The Implications of the Report of the Inquiry into the Collapse of Flats at Ronan Point , Canning To

THE Institution's Shear Study Group, which began its meetings in March 1965, was given the following terms of reference: 'To consider the available information on shear in concrete in various scientific papers and foreign Codes, to decide what further tests are required, and to put forward suggestions for a research programme which will eventually enable a relationship to be established between design formulae and the various modes of failure that can occur.' Professor A.L.L. Baker, C.W. Yu and P.E. Regan

This month's letters discuss foundations in shrinkable ground and highlight a survey on structural optimisation in practice.

Shalini Jagnarine-Azan describes how the impact of a heating planet is already being felt by islands in the Caribbean, and discusses the challenges of trying to build back more resiliently following a disaster.