The Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME) is an international society of professionals in the minerals
industry. The SME membership is more than 16,000 strong, with members in nearly 100 countries.
A member society of the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers (AIME), SME roots date back
to 1871 when a handful of mining engineers founded AIME. Since its inception, SME has continued to evolve over the
years to stay abreast of industry changes and to reflect the ever-broadening interests of its members.
SME is organized into five distinct divisions - coal, environmental, industrial minerals, mineral and metallurgical
processing, and mining and exploration. These divisions reflect the rich diversity of the SME membership and serve as a
framework for SME's committee structure. Comprised in part of representatives from each of the five divisions, the SME
Board of Directors sits atop this structure and formulates policy for the Society.
When a field of interest transcends traditional division lines, SME has established what it calls special technology
committees to deal more effectively with these issues. There are currently two: one for bulk material handling and
another for minerals resource management.
Professional development and information exchange have been watchwords at SME from the beginning. Nowhere is this
commitment more evident than in the range of programs and services available to SME members. Publications, professional
registration, peer-review of technical papers, future leader and college accreditation programs, meetings and exhibits,
public education, and SME short courses are just a few examples.
Local and international involvement are also distinguishing features in the structure and character of SME as a
professional society. More than 70 local SME sections facilitate the exchange of information and increase grassroots
participation in SME programs and services. SME also has an international committee, which provides valuable input to
SME programming and strengthens the SME presence in the international community. A number of local SME sections, in
fact, are located outside the United States.
We encourage you to browse our website to learn more about how professionals around the world are benefiting everyday
from their membership in SME.
