Committees

The Committee shall review the nominations for the IM&AD Frank A. Alsobrook Distinguished Service Award and select the recipient.

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The Howard L. Hartman Award, established in 1989, recognizes distinguished contributions in practice, teaching or research in the field of underground ventilation engineering.

The Committee shall review the nominations for the Rock Mechanics Award and select the recipient. The Rock Mechanics Award is awarded to recognize distinguished contributions toward the advancement of rock mechanics.

The Committee shall review the nominations for the Aplan Award and select the recipient. The Frank F. Aplan Award (Aplan Award) recognizes engineering or scientific contributions that further the understanding of the technology of coal and/or mineral engineering. Eligible areas of recognition include agglomeration, classification, comminution, electrical and magnetic separation, flocculation and sedimentation, froth flotation, and other related processing operations.

The Award is administered by SME’s Coal & Energy Division.

The Erskine Ramsay Award Committee is responsible for reviewing the nominations for the Erskine Ramsay Award and selecting the recipient. The Ramsay Award recognizes distinguished achievement in coal mining to include both bituminous coal and anthracite.

The Howard N. Eavenson Award Committee is responsible for reviewing the nominations for the Howard N. Eavenson Award and selecting the recipient. The Eavenson Award recognizes distinguished contributions to the advancement of coal mining.

The Committee selects the recipient(s) of the J.W. Woomer Award. This award brings recognition of engineering professionalism to young people working in the coal industry.

The Committee selects the recipient of the annual Percy W. Nicholls Award. Established in 1942, funded by AIME and ASME in alternating years, the Percy W. Nicholls Award is given for notable scientific or industrial achievement in the field of solid fuels.

The Committee shall review all applications for the Coal & Energy Division Scholarship and the John Sidney Marshall Scholarship and select the recipient(s).

The Committee selects the recipient(s) of the Stefanko Best Paper Award. The Coal & Energy Division Stefanko Best Paper Award is awarded to recognize authors presenting papers in the Coal & Energy Division technical sessions for their contributions to the body of knowledge.

The Environmental Division Benefactor Award is administered by the SME Environmental Division Executive Committee.

The Committee shall review the nominations for the Environmental Division Distinguished Service Award recipient.

The Committee shall review all applications for the EVD Scholarship and select the recipient(s).

The Committee shall review the nominations for the SME/AIME Environmental Stewardship Distinguished Service Award and select the recipient.

This committee will develop nominations for Division committees and the Division’s awards including, but not limited to: ensuring a representative slate of nominees (from the committee and the public), promoting and recruiting nominations for each award, providing a slate of nominees for each award to the S&H Division executive committee for their adjudication, maintaining confidentiality regarding all aspects of the nomination and award selection process, working with SME staff to ensure physical awards are prepared for presentation at H&S Division award breakfast at the annual SME conference and exposition.

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The Committee shall review all applications for the IM&AD Scholarship and select the recipient(s).

The Wallace Scholarship is awarded annually to a master’s degree candidate in geology or geological science who plans to pursue a career in the field of exploration geology.

The Hal Williams Hardinge Award Committee is responsible for reviewing the nominations for the Hal Williams Hardinge Award and selecting the recipient. The Hardinge Award recognizes outstanding achievements in the field of industrial minerals.

The Young Scientist Award is administered by SME’s Industrial Minerals & Aggregates Division (IM&AD) Executive Committee.

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The Committee shall review the nominations for the Douglas Award and select the recipient. The James Douglas Gold Medal (Douglas Award) recognizes distinguished achievement in nonferrous metallurgy, including both the beneficiation of ores and the alloying and utilization of nonferrous metals.

The Committee shall review the nominations for the Outstanding Young Engineer Award and select the recipient. The Outstanding Young Engineer Award recognizes significant contributions of a young individual within the Mineral Processing-Extractive discipline

The Committee shall review the nominations for the Gaudin Award and select the recipient. The Gaudin Award is given for scientific or engineering contributions that further the understanding of the technology of mineral processing. Eligible areas for contributions are agglomeration, classification, comminution, electrical and magnetic separation, flocculation and sedimentation, froth flotation, hydrometallurgy, particulate behavior, and other related mineral processing operations.

The Taggart Award is made for the paper or series of closely related papers with at least one common author, which, in the opinion of the Committee, represents a notable contribution to the science of mineral processing. The Committee shall review the eligible papers and select the recipient.

The Committee shall review the nominations for the Milton E. Wadsworth Award and select the recipient. The Committee is also responsible for soliciting and/or submitting nominations as appropriate/necessary. The Wadsworth Award recognizes distinguished contributions that advance our understanding of the science and technology of nonferrous chemical metallurgy.

