About Us

The Minerals Education Coalition (MEC) is the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration Foundation’s designated program to develop and deliver accurate and timely K-12 education materials and activities and conduct public awareness outreach about mining and minerals. The MEC is the successor entity of the Mineral Information Institute (Mii) which was merged with SME as of November 1, 2008 and SME’s Government, Education and Mining (GEM) program.

Vision
Mission
Audiences
MEC Staff
Minerals Education Coalition Committee
MEC Sub-Committees
MEC Awards
MEC Programs and Activities
MEC Supporters
Donate to the MEC
Volunteer for the MEC

Vision
The Minerals Education Coalition will succeed in generating an enlightened and supportive public that appreciates the importance of mining and minerals to their lives and their lifestyles.

Mission
The Minerals Education Coalition’s mission is to identify, produce and disseminate fact-based K-12 minerals education lessons and activities and to inform and educate the general public about the importance of mining in their everyday lives.

Audiences
Several distinct, yet equally important groups are the targeted audiences for the activities of MEC, specifically:

• K-12 students who are the consumers of the future and potential employees of the mining industry;
• Teachers of K-12 students who will provide the knowledge and skills needed to provide factual and meaningful instruction and experiences for youth; 
• SME members in Sections who locally provide accurate and relevant educational activities for K-12 students and the general public; and,
• The general public who are the beneficiaries of mining and minerals in their daily lives.
   

MEC Programs and Activities

• Identify and develop factual and relevant K-12 curriculum and supplemental materials about mining and minerals.
• Provide MEC’s and other MEC endorsed factual and relevant K-12 curriculum and materials about mining and minerals to teachers and other educators. These may be free of charge and/or sold at reasonable cost.
• Conduct workshops, webinars, conferences, etc. to train educators and others interested in mining and minerals education on the use of MEC curriculum and materials.
• Provide educational materials to SME members through SME Sections’ MEC Committees for their use in community settings.
• Provide materials and support for SME Student Chapters to conduct K-12 and public awareness outreach.
• Conduct a session at the SME Annual Meeting to introduce SME members about available K-12 and public outreach activities and materials about mining and minerals.
• Encourage exchanges of successful practices among MEC Section Committees using the MEC Community on the SME website, in publications and at SME meetings and conferences.
• Solicit best practices in K-12 mining and minerals education which will be featured as linked resources on the MEC website.
• Serve as a resource by identifying and linking all appropriate resource providers of K-12 mining and minerals education on the MEC website.
• Maintain a vibrant and informational website for use by various constituencies (i.e., students, teachers, other educators, general public, elected officials, corporations, foundations, SME members, etc.)
• Report the usage of MEC’s programs and activities and their effectiveness.
• Conduct periodic sample surveys of students’, educators’ and the general public’s knowledge and attitudes about mining and the importance of minerals (based on those who are in contact with the MEC and/or the beneficiaries of products and activities of the MEC).
• Maintain an accurate database of individuals and organizations purchasing MEC materials, attending trainings and programs, and accessing the website.
• Analyze, use and report data to determine best uses of the MEC’s limited resources.
• Maintain and enhance existing relationships with other groups and agencies as well as identify, cultivate and sustain new organizational relationships.
   

Minerals Education Coalition Staff

Director - Education and Foundation
Sharon Schonhaut
Direct Line: (303) 948 – 4236
schonhaut@smenet.org

Curriculum Coordinator
position vacant
please contact Sharon Schonhaut

Outreach Coordinator
Rachel Grimes
Direct Line: (303) 948 – 4247
grimes@smenet.org

Store Purchases
Carol Kiser
Direct Line: (303) 948 – 4225
books@smenet.org

MEC Address
Minerals Education Coalition
12999 E Adam Aircraft Circle
Englewood, CO 80112
U.S.A.

MEC Phone #s
Main Number: (303) 948 – 4200
Toll Free Number: (800) 763 – 3132
Fax Number: (303) 948 – 4265

MEC E-mail:
MEC@smenet.org

Website
www.MineralsEducationCoalition.org

Minerals Education Coalition Committee
The Minerals Education Coalition Committee, of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration’s Foundation (SMEF) is comprised of SME members with a commitment to actively participating in fulfilling the MEC’s mission. The Committee provides the MEC with leadership, guidance and coordination with other SMEF Committees and assists with fundraising and public outreach as appropriate on behalf of the MEC.

