Membership criteria

The alternative is to create a new honours group where membership is based on a more exacting set of rules and conditions

Dr C L Murray should have taken a look at the website of the Royal Academy of Engineering (Letters, PE September). It informs the viewer that “As Britain’s national academy for engineering, we bring together the country’s most eminent engineers from all disciplines to promote excellence in the science, art and practice of engineering”.

As such, I presume it is acceptable to the academy to recruit a commercial artist – in the broadest translation of the note. The only realistic alternative is to create a new honours group where membership is based on a more exacting set of rules and conditions – including a definition of academic entry level qualifications.

But then in the 21st century we encourage fellowship of the IMechE at a much earlier age than would have been countenanced in the 20th century.

Dr Douglas Morrison, Perthshire 

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