Structural Engineering Research at the Building Research Station. Discussion on Dr. F.G. Thomas's Pa

1. Since 1935-in what time I could spare from other things-my thoughts have been directed to one main objective : I have been seeking to extend the range and power of a new technique of numerical computation. It has been, for me, a rather thrilling experience, for in that time, with a small but enthusiastic team, I have gone for harder and yet harder problems without (as yet) meeting any that defied attack. At all times we have been fully extended by our current problem, but looking back on problems solved six months before we have seen them as quite easy though at times laborious. Indeed, the end is now in sight of problems known to me when we started, and still no quite insuperable barrier is apparent. We seem to have found a tool of general utility, and now it seems that what I have to do is different : to interest others in a line of thought which they may find of use, applied to problems that are outside our range of knowledge. Richard V. Southwell

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.