Professional Engineering

Whilst there were many brilliant innovations developed through extreme necessity during the second world war the one which, to me, required the boldest vision and has had the most far reaching impact is the building of the code breaking machine Colossus. It significantly shortened the bloodiest war in history. It inspired the fully electronic computer, which in turn accelerated progress in virtually all subsequent science and technology. The fact which makes this most deserving though, is that due to the Official Secrets Act Tommy Flowers and his team received barely a fraction of the credit they deserve for shaping the modern world.
Nick Weston, Peebles

From finance to business, science to engineering; the global economic systems are built and driven by gifted individuals and robust teams. Movement of human resources has been the key to positive global societal development. The ‘De Havilland DH 106 Comet’ airliner embodied the vision to enhance global human resource movement.
Eddy Akang, Gloucester

The bicycle. Across the world the use of a bicycle has revolutionised travel. From a commuter using a bicycle to minimise pollution be being on two wheels instead of car, train, taxi, tube etc. through to less developed countries using the bicycle as a mode of transport to get food and water. The bicycle is an affordable mode of transport that anyone can use or participate in events in. Funding is always needed to provide a better infrastructure of safe bicycle paths etc. The following quote sums up what benefit bicycles have brought: “When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race.” - H.G. Wells
William Dafydd Gibby, Malvern, Worcestershire

The National Grid - connecting the whole country in a controlled network with standard electricity voltage, current, etc. It had a lot of opposition to siting of transmission towers through rural areas but was carried through because of the benefit it would provide to the whole country - a good example of appropriately balancing up local losses and national gains.
Harold West, South Glamorgan

The great Railways and Canals of the Victorian era were massive British projects, funded mostly by private enterprise and that transformed completely the English landscape. Such epic projects are hard to come by nowadays...
Edoardo Piano, Nottingham

The development of electrification without which most of the current technological advances would have never come to fruition.
Neil Chattle, Derby

The pencil as it has enabled generations of children to learn to write and to colour pictures for their grandparents and countless policemen to make those essential notes in their little black books. Wooden, grip, propelling, and coloured - fantastic! Oh - and indelible!
Peter Williams, Beverley, East Yorkshire

Probably the wheel, on the basis that repeatedly it keeps getting re-invented! Seriously - the internal combustion engine, now an essential and fundamental part of the logistics, transportation and shipping industries, and also for personal mobility and leisure activities.
Herman Ruijsenaars, Lincoln

For me the main advances in engineering from the past that would have been worthy of such an award would have been the key things that have had a major impact on the way we live today. The first thing that comes to mind is the engineering developments of (primarily) the 19th and 20th centuries that lead to the provision of modern modes of transport, particularly the automobile, but also planes and mass use of the railways. The second area that comes to mind is the engineering behind the provision of energy that fuels our modern lifestyles. These latter advances in engineering cover a wide spectrum from development of nuclear technology, offshore oil and gas technology, hydroelectric technologies etc., together with the associated power stations, infrastructure and distribution networks that take power and energy to each and every home and business.
Ben Walls, Chapel of Garioch, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire

My submission is for two engineers called Stanley Nowlan and Howard Heap from United Airlines who, in the late 1960's, devised the Maintenance Steering Group (MSG) logic process for deriving the content of aircraft maintenance schedules using logic algorithms, and by basing the maintenance on the reliability of the systems, sub-systems and components. This was first used on the Boeing 747 and was subsequently adopted by commercial operators and the military across the World. It was subsequently developed by them into MSG-2 and MSG-3 and their paper advocating MSG-3 was entitled "Reliability-centred Maintenance" or RCM as we now know it. The consequence of their work is that scheduled aircraft maintenance has been reduced from a high cost item to something that is of far less significance now. By focusing on the reliability of systems and equipment, the manufacturers have now developed far more reliable and much cheaper solutions. Nowlan and Heap have saved the World's operators millions and made our lives much safer and cheaper across a range of industries, not just aviation.
Nick Schulkins, Winchester, Hants

The ability to travel freely, cheaply and quickly has changed society dramatically. The broader exchange of ideas, improvement in business and capacity for low cost trade has been achieved through the introduction of railways. Moreover the social benefits brought in their wake are inestimable.
Harvey Barker, Hull

The light bulb by Thomas Edisson.
Henrik Davoudi, Derby

The development of the steam engine, enabling humans to increase productivity in almost every aspect of life, and to improve their living conditions.
Neil Henderson, Hatfield, Herts

The oil and gas industry in the North Sea. The industry overcame considerable engineering challenges to extract oil and gas from an arduous environment. The products produced using the oil and gas, and the tax revenue paid to the government by the industry provided significant benefit to society.
Edward Tibenham, Lincoln

Advances in techniques to ensure purification of drinking water in the poorest nations and in disaster areas.
Humph Jones, Wiltshire

I nominate the aeroplane as it has enabled air travel for all, thanks to people like the Frenchman Clement Ader who was first to power fly in Avion III in 1890, followed by the Wrights in Flyer in 1903. The £1m should be used to train tomorrow's aeroengineers.
Richard Young, Manchester

Harry Ferguson's patented tractor 3 point linkage. Enabled farmers to work more effectively, boosting food production around end WWII. Took drudgery out of farming and reduced labour requirement. Worldwide success. Incorporated in Ferguson TE20 tractor, significantly helped balance of payments. Linkage in use worldwide today.
Noelle Paine, Lutterworth

The development of the steam engine during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Mankind was no longer limited by muscle power.
Warwick Powell, Poole

• What achievement form the past do you think would have befitted such an award? Tell us by leaving a comment below.