The future is just a stone’s throw away, but one thing is certain: Engineers play a major role in shaping the world of tomorrow. By building the essential infrastructure upon which society depends, they turn engineering knowledge into action, traversing the path from concept to practical creation. Technologies are changing at such a fast pace that we cannot say with certainty what our world will look like 10 or 20 or 30 years from now, but we do know that whatever new wonders appear, engineers will have played a major role in shaping the future.

While engineers come in many different shapes and sizes, the one thing common to them all is a curiosity about how things work. And yet, in our modern, fast-paced world, the engineering discipline is developing quicker than ever, and it can be difficult to stay abreast of cutting-edge technologies. That's where TED Talks comes in! TED is a non-profit organisation that was created in 1984 as a platform for spreading ideas, primarily in design, entertainment and technology.

The coronavirus lockdown has caused new construction projects to plummet by 37% from last year, according to a report by Glenigan. The global supply chain has stagnated, boding ill for any construction activity.

The 21st century has seen tremendous strides in the field of science and technology. Without a doubt, the biggest accomplishment for this can be attributed to those brave and visionary scientists, who are not afraid to push the boundaries of what we perceive as possible. And as engineers come in different forms, they all change the way our world works in many ways. They revolutionize the way we communicate, travel and perceive the world and the universe in general. Some even have a hand in sending us to different planets and changing our genes in ways we didn't think imaginable.

It’s no secret that we live in a world that is greatly shaped by wonderful thinking minds. These intellects have given way to some of the most incredible inventions and innovations humanity has devised.  Although there have been many engineering heroes throughout history, it is undeniable that nowadays we get to live in the times of some outstanding innovators.

Like most engineers, those working in the energy sector have a pretty diverse brief, and are tasked both with the reduction of existing energy consumption, and the improvement and development of technologies to produce energy more efficiently. As such, the optimal energy engineer is an optimiser and problem solver by nature. It's a highly specialised area of work and typically requires a post graduate qualification, but that's okay, you're a smart bunch.

Summer, finally, and we can all go outside again. Breakfast on the patio, barbeque parties, kids playing in the garden. Oh winter, how we miss you not. Key to any parent’s summertime relaxation, of course, is that the kids are happy, and busy. Any parent will know that the true value of any toy or activity can be calculated by multiplying the amount of time the kids are kept occupied by the educational merit. Possibly subtracting the cost of washing powder.