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P & GA LINKS
  • P & GA HOME
    General information on the Public & Governmental Affairs Center [MORE]

  • WIRED TO WASHINGTON
    A tool to send advocacy letters to local and national politicians [MORE]

  • CONGRESSIONAL VISIT DAYS
    Learn more about this annual event in Washington D.C. [MORE]

  • NEWS AND NOTES
    View recent articles related to the P & GA [MORE]

  • READING ROOM
    News articles on global materials-related activities [MORE]

  • FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
    List of funding sources for materials-related projects [MORE]

  • MATERIAL AGENCIES
    List of public and private agencies concerned with P&GA initiatives [MORE]

  • P & GA COMMITTEE HOME
    Info about the committee and how to join [MORE]


SPOTLIGHT DOWNLOADS

TMS 2015 Strategic Plan:
Five Goals for a Stronger Society

View Document


Materials: Foundation for the Clean Energy Age
Innovation Impact Report Webinar
March 6, 2012

View Webinar



Equipping the Next Generation Workforce for Materials Innovation:
The Gateway to Manufacturing Competitiveness
February 15, 2012, Washington, DC

View Presentations

Public and Governmental Affairs Resource Center

The Public and Governmental Affairs Committee of The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS) attempts to communicate to both the general public and various governments about the economic and environmental importance of materials research and development. This on-line resource center is a manifestation of this commitment.

TMS is a non-polictically affiliated international professional membership organization based in the United States and developed these pages for members of The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS), the general public, and representatives of government agencies and associations (in the United States and throughout the world). The content is maintained by the volunteer members of the TMS Public and Govermental Affairs Committee.

P&GA GOALS

The overall goals of the public and government affairs committee is to:

  • Facilitate communication among all interested parties.
  • Accelerate the dissemination of information on funding opportunities, policy-making, and science and engineering news.
  • Provide insight into the economic and environmental importance of materials research and development.

From this perspective, the site essentially serves as a clearing house of links to web sites that provide general background on materials, their use, and their impact on the environment and global economies, timely news of materials science and engineering trends by government decision makers worldwide as applies to both technology and scientists and engineers and tools for finding funding in the materials arena.

WIRED TO WASHINGTON

In keeping with its mission to communicate with government officials about the impact of materials research and development both economically and environmentally, the P&GA Committee now offers visitors the chance to get “Wired to Washington.”

This tool, introduced in 2010, enables visitors to send pre-written messages to Washington decision-makers. In a matter of minutes, letters on topics key to materials science and engineering professionals can be personalized and delivered to the appropriate audience. Access the tool by visiting the Wired to Washington home page.

CONGRESSIONAL VISIT DAYS

Each spring, scientists and engineers from a variety of disciplines meet in Washington, D.C., to discuss these issues with their representatives in Congress. TMS encourages its members to voice their support for increased federal funding of Research and Development in the physical sciences by joining in Congressional Visit Days.

Learn more about getting involved with the upcoming CVD, and register to attend by visiting the Congressional Visit Days home page.

Congressional Science and Engineering Fellowship

TMS, in partnership with the Materials Research Society (MRS), seeks candidates for an annual Congressional Science and Engineering Fellowship in Washington, D.C. The fellowship can provide the recipient (a society member) with an invaluable public policy learning experience, contribute to a more effective use of materials knowledge in government, and broaden awareness about the value of scientist and engineer-government interaction among Society members and within the federal government. Click here to learn more.

To view current and past Congressional Fellows, click here.

P&GA ADVOCACY POLICY

TMS welcomes the opportunity to work cohesively and purposefully with other organizations and professional societies to accomplish universal goals that support our mission to promote materials science and technology.

Please review the TMS Advocacy guiding principals and Approval Process before requesting society endorsement for any initiative. View the current Advocacy Positions, which was endorsed on June, 15, 2009.

ISSUE ACTIVITIES

Below are activities and communication to advance the policy goals for the materials science and engineering community.