The Robert H. Richards Award Committee is responsible for reviewing the nominations for the Robert H. Richards Award and selecting the recipient. The Richards Award recognizes achievement in any form which unmistakably furthers the art of mineral beneficiation in any of its branches.

The Committee shall review all applications for the Klimpel and MPD Scholarships and Rong Yu Wan Ph.D. Dissertation Award and select the recipient(s).

The award was established by AIME in l965 to recognize distinguished contributions to the advancement of mineral economics.

The Dickerson Award is administered by the Mining & Exploration Division (M&E Division) of the Society, under the direction of the SME Board of Directors.

The Jackling Award is administered by the Mining & Exploration Division (M&E Division) of the Society, under the direction of the SME Board of Directors.

The Award is administered by the Mining & Exploration Division (M&E Division) of the Society, under the direction of the SME Board of Directors

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The Award is administered by the Mining & Exploration Division (M&E Division) of the Society, under the direction of the SME Board of Directors.

The Award is administered by the Mining & Exploration Division (M&E Division) of the Society, under the direction of the SME Board of Directors.

The Award Committee is to consist of the members of the M&E Division Program Planning Committee.

The Committee shall review the applications submitted and select the recipients of the M&E Division Scholarship and the AIME Henry De Witt Smith Graduate Scholarship.

The William Lawrence Saunders Award Committee is responsible for reviewing the nominations for the William Lawrence Saunders Award and selecting the recipient. The Saunders Award recognizes distinguished achievement in mining other than coal (including the production of nonmetallic minerals).

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The award will be administered by a committee of the most recent five SME past presidents.

The SME Fellow Award is presented to a select few who have distinguished themselves by notable contributions to the technology or professional activities encompassed by SME and in some cases for significant contributions to a Section, the Society, or the Institute.

The Innovation Award is administered by the Robert E. Murray Innovation Award Committee under the direction of the SME staff.

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The award will be administered by a committee made up of the Past Chair of each SME mining-related division.

The Robert M. Dreyer Award in Applied Economic Geology, established in 1999 as an annual Award, recognizes outstanding achievements in applied economic geology. The outstanding achievements so recognized must have been accomplished through commercial exploration or development of metalliferous and/or nonmetalliferous mineral deposits.

The SME Board of Directors shall have and exercise on behalf of the Society, all rights, powers and privileges granted to the Society as a not-for-profit corporation organized under the laws of Colorado in the carrying out of the purposes set forth in the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws.

The Past Presidents meet on an annual basis to review and offer advice on SME activities.

The Accreditation and Curricular Issues Committee shall determine curricular standards and deal with issues associated with accreditation including the development of program criteria recommended to the Council of Education and, in turn, the SME Board of Directors and the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), Inc.  

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Members of the Academic Grant Selection Committee select recipients for the PhD fellowship and career development grant programs.

Contact volunteer@smenet.org for more information.

The Council of Education & Accreditation shall review and refer information and projects to the education subcommittees (Accreditation and Curricular Issues, and Student Member Affairs), receive and act when appropriate upon recommendations of the education subcommittees and Education Forum, and determine educational policy to be recommended to the SME Board of Directors.

The Council of Education & Accreditation also serves as the Ivan B. Rahn Education and Mineral Industry Education Award Committee. The Council of Education shall find a nominee whose contribution merits the award. Recipients of the award shall be selected through a nominating and voting process by the Council of Education with notification to the SME Executive Committee. 

The Council of Education Members are the current Chair and Vice-Chair of each education committee.

Contact volunteer@smenet.org for more information.

The mission of the Education Sustainability Committee is to develop specific, actionable recommendations that seek to address the long-term challenges that threaten the sustainability of U.S. Mining and Mineral Processing/Extractive Metallurgy academic degree granting programs.

The scope of the Committee includes programming/workshops, the facilitation of greater research opportunities for faculty, the collection and analysis of department/student data, and a variety of other efforts to promote stability of academic programs in minerals education and to improve the capacity of these programs to produce high-quality graduates for successful careers in industry and academia. 

Contact volunteer@smenet.org for more information.

The Mineral School Department Heads Committee provides information on the current status of enrollment of undergraduate and graduate students in the United States as well as educational institutions in other countries depending upon membership of the committee. The Committee is responsible for maintaining accurate records of the number of graduates from their respective programs.

Committee members are department heads of mineral education programs. 

Contact volunteer@smenet.org for more information. 

The Student Member Affairs Committee shall provide career guidance, suggest and coordinate student activities, and exercise general supervision over SME Student Chapters. As part of its charge, the Committee shall develop, review and provide for the dissemination of career information. Members of the committee shall serve as judges for the annual SME Outstanding Student Chapter Contest and the SME Outstanding Student Paper Contest, undergraduate and graduate divisions.

