A Commentary on the Draft Code of Practice for the Structural Use of Steel in Buildings. Discussion

From the earliest times wise men have said there is nothing new under the sun. This statement may seem an exaggeration when applied to human conceptions, yet a study of some of the innovations shows that in many cases the main idea which guided the inventor had already been considered by one or other of his predecessors whose researches had failed to reach completion through lack of materials or other circumstances. We contemplate the history of inventions in a spirit of humility, mingled with pity for the lost efforts of so many would-be inventors. Henrie Lossier

Niamh McCloskey reflects on her personal experience of the challenging reality of returning to work after maternity leave, questioning whether workplaces truly support women in this transition and highlighting how, with the right support and recognition of the new perspectives and skills that motherhood can bring, we can retain mothers and allow them to thrive in underrepresented industries.

Steven McKerlie is troubled by longstanding underinvestment in maintenance of UK bridge assets and the implications of this for safety if weaknesses in past assessments that are still relied on are not acknowledged.