ASTM International, one of the largest voluntary standards development organizations in the world, have established a new membership category for undergraduate and graduate-level students. The Student Membership category is available now and is free of charge to eligible students.

ASTM International President, James S Thomas, commented: ‘Today’s college students are tomorrow’s technical experts. By offering students membership in ASTM, we can help them become knowledgeable in the subject of standards before they find themselves using standards in the workplace. This knowledge will enhance their skills, jumpstart their careers, and give them a competitive advantage in both the technical and business worlds.’

ASTM have made available numerous value-added benefits to students:

. E-mail delivery of Standardization News, ASTM’s monthly magazine, Business Link, a semiannual business and technical publication, and Access ASTM International, an ASTM customer-orientated newsletter.

. Free admission to ASTM symposia, which feature technical paper presentations by industry experts across various fields.

. A reduced fee of $25 for the first year of membership in ASTM International upon graduation

. Access to ASTM International’s new Student Membership web page, which offers updated information and links to various professional organizations.

. The ability to note ASTM membership on their resumes and share in an international network of future peers.

ASTM International student members also gain exclusive eligibility to participate in the ASTM Student Paper Contest. Submitted papers must address the role of ASTM standards in business, industry and trade. Students must demonstrate the beneficial impact of an ASTM standard or group of standards. Paper submissions are due to ASTM by November 1, 2003.

Established in 1898, ASTM International provides a global forum for the development and publication of voluntary consensus standards for materials, products, systems, and services. ASTM standards are accepted and used in research and development, product testing, quality systems, and commercial transactions around the globe.

For more information on the contest, visit the new student membership section of the ASTM website at [http://www.astm.org/studentmember]. For more information about the ASTM International Student Membership programme, please contact Lisa Wellington at student@astm.org