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).

Membership

IOM3 has an individual membership of over 18,000, and represents a combination of scientific, technical and human resources which links industry, government, research and the academic world. 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.

Member benefits

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. See membership benefits

Educational 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.

Events and publications

The Institute's trading subsidiary, IOM Communications Ltd, is responsible for producing the Institute's member magazines, Materials World, The Packaging Professional, and Clay Technology, and for organising conferences, training courses and the Starpack packaging awards.

Information services

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 include 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 the Industrial Affiliate Scheme.