We are proud to launch the Failure Modes of Engineering Network (FeME), a collaboration between the Universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Heriot-Watt, supported by £2.2 million from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
FeME has grown from a simple but powerful belief: engineering should represent the society it serves. Too often, engineering has overlooked those most affected by the climate crisis including women, children, and underrepresented communities. Our mission is to change that, by ensuring their knowledge, leadership, and voices shape the future of engineering.
Why FeME?
We know that understanding failure is just as important as celebrating success. In systems engineering, we use failure modes analysis to learn why things break down. FeME applies this idea to the relationship between engineering, people, and the environment.
By learning from what hasn’t worked, we can prevent systemic breakdowns and create engineering solutions that are inclusive, resilient, and just.
Our Focus
We have structured our work around six “Failure Modes of Engineering,” each representing an urgent challenge we must face together:
Failure Mode 1: Diverse Engineering – attracting and supporting more women in engineering.
Failure Mode 2: Inspired Engineering – co-creating solutions with communities and building trust.
Failure Mode 3: Connected Engineering – making data and digital tools accessible across the globe.
Failure Mode 4: Inclusive Engineering – dismantling barriers for underrepresented groups.
Failure Mode 5: Transdisciplinary Engineering – combining technical, social, and policy expertise.
Failure Mode 6: Agile Engineering – adapting quickly to climate shocks and resource constraints.
These Failure Modes are led by experts in the area and guide everything we do including our workshops, conferences, mentoring, funding, and partnerships.
Putting people first
From the start, we wanted FeME to be a network where participation is possible for everyone. That’s why we have introduced travel bursaries to enable colleagues from the Global South to join our activities, and a Caring Pot to support those with childcare or other responsibilities.
For us, equity is not an add-on. It is the foundation of how we work.
Storytelling as change
Engineering is about more than technology, it is about people. Through storytelling, we can make visible the lives and leadership of those who are too often ignored.
This is why we have launched the FeME Tapestry, a digital map showcasing our growing community of researchers, practitioners, and projects worldwide. Each entry is a thread in a larger story, demonstrating how engineering can look when it is shaped by diverse voices.
The Urgency
We launch FeME in the face of sobering realities. One billion children already live in countries at extremely high risk from climate change. Indigenous peoples, migrants, and people with disabilities are among the most vulnerable to extreme weather, sea-level rise, and drought. Research also shows that climate disasters can worsen inequalities, with spikes in gender-based violence.
Communities on the frontlines of climate change hold knowledge, resilience, and skills that the world needs. Our role is to make sure they are not just consulted but empowered as leaders of solutions.
A Collective Effort
FeME is more than a project; it is a movement. Our Advisory Board, which includes leaders such as Dawn Bonfield MBE FREng, alongside our diverse team of specialists, is helping us stay ambitious, accountable, and globally connected.
Together, we are building a community that crosses borders and disciplines—because no single sector can solve the climate crisis alone.
An Invitation
We invite you to join us. Whether you are an early-career researcher, a policymaker, a community organiser, or someone passionate about justice in engineering, there is a place for you in FeME.
You can add your work to the FeME Tapestry, apply for a fellowship or seed fund, or take part in our events and mentoring programmes. Each contribution helps us weave a stronger, more connected network.
Looking Ahead
When we look to the future of engineering, we see more than bridges, turbines, or data models. We see people: collaborating across borders, learning from past failures, and co-creating solutions that are sustainable, fair, and inclusive.
That is the vision FeME is striving for. And today, with our launch, we take this first step together.
For more information or to get involved, contact us at feme@ed.ac.uk and join our mailing list .