TSOP is...

a Society for scientists and engineers involved with coal petrology, kerogen petrology, organic geochemistry and related disciplines.

You are invited to join!

Last modified 28 October 2011

Purpose and Overview

The Society for Organic Petrology (TSOP; pronounced "Tee'-sop") was established in 1984 to consolidate and foster the organizational activities of scientists and engineers involved with coal petrology, kerogen petrology, organic geochemistry and related disciplines. The objectives of the Society, as listed in its Bylaws, are:

to stimulate interest and promote research in organic petrology among members, and among scientific disciplines;
to provide a forum, disseminate information, and provide educational opportunities in organic petrology;
to work for acceptable classifications of all types of sedimentary organic matter;
to promote state-of-the-art technologies in organic petrology;
to enhance professional and scientific interactions among all scientists and engineers;
to inspire the highest standard of professional ethics of its members.

To accomplish these objectives, TSOP sponsors annual meetings, field trips, and short courses; publishes a quarterly newsletter, research reports and other scholarly works; organizes and supports collaborative research projects; provides this web site with literature references and links and reaches out in many other ways to colleagues working in related disciplines. TSOP is an AAPG Associated Society and an AGI Member Society.

TSOP was founded in Houston, and had a predominantly U.S. membership for many years. Recently, international membership has been growing steadily. There are now members in 28 countries. For example, in 2007:

45% of members resided in the U.S.,
17% in Europe,
10% in Australia,
9% in Canada,
5% in China,
2% in South America, plus many more located in other countries.

In its activities and publications, TSOP has strived to maintain an appropriate balance between fundamental versus applied research, coal versus petroleum-related applications, industry versus academic orientation, and North American versus international focus.

Who can join

Membership in TSOP is open to any individual or organization having an active scientific interest in organic petrology.

TSOP especially encourages institutions to join at the special institutional rate that supports the goals of the Society, as listed on the Application form
(requires Acrobat Reader).