.
Interview opportunities are available with our spokespeople from a range of engineering and technology disciplines including cyber-security, energy, engineering skills, innovation, manufacturing, technology, transport and diversity in engineering.
For more information, visit www.theiet.org