Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED

• Why the Final Frontier Needs Engineers | Stephen Ringler MD Space Store

  Engineers Ireland returns to the National Ploughing Championships with amazing engineering attractions!Visit the Team at Block 3 – Row 9 – Stand 205 to and discover virtual reality welding, the spacewalk experience and a Formula 1 car simulator. Explore biomedical marvels, and challenge a collaborative robot.Meet the Mark the Science Guy and the STEPS education outreach team, and look out for daily prizes and fantastic giveaways.Visit www.engineersireland.ie/Ploughing-Championships for more information. The National Ploughing Championships takes place in Screggan, Tullamore from 16 to 18 September.--------------In this inspiring episode of Amplified: The Engineers Journal Podcast, aerospace engineer and entrepreneur Stephen Ringler, Managing Director of Space Store, shares his journey from working on NASA’s Juno mission to launching a space-themed retail and education company in the UK. Host Dusty Rhodes delves into Stephen's early fascination with space, his experiences navigating large-scale engineering projects, and the challenges of budget cuts in the space sector.Stephen also explores the power of inclusive space education, revealing how Space Store aims to make space accessible and exciting for everyone — from schoolchildren to corporate teams. Packed with insights on testing, risk management, active listening, and keeping passion alive in a demanding industry, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in engineering, innovation, and the future of space exploration.THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUTSpace belongs to everyone - not just scientists and engineers.Testing is critical: break it until it stops breaking.Communication and collaboration are essential in large-scale engineering projects.Active listening leads to better engineering outcomes and more relevant solutions.Drive and passion need support - from self-talk to strong mentors.How space innovation directly benefits life on Earth - from MRIs to climate tech. GUEST DETAILS Stephen has over 20 years of experience working in the Space sector as a Pointing Precision Engineer, Programmatic Analyst, and Business Developer. With his training that began at UCLA and his vast experience and network in the Space community, his aim with Spacetime Development is to provide top-notch business development support and engineering services to high-tech companies. Stephen enjoys exploring castles and playing board games, jazz piano and drums. MORE INFORMATIONLooking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/   Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland. QUOTES"Break it until it stops breaking, and then we can send it to space.""The space industry belongs to everyone.""We bring space to Earth - that’s what we do.""Sometimes we solve problems that people don't have.""If you're ultimately trying to take human beings and put them somewhere else, everything that is part of a human being needs to be thought about taking them somewhere else.""If I lost either engineering or teaching, I think I would die a little on the inside."

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• Net Zero Nation: Small Changes BIG Impact