MEC Sub-Committees
The Membership Nomination Sub-Committee is to identify potential candidates and accept nominations of SME members to serve on the MEC Committee.

The MEC Officer Nomination Sub-Committee is to identify potential candidates and accept nominations for Vice Chair of the Committee from within Committee membership.

The MEC Awards Nomination Sub-Committee is for the purpose of reviewing Award nominations received, consulting with the SME Foundation Board of Trustees and SME staff in the selection process, and documenting the justification of individuals selected to receive MEC awards.

MEC Awards
The Minerals Education Coalition will recognize outstanding individuals and organizations which have significantly aided in its activities and programs. The MEC Awards and the awardees are:

MEC Leadership Award is to honor an individual SME member who has provided leadership to advance the mission of the MEC and has personally been involved in the delivery of its programs and/or activities.
2012 | Richard Beach

MEC SME Organization Recognition Award pays tribute to an SME group effort which has demonstrated active involvement with the MEC’s efforts either through development and use of educational materials with K-12 teachers and students or public outreach and awareness about mining and minerals.
2012 | No award made

MEC SME Student Chapter Award recognizes the outstanding efforts of a SME Student Chapter on a college campus and their faculty and industry advisors for their accomplishments in community outreach and mining/mineral education to serve the mission of the MEC.
2012 | University of Kentucky

MEC Partnership Appreciation Award acknowledges a non-SME individual or organization which has exemplified support for the MEC’s mission either through development and use of educational materials with K-12 teachers and students or public outreach and awareness about mining and minerals.
2012 | Mining Foundation of the Southwest

For additional information about MEC Awards’ criteria and to submit a nomination for any category, click here.

MEC’s Financial Supporters
Financial support for the MEC’s educational and awareness programs and activities come from a variety of individuals, organizations, corporations and foundations either by donations or grants. All revenue designated for the MEC is used to support the development and dissemination of free educational resources and low-cost supplemental materials.

MEC’s Supporters in 2012
Financial support for the MEC’s educational and awareness programs and activities come from a variety of individuals, organizations, corporations and foundations either by donations or grants. All revenue designated for the MEC is used to support the development and dissemination of free educational resources and low-cost supplemental materials.

MEC’s Supporters in Fiscal Year 2012 (October 1, 2011 – September 30, 2012)

IndividualS

Organizations

Colorado Mining Association
Denver Gold Group
Denver Mining Club Ltd
International Mining Service Providers Association
Mining and Metallurgical Society of America
Nevada Mining Association Inc.
SME-Colorado Section
SME-Pinal Mountain Section
WAAIME

Foundations

AIPG Foundation Inc
El Pomar Foundation
Hugh & Michelle Harvey Family Foundation
Seeley W. Mudd Memorial Fund
Nelson and Virginia Severinghaus Family Fund
Freeport-McMoRan Foundation
The Usibelli Foundation

Corporations

Donate to the MEC
The Minerals Education Coalition is able to supply free or very low-cost education materials due to the generosity of our supporters. Our annual outreach on the MEC website, at conferences, in publications, at schools, at professional meetings, in community sites, and many other locations is made possible by those listed in the section above. Your donation will allow us to continue to reach nearly 50,000 teachers in our database and through their efforts hundreds of thousands of students to understand that mining and minerals are critical to our everyday lives and lifestyles.
To donate to the MEC, visit our donation page.

Volunteer for the MEC
We invite teachers, geologists, engineers, and others involved with either K-12 education or in the minerals and mining industry to help us develop and review new materials and promote them in the community. Whatever your talent, location or available time, the MEC might have a volunteer opportunity for you! We need people who are knowledgeable and excited about helping youth and adults learn about minerals and mining in today’s changing world.

If you are interested in volunteering for a curriculum-related project, please contact MEC Manager, Sharon Schonhaut, at schonhaut@smenet.org. 

If you are interested in volunteering for an outreach program such as staffing a MEC booth at a conference or working with local community efforts on behalf of MEC, please contact our MEC Outreach Coordinator at Grimes@smenet.org.