Education for Young Metallurgists

Dear AusIMM Metallurgical Society members,

As we all know minerals and metals products are fundamental to our modern lives and society. But, without metallurgists, we won’t have any metals or mineral products. While we have historically had a low number of metallurgists trained and educated at local universities, the numbers over the last five years have plummeted. Due to financial reasons, the university sector is unable to support metallurgy courses with low student numbers.

For our industry to survive long into the future, we need to promote metallurgy to the younger generations. One of the challenges potential students have is knowing is how to find opportunities and learn about our industry. The teachers and academics on the ‘front line’ are the best places to assist in connecting industry with students.

If you would like to support the metallurgical programs at universities, you can do the following immediately:

1. Offer vacation work to first and second year university students who are curious about our industry (10+ week program)
2. Offer casual work through the university semester to university students who are in the metallurgy program (1-2 days per week)
3. Offer a scholarship (any value) to a university student who has elected to study metallurgy
4. Offer a scholarship (any value), work opportunities (vacation and day/week) and a graduate job to a university student
5. Offer vacation work to third year university students who are studying metallurgy (10+ week program).

These activities will help show students who are studying general engineering/science courses why they should specialise in metallurgy. If you would like to offer any of these, please get in touch with Eugene Jak (UQ) or Danielle Thompson (WASM) using the AusIMM Contact Form (be sure to include a reference to 'Education for Young Metallurgists') and they will be able to inform students on how to apply for the opportunities you can offer. To simplify the process, this is best managed by the companies offering these to students rather than the university.

In addition, there is a number of longer term activities you can support:

1. Host BBQs and events for students to show them the ‘real world’ application of the theory they are studying
2. Offer day visits for students to your offices and workplaces.

For these activities, please contact your local student society and university academics to best determine how this can be delivered.

Lastly, one of the best way to get students interested in our field is to show them an operating Metallurgical Plant. This is usually done during semester breaks. If you are willing to assist (transport, food, accommodation) and host students at your site, please contact Eugene Jak or Danielle Thompson – WASM as directed above and we can determine the level of support and identify a potential path forward. This is very successful in engaging high school students in the minerals industry and showing them why they should do a degree in the minerals industry.

Many thanks,

Stuart Nicol
Deputy Chair, AusIMM Metallurgical Society