The American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers (AIME) approved a $1-million grant to be shared equally among its four member societies to mitigate the negative impact on society operations associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The member societies of AIME include SPE, the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME), The Minerals, Metals, and Materials Society (TMS), and the Association for Iron & Steel Technology (AIST).
AIME’s President, George Luxbacher, said, “The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges to the association community, including the disruption of convening people for knowledge sharing and networking. All have had to pivot to new ways of delivering member value, some requiring significant new resources. AIME hopes that this increased support will ease the transition.”
SPE’s CEO and Executive Vice President, Mark Rubin, stated, “SPE appreciates this very timely grant from AIME. SPE will use the funds to support continuation of our highly valued member programs during a time when revenue from conferences that traditionally supported these programs has been significantly curtailed.”
AIME was founded in 1871 by 22 mining engineers in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, USA, and celebrates its 150th anniversary in May 2021. AIME was one of the first national engineering societies established in the United States, and, along with ASCE (civil), ASME (mechanical), IEEE (electrical), and AIChE (chemical), it is known as an Engineering Founder Society. Together, the Engineering Founder Societies form the United Engineering Foundation (UEF). SPE is proud to be a part of this long history and tradition in support of engineering technology and professionalism.