  Engineers Ireland returns to the National Ploughing Championships with amazing engineering attractions!Visit the Team at Block 3 – Row 9 – Stand 205 to and discover virtual reality welding, the spacewalk experience and a Formula 1 car simulator. Explore biomedical marvels, and challenge a collaborative robot.Meet the Mark the Science Guy and the STEPS education outreach team, and look out for daily prizes and fantastic giveaways.Visit www.engineersireland.ie/Ploughing-Championships for more information. The National Ploughing Championships takes place in Screggan, Tullamore from 16 to 18 September.--------------In this episode of Amplified, we wrap up our special mini-series on sustainability with an episode discussing the importance of mindset shifts in achieving Ireland's 2030 renewable energy targets. Henry Boucher and Terry Wilkinson, experts in renewable and civil engineering respectively, emphasise the impact of small changes in sustainability. Terry highlights cost-effective measures like wildlife ladders for amphibians, while Henry focuses on early integration of biodiversity considerations in projects. Both stress the importance of community engagement, effective communication, and practical steps like reducing material use and measuring embodied carbon. They advocate continuous improvement and collaboration to achieve broader sustainability goals.THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUTThe need to move beyond technical fixes to sustainability mindset shiftsHow biodiversity can be enhanced through subtle project design changesThe need to move beyond technical fixes to sustainability mindset shiftsDesigning infrastructure to cope with extreme weatherChallenges in balancing safety, cost, and environmental benefitGUEST DETAILS Henry Boucher is a Civil, Environmental and Renewable Engineering Manager at ESB.https://www.linkedin.com/in/henry-bouchier-271b6b18/#Terry Wilkinson is a Design & Application Engineer at ACO Water Management. As a Civil Engineer for ACO, Terry has focused his career predominantly on the highways industry, both in his 11 years at ACO and prior to this working as a client, consultant and contractor for Local Authority highways. He is a member of the CIHT and is working towards his chartered engineer status with CPD at the heart of this journey. His professional interests are focused on wildlife mitigation solutions and highway surface water management; however, he also has a broader understanding of applications for other areas such as rail, housing, commercial and distribution developments. Biodiversity and wildlife are things he is also passionate about personally and he is actively involved in initiatives such as local toad patrols.https://www.linkedin.com/in/terry-wilkinson-beng-mciht/MORE INFORMATIONLooking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/   Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.QUOTESWe never get to net zero unless we have a wide variety of renewable energy sources, and then we have some backup— Henry Boucher, Civil, Environmental and Renewable Engineering Manager at ESBOften with sustainability, people have these massive identity, massive cost ideas... but often some of the smaller measures can really have positive impacts— Terry Wilkinson, Design & Application Engineer at ACO Water ManagementIt's a mindset shift that has technical solutions. We just have to think a little bit differently how we do things— Henry Boucher, Civil, Environmental and Renewable Engineering Manager at ESBEverything in nature and wildlife is linked. If you have a decline of a certain species, it will have a knock-on effect to something else— Terry Wilkinson, Design & Application Engineer at ACO Water ManagementDo one thing right, and then you can go back and improve something else. Just improve one thing is probably the way to do it— Henry Boucher, Civil, Environmental and Renewable Engineering Manager at ESBKEYWORDS#SustainableEngineering #RenewableEnergy #BiodiversityInfrastructure #ClimateInnovation

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• Net Zero Nation: Engineering Urban Mobility

  Engineers Ireland returns to the National Ploughing Championships with amazing engineering attractions!Visit the Team at Block 3 – Row 9 – Stand 205 to and discover virtual reality welding, the spacewalk experience and a Formula 1 car simulator. Explore biomedical marvels, and challenge a collaborative robot.Meet the Mark the Science Guy and the STEPS education outreach team, and look out for daily prizes and fantastic giveaways.Visit www.engineersireland.ie/Ploughing-Championships for more information. The National Ploughing Championships takes place in Screggan, Tullamore from 16 to 18 September.--------------In this second episode of our Amplified sustainability series, host Dusty Rhodes dives deep into the future of sustainable transport in Ireland.With the 2030 emissions deadline fast approaching, the focus turns to engineering, political will, and social change needed to revolutionise Ireland’s transportation system. Joining Dusty are Professor Brian Caulfield, a leading transportation researcher from Trinity College Dublin, and Robert Sizer, Director of Engineering for UK at IESA, renowned for his expertise in major infrastructure projects like rail stations and tunnels. Together, they unravel the real challenges behind meeting climate targets, from public acceptance to the transformative power of multimodal transport networks. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUTThe urgent 2030 transport emissions targets and what it will really take to meet themWhy Ireland’s main transportation challenges are political and social, not technicalEngineering solutions for decarbonising public transport: electric, hydrogen, and biofuelsReal-world examples: Reimagining city spaces in Dublin, Madrid, London, and BarcelonaThe impact of major projects (metros, tunnels, and light rail) on urban lifeGUEST DETAILSProf. Brian Caulfield, Professor in Transportation at Trinity College DublinBrian Caulfield is a Professor in Transportation at Trinity College Dublin. Since joining the Department Prof Caulfield has embarked on an intensive research program addressing global issues such as the environmental impacts of transport and methods to reduce the carbon impacts of transport and in 2017 he addressed the Irish Citizens Assembly on this topic. He recently provided advice to the Climate Change Advisory Council on pathways to decreasing transport emissions by 2030. Prof Caulfield is currently a member of the Steering Group for the review and update of the GDA Transport Strategy with the National Transport Authority.Prof Caulfield has published over 200 papers in these areas and is also a member of a number of National and International research groups and is the former Chair of the Irish Transportation Research Network.Rob Sizer, Director of Engineering for UK at AYESARob is a Chartered Civil Engineer who is an experienced project manager in delivering large complex multi-disciplinary design projects. Rob is particularly experienced in managing and developing relationships with key clients and stakeholder. Such as London Underground, Overground and Thames Water and Crossrail. Rob has a strong technical background with over 15 years working across the civil engineering industry, and is highly experienced in the design delivery, process, standards and requirements for rail infrastructure, such as stations and tunnels.MORE INFORMATIONLooking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/   Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.Quotes"The real transportation challenge isn’t EVs—it’s humans. Social and political will, not engineering, are the hardest parts.” - Prof Brian Caulfield"If engineers had the money, we’d be building metros and light rails right now. The solutions exist—the bottleneck is delivering them.”  - Prof Brian Caulfield "Sustainability isn’t just about the infrastructure; it’s about minimizing disruption for people and reusing space for public life.” -  Robert Sizer"Give more space back to people, and you change how cities work and how we live in them."- Prof Brian Caulfield"We need sustainability to be a contract KPI, not just a talking point. That’s how you get real change." - Robert Sizer

