Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining

The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) is a major UK engineering institution whose activities encompass the whole materials cycle, from exploration and extraction, through characterisation, processing, forming, finishing and application, to product recycling and land reuse. It exists to promote and develop all aspects of materials science and engineering, geology, mining and associated technologies, mineral and petroleum engineering and extraction metallurgy, as a leading authority in the worldwide materials and mining community.

IOM3 was formed from the merger of the Institute of Materials and the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy in June 2002. Its roots go back to the Iron and Steel Institute which was established in 1869. It received Royal Charters in 1899 and 1975. More recent mergers include the Institute of Packaging (2006) and the Institute of Clay Technology (2006).

IOM3 has an individual membership of over 20,000, and represents a combination of scientific, technical and human resources which links industry, government, research and the academic world. The Institute ensures that courses in materials, minerals and mining technology and engineering conform to the standards for professional registration with the Engineering Council UK, establishes codes of practice and monitors legislative matters affecting members' professional interests.

Members of the Institute come from a variety of backgrounds, from students to company chief executives. Members qualify for different grades of membership, ranging from Affiliate to Fellow (FIMMM), depending on academic qualifications and professional experience. The professional development programme run by the Institute helps contribute to members' career enhancement towards senior grades of membership and Chartered Engineer (CEng) status.

Members benefit from reduced rates for the Institute's many books, journals and conferences and from access to the Institute's Information Services. These include extensive library resources as well as a team of materials experts who provide consultancy services to Institute members, and to companies who have joined the Institute's Industrial Affiliate Scheme.

Activities

The Institute provides a range of activities and initiatives to benefit the materials and minerals community. The Institute's educational activities aim to promote the materials discipline to younger generations by allowing access, through the Schools Affiliate Scheme, to a range of educational resources and materials. The Institute has very close links with schools and colleges and is responsible for accrediting university and college courses and industrial training schemes. The Education Department offers teachers courses and teaching resources on materials, as well as careers advice for students. Many Institute publications such as definitive textbooks are available to students at reduced prices. The Institute also offers a series of grants (money) and bursaries to encourage students, and organises events such as the National Lecture Competition.

The Institute's trading subsidiary, IOM Communications Ltd, is responsible for producing the Institute's many books and journals. These include the members' journals, Materials World Journal, The Packaging Professional, and Clay Technology, and a range of learned journals such as Ironmaking and Steelmaking Journal, Surface Engineering Journal and Powder Metallurgy Journal.

The Materials Information Service is a division of the Institute which has been giving advice to industry on the selection and use of materials since 1988. This is now part of the Institute's Information Services which includes technical enquiry and library services for the materials, minerals and mining sectors, an information help desk, regionally based advisors and related services. Companies can gain access to the Institute's information resources by joining its Industrial Affiliate Scheme.

The Institute's Conference Department organises conferences, events and exhibitions with the Institute's technical committees to help keep members and other delegates informed of the latest developments within the materials, minerals and mining arena. The highlight of the conference calendar is the bi-annual Materials Congress.

External links

* [http://www.iom3.org/ Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining]

The Institute produces several magazine titles, Materials World, The Packaging Professional and Clay Technology. The titles are available to members or by subscription.

* [http://www.iom3.org/made Materials and Design Exchange: Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining]
* [http://amf.globalwatchonline.com/epicentric_portal/site/AMF/menuitem.06688dadabd92be81006a0108380e1a0/ Materials and Design Exchange: Materials Knowledge Transfer Network]
* [http://www.materialsktn.net Materials Science: Materials Knowledge Transfer Network]