2026 is going to be a year of change for the IMechE, the vote for the sale of Birdcage Walk has been approved by the IMechE membership (exceeding the 2/3 majority requirement) so the IMechE can look forward to a period of change and renewal in 2026 with the Eastern Region playing its part.
We have also had a renewal of the Eastern Region Committee at the end of 2025 with new enthusiastic members joining us. The new faces are especially welcome and I am also indebted to the long standing members who have given so much of their time already.
The objectives for the Eastern Region in 2026 and beyond:
- A seat on the table at National level meetings of the IMechE meetings, to put forward the views of the region
- Outreach; supporting activities in primary schools, senior schools and at University level
- Area Groups; supporting the areas within the region
- Communications; using the IMechE IT tools keep the membership informed of events within the region.
- Finance; providing the cash to support events
Wishing you all a healthy and prosperous new year.
Eur Ing
Peter Wotherspoon
MSc, CPhys, MInstP, CEng, FIMechE.
Eastern Region: Acting Chair
Institution of MECHANICAL ENGINEERS
http://nearyou.imeche.org/near-you/UK/Eastern
Telephone: +44 (0)1268 743966
Mobile: +44 (0)789 9032753
Email:peter.wotherspoon@member.imeche.org
Improving the world through engineering
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Event Type: Workshop
12 March 2026 19:00 to 21:00
Cambridge Museum of Technology - Cambridge
During this session you will learn how to demystify the behaviour of other; why you immediatey warm to some people whilst others leave you cold. You will take away a tool kit to help you gain insight into other people's motives and personal agendas and hence understand their behaviour and what you can do to enhance your relationships with anyone and everyone.
Industry: Cross-sector
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Event Type: Professional development event
16 March 2026 18:30 to 19:30
Online Event
This workshop will explain how an engineer may use the experiential learning gained through technical work experience and articulate how they have achieved the AHEP 4 learning outcomes at Bachelors or Masters level.
It will be useful to attend if you have significant technical work experience which may be used instead of a formal academic qualification or, if you had planned to do Further Leaning after graduating, but never quite managed it.
Industry: Cross-sector
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Event Type: Competition event
25 March 2026 19:00 to 22:00
Anglia Ruskin University - Chelmsford, Essex
Are flying cars feasible, or just wishful thinking?
Watch future engineers battle it out, defending their notions on a variety of economically relevant and contemporary engineering challenges, in a debate competition organised by ARU Orators in collaboration with IMechE and hosted by Anglia Ruskin University.
Industry: Other Industries / Sectors
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Event Type: Talk or debate
22 April 2026 19:30 to 21:00
Anglia Ruskin University - Essex
Lithium-ion batteries are central to electrified transport but are complex systems shaped by electrochemical, mechanical, and electrical factors. With up to 140 manufacturing steps and 600 variables, optimisation is difficult and resource-intensive. This talk explores manufacturing through engineering and modelling, and how AI can address key challenges.
Industry: Energy transfer & thermofluid mechanics
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Event Type: Professional development event
16 June 2026 10:00 to 15:00
Virtual
We are keen to support our members in any way we can. For our members who are actively seeking to become professionally registered as a Chartered, Incorporated or EngTech member or as a Fellow, we are offering free events and support.
Industry: Cross-sector