About Us

 

Our Mission

 

The mission of TMS is to promote the global science and engineering professions concerned with minerals, metals, and materials.

 

Our Vision

 

The vision of TMS is to be the professional society of choice for the worldwide minerals, metals, and materials community.

 

Who We Are

 

The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS) is a professional society that connects minerals, metals, and materials scientists and engineers who work in industry, academia, and government positions around the world. We create networking, publication, and professional development opportunities by convening international conferences, publishing books and journals, administering awards, conducting short courses and training, and bringing together the professional community to address issues of common concern. We also provide leadership in the professional licensing of engineers and in the accreditation of university programs in metallurgical, materials, and similarly named engineering programs.

 

TMS currently supports nearly 14,000 professional and student members on six continents. For a more complete look at the technology areas we serve, view our listing of Technical Divisions & Committees.

 

To learn more, view the TMS Fact Sheet and TMS Annual Reports.

 

TMS Diversity Statement

 

The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS) is committed to advancing diversity in the minerals, metals, and materials professions, and to promoting an inclusive professional culture that welcomes and engages all who seek to contribute to the field. TMS recognizes that a diverse minerals, metals, and materials workforce is critical to ensuring that all viewpoints, perspectives, and talents are brought to bear in addressing complex science and engineering challenges. To build and nurture this diverse professional community, TMS welcomes and actively engages the participation of underrepresented groups in all of its initiatives and endeavors.

 

Our History

 

The history of TMS dates back to 1871, the year that its parent organization, The American Institute of Mining Engineers (now the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers—AIME), became one of the first national engineering societies in the United States. That year, 22 mining and metallurgical engineers met in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, to read and discuss research papers, beginning a tradition of technical exchange that is still carried on today at the TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition. AIME is currently one of five Engineering Founder Societies that form the United Engineering Foundation in the United States. 

 

In 1957, AIME established The Metallurgical Society of AIME, along with the Society of Mining Engineers of AIME and the Society of Petroleum Engineers of AIME, as semiautonomous societies addressing particular technical interests and activities of its members. The Iron & Steel Society was added to the group in 1974. TMS and the other societies separately incorporated in 1984, but today maintain a relationship with AIME and each other as four member societies of a federation. 

 

To reflect the broadening of its technical scope, The Metallurgical Society changed its name to The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society in 1989 and the name of its member journal from Journal of Metals to JOM. 

 

Over the years, TMS has grown and expanded, engaging in initiatives to further promote the minerals, metals, and materials professions. In the 1980s, an exhibition was added to the TMS Annual Meeting. In the 1990s, the TMS Foundation was established to support the development of students and young professionals. In the first decade of the 2000s, TMS partnered with several other materials societies to create the joint Material Advantage student program and the Materials Science & Technology (MS&T) conference series. In 2010, building on the established reputation of the society and its members, TMS began to develop influential technology and roadmapping studies and reports. 

 

The society has also taken a lead in advancing diversity and inclusion issues within the field, holding its inaugural summit on Diversity in the Minerals, Metals, and Materials Professions (DMMM1) in 2014 and establishing two awards that recognize individuals who have overcome adversity—or helped others to overcome adversity—to pursue careers in materials science and engineering. 

 

Our Future

 

TMS has established itself as the professional and technical bridge connecting the many disciplines of minerals, metals, and materials science and engineering. Learn how we plan to strengthen that role in the future by implementing the strategic goals that guide our society and future development.