Members of the Student Member Affairs Committee are nominated by their Division. Contact your Division for more information or email volunteer@smenet.org.

The MEC Committee provides the MEC with leadership and guidance and assists with fundraising and public outreach as appropriate on behalf of the MEC.

Contact volunteer@smenet.org for more information.

The MEC Scouting Subcommittee provides support, input and guidance of the MEC’s Scouting Outreach program efforts.

Contact volunteer@smenet.org for more information.

The Miners Give Back Award Committee (MGB) consists of members appointed based on volunteers from the SMEF Board of Trustees. This committee is responsible for administering the MGB Award to an SME Local Section for their outstanding efforts and accomplishments in community service and humanitarian outreach.

Contact volunteer@smenet.org for more information.

The MMSA/SMEF Presidential Scholarship Committee is responsible for reviewing the applications and assist in selecting the recipients for the MMSA/SMEF Presidential Scholarship.

Contact volunteer@smenet.org for more information.

The SMEF Trustees represent the leadership of the corporate and academic segment of the industry. They provide advice and guidance regarding the Foundation’s management, strategic planning and operations, with a focus centered on fundraising for programs and initiatives of SME. Acting as ambassadors for SMEF, Trustees are knowledgeable of all program areas and current projects needing funding and personally contribute the SMEF on an annual basis. SMEF Board of Trustees are elected to a three-year term.

The Corporate Giving Committee (CGC) works with Foundation staff to identify corporate prospects and solicit contributions to programs for which the Foundation seeks support. The Committee identifies potential prospects, collaborates with staff regarding marketing strategies, and sets annual fundraising goals and benchmarks. This Committee consists of two co-chairs nominated by the Nominating Committee, based on merit and knowledge of industry leaders, and appointed by the Board of Trustees for a term of two years.

The SMEF Executive Committee is authorized to exercise all business and powers of the Board of Trustees, subject to specific directions or limitations imposed by the Board of Trustees. Executive Committee members serve on the Executive Committee for two year terms in each position. The Executive Committee meets on a frequent basis, as determined by the President, to facilitate the daily operations of the Foundation.

The Individual Fundraising Committee (IFC) is responsible for direct solicitations of individual support for the Foundation. The IFC works with the SMEF Executive Committee to establish endowment strategies and suggests target audiences for specific fundraising efforts.

The SMEF Nominating Committee consists of five SMEF Trustees who are responsible for nominating a slate of proposed Trustees to fill any expired terms or other vacancies on the Board of Trustees.

The SMEF Scholarship Committee is responsible for reviewing the applications and selecting the recipients for the MMSA/SMEF Presidential Scholarship, J. H. Fletcher & Co Scholarship, Stantec/McIntosh Engineering Scholarship, the Ernest K. Lehmann Memorial Scholarship and the George V. Weisdack Memorial Scholarship.

The Syd S. and Felicia F. Peng Ground Control in Mining Award Committee administers the Peng Award under the direction of the SME Board of Directors. This committee is composed of five members who are chosen based on their demonstrated ability and track record for dealing with ground control issues in mining.

Contact volunteer@smenet.org for more information.

The Syd S. and Felicia F. Peng Ground Control in Mining Scholarship Committee is responsible for reviewing the applications and selecting the recipients for the Syd S. and Felicia F. Peng Ground Control in Mining Scholarship based on applicants’ combination of financial need and academic promise.

Contact volunteer@smenet.org for more information.

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The SME Audit Committee is a committee of the SME Board of Directors. Its primary function is to assist the Board in fulfilling its fiduciary responsibilities by  reviewing (1) the quality and integrity of the organization’s financial statements, (2) the SME’s systems of internal accounting and financial controls, (3) compliance with laws and regulations and the company’s ethics programs as applicable, and (4) the external audit processes, including the external auditor’s qualifications and independence.

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"The Bulk Material Handling Committee was created to enrich the Bulk Material Handling (BMH) group through networking, advancing knowledge, educational programs, research and development, career development, influencing and nurturing young professionals for the benefit of the our society. The Committee is designed to develop, facilitate and nurture meaningful and practical discussions on all facets of bulk material handling with the objective of promoting strong, sustainable relationships with all the stakeholders globally."

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The Finance Committee shall be responsible for the general supervision of the operational affairs of the Society and shall specifically be responsible for the execution of those duties and responsibilities as delegated by the Board.

The government relations and public affairs committee helps leverage the expertise of its membership to create a system for providing timely, accurate, factbased, non-partisan technical information in response to urgent inquiries from SME stakeholders on topics concerning mining, minerals and extractive industries; and has developed a structured program to create Technical Briefing papers for informing and educating SME audiences.

