The Late Mr. P.J. Black

It is reasonable to say that our modern civilisation has been built on a foundation of Iron and Steel. The multitudinous uses to which they have been put have caused engineers and those whose duty it is to safeguard and preserve them, to realise how difficult it is to suppress the destructive processes of corrosion. The belief that corrosion was practically inevitable had led to a customary and arbitrary increase in metallic thickness beyond that functionally required, and to an instinctive avoidance of exposed metallic surfaces in buildings of a permanent nature. David W. James-Carrington

This month's letters include additional references for the June issue's Regent Street disease article and discussions about seismic design and minimum qualifications for carrying out structural engineering services.

This book is a must-read for engineering leaders, offering a fresh perspective and practical guidance on embedding diversity, equity and inclusion into the profession, writes Mariska van der Velden.