Annual Dinner

The modern trend of structural development is to reduce weight, and simultaneously to increase structural efficiency. A powerful means for realising these aims is to be found in the use of sections of thin walled proportions. Such sections, on account of their lightness, together with outlines chosen for maximum stiffness, give a high load-carrying capacity to structural weight ratio. W. Shearer Smith

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.