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The Journal Oversight Committee provides input and feedback on the strategic direction of the Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (MME) journal, the quality of the journal and inclusivity of authors and topics, and ensures the journal represents the breadth of SME. Committee members act as ambassadors for the journal and help solicit authors and nominate reviewers, and can nominate future members of the Editorial Board.

The Mining Engineering Committee shall (1) review papers or find reviewers for the papers at the request of the Mining Engineering staff and, (2) support the Mining Engineering staff. The committee will provide the staff with advice and input regarding overall magazine issues, including but not limited to, potential writers and topics for technical and feature articles, industry trends, potential advertisers, and issues referred to the committee by staff.

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The Nominating Committee shall make nominations for officers, directors, members, and other positions which are scheduled to be or otherwise become vacant at the end of the next annual meeting of the Society's membership.

This is the person from the OTC Program Committee who represents that committee on the OTC Board of Directors. This person serves a one-year term, renewable annually, and is appointed by the Co-Chairs of the OTC Program Committee.

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This committee is responsible for oversight and long-range planning of SME’s internal organization/infrastructure and includes:

• International (Global)
• Divisions
• Local Sections (Committees)
• Local Section Growth

The two specific areas that the Sustainable Development Committee shall pursue are the development, monitoring and assessment of sustainable development criteria for mineral operations and the development and dissemination of best operating practices for sustainable development.

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SME Strategic Goal: SME creates value and unites OUR community. Objectives: 1) Promote effective partnerships. 2) Enhance member engagement at all levels of the organization. 3) Enhance opportunities for inclusivity and access to all programs and activities. 4) Promote initiatives to engage the next generation of leaders.

SME members receive a nomination to serve in one of these positions, based on past SME leadership experience and demonstrated skills.

SME Strategic Goal: SME is the first choice for disseminating innovative mining and underground construction information, research, and technology. Objectives: 1) Provide quality platforms for the transfer of knowledge. 2) Expand opportunities for disseminating and presenting innovative research and best practices. 3) Publicize impactful ideas and trends.

SME members receive a nomination to serve in one of these positions, based on past SME leadership experience and demonstrated skills.

SME Strategic Goal: Promote mining and underground construction as multidisciplinary careers that are essential and rewarding. Objectives: 1) Assist educational institutions in promoting the industry. 2) Provide resources to attract and retain a skilled and professional workforce. 3) Recognize and support changing professional development needs.

SME members receive a nomination to serve in one of these positions, based on past SME leadership experience and demonstrated skills.

SME Strategic Goal: SME promotes responsible mining and underground construction. Objectives: 1) Provide information about responsible mining best practices. 2) Proactively identify policy and regulatory hot topics related to responsible mining. 3) Promote streamlined permitting process. 4) Support partnerships between industry, stakeholders, and government.

SME members receive a nomination to serve in one of these positions, based on past SME leadership experience and demonstrated skills.

The Annual Conference Subcommittee will provide a centralized source for all Young Leaders events surrounding the SME Annual Conference in an effort to better direct membership efforts and offerings.

To get involved with this subcommittee, apply to serve on the Young Leaders Committee.

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The goal of the Global Sections Subcommittee is to help expand and recognize International membership in SME.

To get involved with this subcommittee, apply to serve on the Young Leaders Committee.

The Young Leaders Committee (YLC) was created in 1998 to develop and strengthen young professionals in the mining industry while adding value to the entire SME organization. Through the use of subcommittees within the YLC, members will work within SME to reach student chapters, the general public and provide value to SME members throughout the year and at the Annual Meeting. While working with these different groups, members of the YLC are given opportunities for personal development and are in the position to gain and share knowledge as well as provide development opportunities to others.

To get involved, apply to serve on the Young Leaders Committee.

The Membership subcommittee is responsible for receiving new applications, tracking member activities, providing mentorship to new and existing YL members and maintaining the Alumni Contact Database.

To get involved with this subcommittee, apply to serve on the Young Leaders Committee.

The objective of the Philanthropy & Community Outreach Subcommittee is to have more of an impact outside of SME through programs like Miners Give Back, Engineers without Boarders and The Boy Scout Jamboree. PCO will work closely with the SME Foundation and MEC to support the initiatives of these groups.

To get involved with this subcommittee, apply to serve on the Young Leaders Committee.

The Professional Development Subcommittee aims to provide activities that focus on creating a professionally developing environment in which students, young engineers, and other SME members are able to strengthen and expand their professional skill set in a variety of different subjects, learn through mentoring, and expand networking to a larger group of professionals.

To get involved with this subcommittee, apply to serve on the Young Leaders Committee.

It is the purpose of the Student Relations Subcommittee to engage the SME student chapters and assist with all of their efforts; including, but not limited to, the student design competitions, annual student chapter reports, and chapter activities.

To get involved with this subcommittee, apply to serve on the Young Leaders Committee.