Platinum Medal

For outstanding contribution in materials, minerals or mining.

Platinum Medal

To a member or non-member of IOM3 in their advanced/senior career in recognition of outstanding contribution to a field of interest within the materials, minerals or mining.

The winner will receive a medal.

Award judging

The award is judged by the IOM3 Awards Committee.

Past winners

2021 -
2023 Prof Robert M McMeeking, 2022 Prof Catherine M F Ray, 2021 Prof William E Lee FREng

2001 - 2020
2019 (joint) R Young & R W Whatmore, 2018 (joint) N Alford & P J Withers, 2017 J Wood, 2016 Dame S Ion, 2015 R Silva, 2014 P O'Brien, 2013 Sir C Humphreys, 2012 J Kilner, 2011 T Cheetham, 2010 G Thompson OBE, 2009 Prof John F Knott, 2008 Prof Graham Davies, 2007 Dr S R Keown, 2006 G D S Smith, 2005 G Selman, 2004 Dr Bruce E Farmer, 2003 Prof M McLean, 2002 Prof B Cantor, 2001 Dr J W Martin

1981 - 2000
2000 Prof P J Goodhew, 1999 Dr I L Dillamore, 1998 Prof Mark F Ashby, 1997 Prof F R N Nabarro, 1996 D R F West, 1995 B Wilshire, 1994 Dr J W Edington, 1993 Dr D A Melford, 1992 A Kelly, 1991 J M Butler, 1990 D V Atterton, 1989 R E Smallman, 1988 J Nutting, 1987 Viscount Caldecote, 1986 A A Wells, 1985 HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, 1984 J W Christian, 1983 H F Oppenheimer, 1982 R B Nicholson, 1981 P Lacombe

1961 - 1980
1980 U R Evans, 1979 J O Hitchcock, 1978 I Jenkins, 1977 A J Kennedy, 1976 Sir Peter Hirsch, 1975 C Crussard, 1974 N P Inglis, 1973 K van Horn, 1972 The Earl of Verulam, 1971 A J Murphy, 1970 C S Smithm 1969 Sir Ronald Prain, 1968 W J Kroll, 1967 N P Allen, 1966 F A Forward, 1965 A H Cottrell, 1964 Sir Geoffrey Taylor, 1963 G L Bailey, 1962 W Koster, 1961 Major C J P Ball

1938 - 1960
1960 Robert Franklin Mehl, 1959 Leonard Bessemer Pfeil, 1958 Robert Salmon Hutton, 1957 Maurice Cook, 1956 Georges Leon Chaudron, 1955 Collin James Smithells, 1954 Leslie Aitchinson, 1953 Georg Masing, 1952 William Sidney Robinson, 1951 R W Diamond, 1950 Albert Portevin, 1949 William Hume-Rothery, 1948 Robert C Stanley, 1947 (joint) J L Houghton & Marie L V Gayler (Mrs Haughton), 1946 Lieut-Colonel Sir John Greenly, 1945 Richard Seligman, 1944 The Hon R M Preston, 1943 Harold Moore, 1942 Sir William Murray Morrison, 1941 Cecil H Desch, 1940 Paul D Merica, 1939 Sir Harold Carpenter, 1938 Sir William Bragg

About the Award

The Platinum Medal was first awarded in 1938.

The medal was designed by Mr Harold Stabler RDI and was placed at the disposal of the Council of the Institute by the Mond Nickel Company Ltd.

The medal, which is of pure platinum, is prepared a The Mond Nickel company’s precious metal refinery at Acton. On the observe the medal shows the bust of a female figure, who holds high a laurel wreathe, and around the outside is inscribed ‘Award of the Institute of Metals'. The design on the reverse symbolizes metallurgical research and consists of three intertwined links. In the top link ‘research’ is represented by a microscope, and the two lower ones represent the two directions that research may take – 'science', symbolized by a wash-bottle and filter, and 'industry', symbolized by a factory building. On the surrounding border in the inscription 'For Distinguished Services to Non-Ferrous Metallurgy'.

Nomination process

The following information is required to submit a nomination:

  • Nominee's title, full name, email address, IOM3 member grade (if applicable) and postnominals, company and position
  • Citation (500 words max) to support your nomination
  • Additional documentation (i.e. letters of support, CV, list of publications) to further support your nomination
  • Details of an external referee (only if the nominee and nominator are from the same organisation).

Please note you may save your nomination as a draft at any point during the process and complete at a later date.