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• Net Zero Nation: Intro & Overview

  Engineers Ireland returns to the National Ploughing Championships with amazing engineering attractions!Visit the Team at Block 3 – Row 9 – Stand 205 to and discover virtual reality welding, the spacewalk experience and a Formula 1 car simulator. Explore biomedical marvels, and challenge a collaborative robot.Meet the Mark the Science Guy and the STEPS education outreach team, and look out for daily prizes and fantastic giveaways.Visit www.engineersireland.ie/Ploughing-Championships for more information. The National Ploughing Championships takes place in Screggan, Tullamore from 16 to 18 September.--------------In this episode of Amplified, host Dusty Rhodes kicks off a special mini-series on sustainability with a powerful conversation about engineering’s critical role in achieving Ireland’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).He’s joined by Niamh Breslin of IDA Ireland and Richard Manton from the University of Galway. Together, they explore the reality of decarbonisation, grid resilience, and the transformative influence engineers have—from infrastructure to leadership. With insights into green economy investment, education, and collaboration across sectors, this episode is both a wake-up call and a blueprint for a more sustainable Ireland. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUTThe central role engineers play in achieving Ireland’s climate targetsIDA Ireland and their support of transformative investments in clean energyHow University of Galway is driving change and embedding sustainability in educationThe importance of lifelong learning for engineers to adapt to a changing worldThe need for engineers to work with other scientific professionals, social scientists, and business leaders to solve sustainability challenges.GUEST DETAILS Niamh Breslin is Sustainability Manager at IDA Ireland. Niamh manages the development and implementation of IDA Ireland’s foreign direct investment Sustainability strategy, with a focus on decarbonisation of the FDI industry, and delivery of IDA Ireland’s commitments to the National Climate Action Plan.Niamh has significant international experience and has successfully led teams in Dublin, London, Paris and Frankfurt. Niamh has a degree in Computational Linguistics from Dublin City University and a diploma in Business Management from University of Galway. Dr Richard Manton is the Director of Sustainability at University of Galway, Ireland's leading university for sustainability and a National SDG Ambassador. He was previously the Registrar at Engineers Ireland and a Non-Executive Director at Bus Éireann. Richard is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of Engineers Ireland with a BE in civil engineering, MA in financial management and a PhD in sustainable transportation. He is the current Chairperson of the Engineers Ireland West Region.MORE INFORMATIONLooking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/   Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.Further information is also available at RESEARCH.UNIVERSITYOFGALWAY.IEQUOTESThere are companies in Ireland today that will see their Scope 1 carbon emissions reduced by 100%. This is real. It’s happening— Niamh Breslin, IDA IrelandGraduates are choosing employers based on sustainability. If your climate action plan isn’t strong, you’ll lose talent— Niamh Breslin, IDA IrelandEven with all of these ambitious plans, we’re only on track to hit about 23% emissions reduction by 2030. We need to be more radical— Richard Manton, University of GalwayElectrification and public transport are the key. It’s not just about EVs—it’s about moving people, en masse, sustainably— Richard Manton, University of GalwayWe need engineers who can speak finance—who can sit with CFOs and show where the savings are. That’s how we get buy-in— Niamh Breslin, IDA IrelandKEYWORDS#SustainableDevelopmentGoals #NetZero #RenewableEnergy #GridResilience #OffshoreWind 

