promote the science, design, engineering and technology of materials, minerals and mining and their practical applications and facilitate qualifications, professional recognition and development
The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) is a British engineering institution with activities including promotion of the development of materials science.[1]
Members qualify for different grades of membership, ranging from Affiliate to Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (FIMMM),[7] depending on academic qualifications and professional experience. IOM3 has an individual membership of 15,000, and represents a combination of scientific, technical and human resources.[8]
Approximately 25 UK 'local societies' are affiliated with the institute, covering a wide range of disciplines such as ceramics, composites, mining, packaging, polymers, and metallurgy, and organizing events throughout the year.[9]
Since April 2022 IOM3 has 22 Technical Community groups representing the breadth of disciplines covered and the materials cycle. These groups previously known as Divisions are now termed as the "IOM3 XXXXX Group" with a common identity and branding/logo.
In 1974, the Iron and Steel Institute merged into the Institute of Metals. The Institute of Metals then merged in 1993, with The Institute of Ceramics and The Plastics and Rubber Institute (PRI) to form the Institute of Materials (IoM). The PRI was itself a merger of The Plastics Institute and the Institution of the Rubber Industry (known as the IRI) during the 1980s, a reflection of the declining UK rubber manufacturing industry during this period.[11]
More recent mergers include the Institute of Packaging (2005), the Institute of Clay Technology (2006) the Institute of Wood Science (2009) and the Institute of Vitreous Enamellers (2010).[13]
The institute ensures that courses in materials, minerals, mining technology and engineering conform to the standards for professional registration with the Engineering Council UK which establishes codes of practice and monitors legislative matters affecting members' professional interests.[15]
The professional development program run by the institute contributes to members' careers towards senior grades of membership and Chartered Scientist (CSci) and Chartered Engineer (CEng) status.[16]
Members receive 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 Business Partner Program.[17]
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 close links with schools and colleges and is responsible for accrediting university and college courses and industrial training schemes. The Education & Outreach Trust, which incorporated the institute's existing education activities and was granted charitable status in 2022, offers teachers courses and teaching resources on materials, as well as careers advice for students. Institute publications such as definitive textbooks are available to students at reduced prices. The institute also offers a series of grants and bursaries to encourage students and organizes events such as the Young Persons' Lecture Competition.[20][21]
The trading subsidiary of the institute, IOM Communications Ltd, is responsible for producing any related journals. To expand, these include the members' journals (magazines) Materials World magazine[22] and Clay Technology.[23]Sage Publishing produces a range of learned journals for the institute, including the Ironmaking and Steelmaking journal, Surface Engineering, Powder Metallurgy, Corrosion Engineering, International Materials Reviews and Materials Science and Technology.[citation needed]. The institute also publishes ICON, incorporating IMMAGE (Information on Mining, Metallurgy and Geological Exploration), a reference database of abstracts and citations of scientific and engineering literature for the international minerals industry, and it has links to OneMine, a database of mining publications.[24][25]
Materials World is the member's magazine of the institute,[26] specifically devoted to the engineering materials cycle, from mining and extraction, through processing and application, to recycling and recovery. Editorially, it embraces the whole spectrum of materials and minerals – metals, plastics, polymers, rubber, composites, ceramics and glasses – with particular emphasis on advanced technologies, latest developments and new applications, giving prominence to the topics that are of fundamental importance to those in the industry.[27]
The Materials Information Service is a service 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 inquiry 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 Business Partner Program Scheme.[28][29]
The institute's Conference Department organizes 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.[30][31]
Bessemer medal awarded in 1904 to Robert HadfieldThe Bessemer Gold Medal is an annual prize awarded by the institute for "outstanding services to the steel industry". It was established and endowed by Sir Henry Bessemer in 1874. It was first awarded to Isaac Lowthian Bell in 1874. The 2016 award was to Alan Cramb.[32]
The Silver Medal is awarded annually to a young scientist (under the age of 35) designated as "outstanding" in recognition of a crucial contribution to a field of interest. In addition, the institute has many other significant awards for Personal Achievement and Published Works covering materials, minerals and mining. In particular, there are awards covering surface engineering, biomedical materials, ceramics, rubber and plastics, iron and steel, and automotive areas. There are also awards covering education and local societies.[33]
On 10 November 2016, the institute launched an Engineering Extravaganza event to encourage people aged 12 to 14 to consider careers in engineering[34] as part of "Tomorrow's Engineers Week". tomorrowsengineers.org.uk..
The Institute produces the magazines Materials World and Clay Technology. They are available to members or by subscription. Materials World now incorporates The Packaging Professional and Wood Focus magazines.
