Institution Notes

Professor J. W. de Courcy (F) (University College, Dublin): It would not be seemly to address in detail a paper of this scope and authority in a contribution of a few minutes. Furthermore, it would appear that the Institution this evening must be primarily concerned with the important concepts raised by Dr. Somerville rather than with detail.

European Engineer? As mentioned in ‘Institution notes’ in July, the British National Committee of the European Federation of National Engineering Associations introduced the suggestion that the title ‘European Engineer’ should be adopted throughout Europe for professionally educated and trained engineers. FEANI has now been in contact with the European Commission with the aim of introducing the proposal in a future EEC directive for engineers. While the benefits of international recognition are clear, we might ask ourselves whether we are anxious to have this title. Mr Peter Dunican is forthright in his view; he writes: Personally, I would not claim to have any monopoly on daft ideas but I think this is the daftest one I have heard for a long time. I know that, for many years, considerable effort has been made to get the British public to understand what is meant by ‘Chartered Engineer’ (and perhaps with some success) but to introduce a new concept of ‘European Engineer’ based on another EEC directive and ignore completely the fact that there are also American engineers, African engineers, Indian engineers, and so on, in no way helps to achieve the international recognition and understanding which we are seeking. Verulam

Professor Edmund Happold, FEng, will succeed David Lee, FEng, as President of the Institution 1986-87 at an Ordinary Meeting at headquarters on Thursday 2 October. The handover ceremony begins at 6pm, when Prof. Happold will give his Presidential Address, ‘Can you hear me at the back?’, the full text of which will be published in The Structural Engineer in November.