Wed 16 May 2018, 09:00 departure from Civic Theatre

We are pleased to announce a social event organised by Chelmsford Civic Society, who will be taking a coach trip to Bletchley Park to see:

• The mansion
• The codebreaking huts
• Colossus, the world's first digital computer
• The National Museum of Computing
• The National Radio Centre

Smashing Physics: Thu 8 Feb 2018, Anglia Ruskin University

We have added a lecture to our 2017/2018 programme: please add this to your diaries! Our thanks to our partners the Institute of Physics (IOP) for this.

Our partners, Essex County Council, are once again running the UK Youth Rocketry Challenge (UKRoC) in our region, with the final to be held in March at Stow Maries Aerodrome.

Many local schools have signed up are now seeking mentors who can assist them with the design and build of their rocket(s). Rocket science expertise is not required!

The anticipated time commitment would be perhaps a 1-2 hour meeting every month, although this can be varied according to the needs of the team and the mentor's availability. You would also be welcome to attend the final, which is normally at a weekend.

Read more: Mentors sought for Rocketry Challenge 2018

CSES Christmas Drinks and Dinner: Tue 12 Dec 2017, The Ivory Peg

We are pleased to announce our next members' social. Come and join us for an informal bite to eat and/or something to drink this Christmas.

Medical Technology in the Broomfield Hospital Operating Theatres: Wed 17 Jan 2018, Anglia Ruskin University

We have added a lecture to our 2017/2018 programme: please add this to your diaries! Our thanks to Dr Prasanna Tilakaratna, a CSES member, for offering to deliver this talk.

Braintree: Owning the Future: Thu 2 Nov 2017, STEM Innovation Centre, Braintree

My Smarter Essex is coming to Braintree! Braintree: Owning the Future will focus on future healthy individuals and societies, places to live and energy and resources, and what this means for the north of Essex.

My Smarter Essex: Tue 23 Jan 2018, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford

We will then repeat this event at its original home, Anglia Ruskin University, in January 2018.

Schools' Engineering and Technology Competition: Mon 25 June 2018, Marconi Building, Anglia Ruskin University

We are pleased to announce the dates for our 2018 Schools' Competition:

• The competition will take place on Monday 25 June 2018
• The awards evening will take place on Wednesday 11 July 2018

Please note that the competition is on a Monday this year.

Find out more about the competition, and how to enter, here.

We will announce when the competition is open for entries (early 2018), and look forward to seeing you in June!

Lecture programme and first events announced

Summer may be over, but don't worry, because that means we're back with another exciting season of events for our members and the public!

Details of what we've got planned can be found on our events page. Take a look and add these to your diary. This is just the start: more events will be added as time goes on. If you are a member, make sure your communication preferences are up-to-date in your profile to receive notification of upcoming events by email.

We look forward to seeing you throughout the next year.

Could you help us improve our offering to members? Do you want to be more involved in the society? Would you enjoy socialising with fellow members, possibly over a drink or two?

We are expanding the benefits available to members, and a key part of this is exclusive social events. To support this, we are looking for a Social Secretary.

Please can you help the society by volunteering your time?

Read more: CSES seeks Social Secretary