Welcome to the Northern Ireland Branch

Welcome to 2009 and a New Year of activities and events organised by the Northern Ireland Branch of the Institution of Structural Engineers. I have the honour of taking over as Branch Chairman following the extended “year” as Chairman of Kerry Greeves. The Institution is now following the “calendar year” for its activities rather that the “academic year”. The transition to the “calendar year” entailed a fifteen month “year” for Kerry that also incorporated the Centenary Year of the Institution. The Branch Committee, led by Kerry, with her customary enthusiasm and efficiency, organised several events in Northern Ireland to celebrate the Centenary of the Institution.

My background, as some may be aware, is in Higher Education at the University of Ulster at Jordanstown. I have previously worked in structural research and structural design and I passed my IStructE Part 3 in 1980. Some of the current issues in education reflect trends and practice in current structural engineering. One of the most pressing challenges shared with industry is the implementation of Eurocodes in syllabuses through the use of new teaching materials and software. Another challenge is keeping up to date with the burgeoning QA documentation for university teaching, research and professional accreditation. This latter process, in the academic environment, still has room for improvement to become as efficient and economical as QA processes in structural engineering practices.

The programme of activities for the forthcoming year includes talks by visiting speakers at evening meetings. The speakers have been chosen by me with the assistance of Stephen Alford, Honorary Secretary. The talk on Thomond Park Stadium has been chosen to be topical following recent comments on stadia in Northern Ireland. Prof Iain McLeod, of Strathclyde University, is no stranger to Northern Ireland and he will be talking on modern structural design methods. The talk on the refurbishment of the Ulster Museum gives an insight into the adaption and alteration of a prestige building. This topic is similar to the basis of one of the IStructE Part 3 questions in recent years. The final talk covers work on one bridge from the Northern Ireland stock of road bridges.

I hope that you participate in the activities of the Branch in the forthcoming year and thereby benefit from your membership of the Institution.

Regards

Dr John Lyness
Branch Chairman