Institution of Civil Engineers | Trustee's view
An opportunity to commemorate Smeaton
The “father of civil engineering” John Smeaton is credited with coining the term civil engineer. His legacy is impressive, and includes many famous structures such as the Eddystone Lighthouse.
He also founded the first engineering society in the world – the Society of Civil Engineers, renamed the Smeatonian Society of Civil Engineers following his death.
PAULA MCMAHON
Every year, the ICE celebrates this legacy through the annual Smeaton lecture series. But 2024 offers the chance to do more – marking 300 years since his birth, in Leeds on 8 June 1724. This year is an opportunity to celebrate, and reflect on, the life of a man whose efforts helped shape the profession we have today.
We can all learn from his endeavours and channel our inner Smeaton in the work we do, from design to construction to redevelopment. His work ethic and projects were sustainable, resilient, collaborative and inclusive by design – everything we strive for in modern infrastructure.
Many of the structures he designed are still relevant and workable – hugely sustainable when considered in a whole life sense. Smeaton would no doubt have been an advocate of the changes we are bringing to the sector to create more resilient infrastructure solutions.
We are at a time in history where our industry has the opportunity to make an enormous difference, in a global context. Despite the centuries between us, much of Smeaton’s work is relevant.
He was known to be an ethical employer and he resisted patenting his designs so they could be used by all. This understanding that civil engineering should place society and the public good at its heart is still what drives the profession today.
“We are at a time in history where our industry has the opportunity to make an enormous difference, in a global contextHe also understood that engineering impacts all areas of our world. Not constrained by tradition, his work regularly led to collaboration with artists and theatre set designers. As we strive to meet the global challenges facing us, we know, more than ever, that collaboration is key to productive and sustainable solutions.
Indeed, the theme of Anusha Shah’s presidential address in November would no doubt have appealed to Smeaton, whose work was inspired by, and utilised, the power of nature. Shah emphasised the need for us to become a nature and people-positive profession at heart, to implement nature-based and green solutions as the norm across the world.
Throughout the year, there will be many celebrations of this great engineer’s life. The Institution is pleased to support the work being done by the Smeaton 300 project, to create a film about his life.
In 2024 we all have a chance to highlight the important role civil engineers play to the wider public, while creating an opportunity to consider the legacies we all want to leave behind.
- Paula McMahon is Trustee for UK regions