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The American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS) is an international professional organization based in Urbana, Illinois USA dedicating to providing the support network for those involved with the science and technology-related to fats, oils, surfactants, and other related materials.

Founded in 1909, AOCS has 4,000 members in 90 countries who are active in a total of twelve divisions and six sections, of which only two of the sections are within the United States.

Mission
According the the official AOCS site, "the mission of AOCS is to provide high standards of quality among those with a professional interest in the science and technology of fats, oils, surfactants, and related materials and is continually fulfilled by AOCS Technical Services. Its esteemed products and services help professionals maintain excellence in their industry."

History
The AOCS was started in the early 1900's as a group that promoted recommended methods for chemical processes and initially focused on the cottonseed industry.

Publications
AOCS has published over 100 books, three technical journals related to edible oil chemistry: Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society (JAOCS), Lipids, Journal of Surfactants and Detergents, and the news magazine, International News on Fats, Oils, and Related Materials (INFORM). The JAOCS is currently published monthly and is in its 86th volume as of 2009.

In addition to its own distribution channels, AOCS also partners with online libraries like CRC/Taylor & Francis and Springer to make content available electronically.

Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society
The JAOCS has been published since 1947 and is distributed monthly as the main journal of AOCS. Its contents include technical reports on processes, theoretical and practical research, fats and oils distribution, and more.

Journal of Surfactants and Detergents
The quarterly JSD launched in 1998 to supply reviews of soaps, petrochemicals, oleochemicals, surfactants, and detergents to the AOCS membership.

Lipids
Lipids is another monthly publication of the AOCS and has been in existence since 1966.

Books
AOCS publishes a number of books each year, over 50 of which are available from their online store. Available titles include "Biobased Surfactants and Detergents," "Biocatalysis and Bioenergy," and "Focus on Obesity."

Meetings
AOCS holds the international Annual Meeting every year for both members and non-members. In 2009, the 100th annual meeting will be held in Orlando, Florida, USA, celebrating the centennial of the organization.

In addition to the Annual Meeting, there are several other smaller events held throughout the year. These meetings cover topics ranging from edible oil refining to lipid oxidation to biodiesel technologies. A list of these meetings can be found at: AOCS meetings.

AOCS Foundation
The AOCS Foundation is a fund raising group that has similar goals to the main organization. With donations, the Foundation supports initiatives like facility improvement and expanded electronic resources.

Membership
AOCS members pay an annual association fee and receive these benefits :
 * Monthly subscription to the news journal Inform
 * AOCS Resource Directory of member listing and contact information
 * Discount rates for purchases of books and special publications

Committees
AOCS is made up of a collection of the following permanent committees, each representing part of what AOCS does :
 * Nominating and Election Committee
 * Leadership Canvassing Committe (LCC)
 * Education and Meetings Steering Committee
 * Program Committee
 * Exhibits Committee
 * Financial Steering Committee (FSC)
 * Budget Committee
 * Investment Committee
 * Audit Committee
 * Membership Steering Committee (MSC)
 * Awards Administration Committee
 * Membership Development Committee (MDC)
 * Sections Committee
 * Publications Steering Committee (PSC)
 * Books and Special Publications Committee (BSPC)
 * inform Committee
 * JAOCS Committee
 * JSD Committee
 * Lipids Committee
 * Technical Steering Committee (TSC)
 * Examination Board
 * Laboratory Proficiency Program Committee
 * Uniform Methods Committee

Awards
At its annual meetings, AOCS hands out a total of 34 awards, broken down into five service (including fellow), three scientific, twelve sectional/ divisional, and fourteen student (excluding one that has been discontinued as of 2006).