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• Build Big, Build Green, Build Better | Ross Cullen SISK

  Engineers Ireland returns to the National Ploughing Championships with amazing engineering attractions!Visit the Team at Block 3 – Row 9 – Stand 205 to and discover virtual reality welding, the spacewalk experience and a Formula 1 car simulator. Explore biomedical marvels, and challenge a collaborative robot.Meet the Mark the Science Guy and the STEPS education outreach team, and look out for daily prizes and fantastic giveaways.Visit www.engineersireland.ie/Ploughing-Championships for more information. The National Ploughing Championships takes place in Screggan, Tullamore from 16 to 18 September.--------------Engineering has always been about solving problems—but today’s problems are bigger, greener, and more complex than ever before. From cutting carbon in concrete to tunnelling under major cities, the pressure is on to build infrastructure that’s not just strong, but sustainable.In this episode, we explore what it really takes to deliver major engineering projects while meeting ambitious climate targets. We’ll hear how to lead under pressure, manage high-stakes decisions, and unlock career-defining opportunities through mentorship and curiosity. Plus, we look at how engineers can drive innovation from within—by asking the right questions, building strong teams, and embracing failure as a pathway to growth.Our guest brings over 20 years of hands-on experience across some of the UK and Ireland’s biggest civil infrastructure projects, including Crossrail, the Limerick Tunnel, and the Luas Cross City. He’s passionate about decarbonising construction and shaping the next generation of engineering leaders. It’s a pleasure to welcome Ross Cullen, Group Chief Engineer and Head of Engineering Services at Sisk.THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUTThe importance of people skills in the engineering industryThe challenges in working on engineering projects underground and underwaterHow sustainability and decarbonisation play a role in engineering todayThe need for innovation and continuous improvement in an ever evolving industryCareer development and ownership, and the importance of being inquisitive.GUEST DETAILSRoss Cullen is Group Chief Engineer and Head of Engineering Services at Sisk. He is responsible for developing and leading Engineering strategy for the organisation supporting pre-construction and current projects under construction across Ireland, the UK and Europe. In 2018, Ross established an Engineering Services department in Sisk, growing a business out of the Civil Engineering unit and created an internal consultancy to provide construction engineering consultancy services to the wider GroupRoss is a Chartered Civil Engineer and Fellow of Engineers Ireland and the Institute of Civil Engineers. His background extends from working on complex infrastructure schemes, where he has been central to the design management process. His experience extends across multiple sectors including Infrastructure, Civil Engineering, Marine, Data, Energy, Life Sciences, Commercial and Residential.Ross is passionate about sustainability and seeking out carbon savings in the construction industry. Ross is chair of the Sisk Low Carbon Concrete working group and is actively involved in several collaborations with industry and academic institutes to support the development of new low carbon concrete solutions.MORE INFORMATIONLooking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/   Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.QUOTESBe inquisitive, ask questions, because people are incredibly generous with their time if you ask the questions and you show an interest.  - Ross CullenYou need to take some ownership for your own career. You need to decide fairly early what you like, what you don't like, because it's important to rule out certain things. - Ross CullenYou learn from problems. You learn from what's caused you pain. You don't learn from what goes well - Ross CullenComing up with a good idea is the easy bit with anything… sometimes making it better isn't the right thing to do. - Ross CullenConstruction is a people business, and that's what makes it exciting. You meet different people, different skill sets, extremely diverse. - Ross Cullen

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