While travelling overseas recently I met a young Canadian engineer. We started trading stories about our respective university experiences where at one point she drew my attention to a simple metal ring she was wearing. She explained that in Canada engineers wear these rings after having them presented at a ritual on graduation. I was fascinated at this point: rituals, special rings; this sounded more like a secret society than an engineering graduation.

I did some further research and present the background and purpose of the ‘Iron Ring’.

In 1922 a civil engineering professor, Herbert Haultain, spoke to a meeting of engineers in Montreal which was attended by past presidents of the Engineering Institute of Canada. At this meeting he suggested the need for a statement of ethics which would unite the profession and be something for engineering graduates to aspire to. This was well received and Haultain got in contact with Rudyard Kipling, who had mentioned the work of engineers in previous poetry. Kipling then wrote both an obligation statement and a ceremony titled, ‘The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer’. This ceremony was held for the first time in 1925 and is still conducted to this day in universities throughout Canada.

The full detail of what occurs at this ceremony isn’t public knowledge and my Canadian friend certainly remained tight-lipped about her experience. The purpose of the ceremony is well known however, and it serves to remind new engineer of their social responsibilities and obligation to maintain high standards of professional conduct.

As part of this ritual the graduating engineer is presented with an Iron Ring, a symbolic ring worn on the little finger of the working hand which acts as a symbol of both pride and humility. My friend said that she uses it as a reminder to always check her work and followed this us with a story about a Quebec bridge which collapsed in the early 1900s, killing 75 people due to an error in judgement by the bridge’s engineers – a sober reminder indeed.

I remain impressed by the notion of a simple, physical item which identifies someone as an engineer.  My question now is, could Australia engineers introduce a similar concept and would we want to? I believe it could increase the sense of belonging amongst engineers and generate a greater sense of pride and would support an initiative if it remained true to its purpose: humble and meaningful.

One thing I am sure of, next time I’m in Canada I’ll be keeping a look out for an Iron Ring, the symbol of a fellow engineer.

For more information visit www.ironring.ca.