1. Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3

2. Where can materials take me?
MODULE FIVE
Where can materials take me?
Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3

3. Where can materials take me?
The aim of this module is to give you an appreciation of the broad range of materials careers available and the routes into them.
Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3

4. Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3
Aims and objectives
The module aims to introduce you to the various different ways that you can get in a career in materials and show you the breadth of options available.
At the end of this module you should be able to:
Appreciate the breadth of the field of materials and give three examples of fields which rely on materials technology.
List 5 universities that offer accredited degree programmes in materials.
Give one example of a company that employs materials specialists at all levels.
Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3

5. Session 1 How do I get in to materials?
Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3

6. How do I get in to materials
If you are considering going in to any branch of engineering, in particular materials you should:
Have an interest in science and how things work
Be interested in applying science to the real world
Have a thirst for finding out about the world around you
The type of qualifications you will need depend on the level that you want to go in at, but there are many different pathways available.
There are so many areas that rely on materials that you can choose a field that is of interest to you.
Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3

7. What do materials people do?
Materials Science and Engineering is a vast field and materials experts work in many different areas at all levels throughout the materials cycle.
Some work on a very practical level looking at processing and manufacturing materials.
Some work on the fundamental science side, understanding the structure of materials and how it can be manipulated.
Some look to solve issues relating to failure in order to improve materials.
Some look at how we can better reuse and recycle materials and how can make it easier to do this.
In most cases materials experts work in a cross-disciplinary team with other scientists and engineers
The area and level that you work at is up to you!
Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3

8. Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3
Activity time!
The Materials Cycle
Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3

9. Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3
The Materials Cycle
Materials experts are crucial at every stage of the materials cycle from extraction, processing, use, reuse and recycling.
Choose a product or area that is of interest to you and consider where materials people have played a part in its life cycle.
For example, consider plastic drinks bottle. In brief, materials people were involved in:
Processing raw materials to make the polymers for the bottle and lid
Designing the shape of the bottle and lid to withstand the loads during use
Deciding the best way to manufacture the product and implementing this
Analysing the structure and properties of the polymer to ensure it is fit for purpose, including corrosion testing
Identifying ways in which the polymers can be separated from waste and how they can be recycled in to new products
You can go in to more detail that this, think of each stage in the life of your product!
Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3

10. Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3