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Western Institute of Mining and Minerals (WIMM)

An affiliated local society looking after the interest of members in the West Midlands

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During the 17th century there was an evolution from the craftsman to the professional engineer with a scientific background. Through the 18th century they found a need to band together for the purposes of identification and to further their expertise by regular meetings. Thus many professional societies were formed throughout the country.

In the coalfields there was a growing need for mining men to join together to discuss common problems to their mutual benefit. In the Great Northern Coalfield of Northumberland and Durham the North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers was the first to form in 1852 followed by others in the other major coalfields with the North Staffordshire Institute of Mining Engineers forming in 1872.

From the first it was mooted that these provincial organisations would benefit from federation. However, this did not happen until 1889 when The Institution of Mining Engineers was formed by the mutual agreement initially of four institutes with the others joining later. In 1915 the national Institution gained a Royal Charter with the object of "The advancement of coal and iron ore mining and allied industries and the promotion of the acquisition of the knowledge necessary for the control and direction of mining operations in relation to stratified deposits." The Institution of Mining and Metallurgy gained its Royal Charter at the same time but confined its interest to non-stratified deposits.

The Royal Charter enabled the Institutions to maintain a definite and high standard of professional competence and conduct on the part of its members. The Institution of Mining Engineers absorbed the National Association of Colliery Managers in 1968 and the Institution of Mining Electrical and Mining Mechanical Engineers in 1995 before being absorbed into the Institute of Mining and Metallurgy in 1998. More recent mergers have been with the Institute of Materials in 2002, the Institute of Packaging in 2006 and the Institute of Clay Technology, also in 2006.

Thus the North Staffordshire Institution of Mining Engineers, now known as the Western Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, is affiliated to the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3).

Dr Richard White receives Certificate of Outstanding Service

Dr Richard White former past President of the Western Institute of Mining and Minerals  and is Principal Consultant - Materials at Lucideon was presented with a Certificate of Outstanding Service on Monday 6 November 2023. The award was presented by IOM3 Senior Vice President Mrs Christine Blackmore at our regular monthly meeting at Keele University. 

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Click the Meetings tab to see information about our programme of events

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Upcoming IOM3 events

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  • Lecture
  • 3 June 2025

Tribology 2025 – Materials Making the Difference

'Tribology 2025 – Materials Making the Difference' will be the UK’s foremost tribology conference for researchers, engineers, technicians, industrialists and managers.

Derby
  • Webinar
  • 11 June 2025

The Challenges and Opportunities of Plastic Packaging – MPkgS Webinar

Webinar on Challenges and Opportunities of Plastic Packaging

Virtual
  • Course
  • 12 June 2025

Fractography of Ceramics

One-day course exploring the limitations of brittle materials through fractography

Stoke on Trent
Wyn Griffith

Wyn Griffith

President

Email:
[email protected]

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John Weston

John Weston

Treasurer

Adele Wilbraham

Adele Wilbraham

Secretary

Email:
[email protected]

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Relations with IOM3 Affiliated Societies are managed by the IOM3 Local Affairs Committee, which reports to the IOM3 Members' Board. The IOM3 Advisory Council has 7 members elected to represent each of our Regions.

Kate Fox

Midlands Regional Representative

Kate Fox

Email:
[email protected]

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Other local societies in the Midlands Region

West Midlands.jpg
Local Society Group

Birmingham Metallurgical Association (BMetA)

An IOM3 Affiliated Society based in the School of Metallurgy and Materials at the University of Birmingham committed to promoting an interest in materials

West Midlands.jpg
Local Society Group

Coventry & Warwickshire Materials Society (CWMS)

An IOM3 Affiliated Society in the Midlands region committed to creating and promoting an interest in materials

Greater London.jpg
Local Society Group

London Materials Society (LMS)

LMS is a local society of IOM3. The society meets regularly to discuss every aspect of materials from ice cream manufacture to nanotechnology

Find your local society

 

297 Euston Road, London NW1 3AD, UK 

Telephone: +44 (0)20 7451 7300

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The Institute is a body incorporated by Royal Charter (company no RC000267) and a charity registered in England & Wales (269275) and in Scotland (SC050586). Patron: HM The King.
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