About SME  

The Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME) is an international society of professionals in the minerals industry. The SME membership is more than 11,500 strong, with members in nearly 100 countries. 

As a member of UCA of SME, you are included in SME membership with all of its benefits as well as those of UCA.

SME's History

A member society of the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers (AIME), SME's 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.

How SME is Organized

SME is organized into seven distinct divisions - coal & energy, environmental, industrial minerals, mineral and metallurgical processing, mining and exploration, underground construction association (UCA) and WAAIME - the woman's auxiliary to the AIME. These divisions reflect the rich diversity of the SME membership and serve as a framework for SME's committee structure.

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, college accreditation programs, meetings and exhibits, public education, and SME short courses are just a few examples.

Scope of SME

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.