February 2012
On 2 February 2012, HRH The Prince of Wales delivered a lecture on civil engineering and sustainability at a joint Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and Halcrow event in London.
You can read a copy of his lecture here or view it online.
As part of his address he confirmed that his Foundation for Building Community, an organisation that promotes a return of human values to the built environment, and Halcrow were exploring the possibility of developing a secondee scheme.
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In focus, our video news update - this video captures the reactions of some of those present at the event.
As part of his speech Prince Charles was keen to point out the importance of civil engineering to his Foundation, “I have always been keen to see an engineering component in the educational work of my Foundation for Building Community”, he said.
“I am delighted that my Foundation and Halcrow are exploring the possibility of developing a secondee scheme involving staff from Halcrow and other members of the ICE, the purpose being to encourage engineers, along with the other professions, to be there at the start of the design process and to ensure a more integrated approach that lengthens the longevity of buildings and infrastructure so as to nurture human wellbeing and community.”
The Prince called on engineers to work with communities and the landscape to create power stations, sewage works and other structures "in harmony" with nature. He said engineering will be in the "front line" of coping with climate change and the growing human population in future by creating buildings and machines that use less energy and carbon.
"We have, by default, engineered something of a looming disaster and we need all the ingenuity we can muster to pull back from it."
Following the Prince’s lecture, Halcrow deputy chairman Tony Pryor reflected on his speech and thanked him, “Your royal highness, thank you very much indeed for an absolutely wondrously stimulating and informative address. I think all that are here are bowled over by the combination of history and engineering and the approach to some of the major issues of our time.”
“We are looking seriously at how Halcrow can help support your work, and hope to establish how we can have some engineering input to the Foundation for Building Community.”
His Royal Highness addressed an audience of invited guests covering the complete spectrum of infrastructure and built environment disciplines. Representatives from Halcrow, the ICE and a range of client organisations, media and other industry bodies attended the event.
Halcrow’s group director of technology and innovation, Tim Broyd, who is a member of the ICE’s executive board said: “The ICE and Halcrow joint series of lectures aims to generate debate on some of the key issues of our time.
"With extremely high profile speakers, the lectures have become, in a short space of time, a must- attend event in the diaries of those interested in sustainability, sustainable development, and the future of the built environment.
“Previous lecturers have included Amory Lovins, fo-founder, chairman and chief scientist of the Rocky Mountains Institute and Will Day, chair of the Sustainable Development Commission. We are delighted that the 2012 Lecture was be given by HRH The Prince of Wales.”