The President Writes.
This being my first article as President, I wonder whether to write something stimulating and uplifting, or to write something generally frivolous and entertaining (well hopefully). So here goes and I will let you be the judges. I would welcome any feedback as to what you think the President should be writing about.

Many many years ago when Adam was a lad and I was a young and beautiful (modesty was never my strong point) laboratory manager, a young corrosion graduate said to me, "there are three types of rust, red rust, black rust and white rust". My first reaction was shock. Was that all he had learned in three years at UMIST. But thinking about it, it is quite profound and fundamental. In fact when I was asked to write a few words on the fundamentals of corrosion, I wrote on a serviette " There are three types of rust, red rust, black rust and white rust" Then my companions threatened to drum me out of the Institute. However from a diagnostics point of view, the colour of the rust can tell you an awful lot about what's going on. As to why it's going on can take a life time to learn as I'm sure the academics amongst us will agree. In all my years of failure investigation, no two cases have been the same, some are broadly similar but there is always something that makes each case different. So 1 will leave the technical topics to others who write very interesting and informative articles.

It is with some trepidation that I look forward to my two years in office. I was asked , what I intended to do and what changes I would make? Well I don't intend to do anything drastic, not initially! In the beginning I will be, finding my way round and getting to know people. Even though I have been on council for many years, there are many very active people that I don't know, I probably know some of their names but haven't met them. 1 know that there will be challenges to face and hard decisions will have to be made that won't necessarily be universally popular. I am just the figurehead, the Institute is run by team effort and all decisions are made by the Council on the recommendation of the various committees and Branches.

So how has it been so far- my first week consisted of:- Tuesday North West Branch Christmas Dinner,Wednesday IMF Christmas Lunch, Thursday London Branch Christmas Lunch, now only 4 stone to lose instead of 3 1/2. After a very pleasant lunch and the most convivial company I was tempted to accompany some of the London Branch to the pub. Relaxing safe in the knowledge that there are trains every half hour to Manchester I eventually took my leave and arrived at Euston to find all trains Cancelled. Whilst we had been tucked away safely in the basement of the brewery, a tornado had struck London taking out the West Coast Mainline. I was redirected to St Pancras and told to change at Sheffield along with a few thousand others. That small Midland Mainline train was packed worse than a rush hour Tube and when we arrived at Sheffield those few thousand people were stood ten deep on the platform waiting to get on the little four coach Sprinter to Manchester. So a very hectic week to start albeit very enjoyable.

What about the future:- plans are forging ahead to organise Corrosion 2007 which will be a three day conference on 3rd, 4th and 5th of September at Sheffield Hallam University, this will include the Corrosion Science Division Symposium (see page 9) and is also being supported by The Institute of Metal Finishing. The organising team are very enthusiastic so I hope you will all support, what promises to be a very good conference.

Around the country at Branch level, many activities are planned including evening meetings and full day and half day symposia. Some of these activities are being organised jointly with other Institutes and Societies. Greater co-operation is how the smaller societies will survive in the future.

I will do my best to work for the good of the Institute and ask for your support during the next two years.

Brenda Peters President - Institute of Corrosion