The 18th North American Mine Ventilation Symposium (NAMVS) was held on a virtual platform, June 12–17, 2021. The symposium was organized by South Dakota Mines, Rapid City, SD, in collaboration with the Underground Ventilation Committee (UVC) of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME). The NAMVS, held every 2-3 years since 1982, provides a forum for practitioners, educators, and researchers to exchange the latest information in the ventilation of mines, tunnels, and other underground facilities.
Dr. Purushotham Tukkaraja, Symposium Chair, wanted to welcome everyone to the beautiful campus in Rapid City, SD, and the Black Hills area. Unfortunately, due to the COVID pandemic, the symposium was held on a virtual platform for the first time. However, there was no shortage of enthusiasm or curiosity among the 220 attendees registered from 17 countries, who gathered online to hear from speakers and authors and share their experiences.
The event began with opening remarks by Dr. Tukkaraja, followed by welcoming remarks from the South Dakota Mines Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Lance Roberts; and the Mining Department Head, Dr. Robert Hall. Bill Edgerton, SME President, also joined the meeting and welcomed the audience.
Next, the keynote addresses presented by Dr. George Luxbacher, Deputy Associate Director for Mining, NIOSH Mining, on “Mine Ventilation Research at NIOSH Safe Miners - Healthy Miners;” Dr. Jurgen Brune, Professor Practice, Colorado School of Mines on Artisanal Mining; and Lawrence Klobuka, Chief Ventilation Division MSHA Tech Support, Ventilation Division on “Who we are and what we do.”
The event was packed with four days of the technical program, 220 delegates registered from 17 countries and five continents. A total of 57 technical papers were presented in 16 sessions, 6 special topics courses, virtual mine tours, and two amazing panels: one on battery electric vehicles and the other on prescriptive vs. risk-based regulation. The on-demand session and poster presentations were held over the weekend. We had virtual networking sessions each day for the participants to connect with their old friends and make new friends.
Dr. Tukkaraja would like to thank the speakers, session chairs, panelists, attendees, committee members, judges for their contribution and participation, and the sponsors and exhibitors for their generous support of this symposium. There were 12 exhibitors and 10 sponsors. Platinum Sponsors - SRK Consulting, Mecanicad, Howden, Hurley Ventilation Technologies; Gold sponsors - Freeport-McMoRan, Accutron; Silver Sponsors - G+Plastics, Maestro Digital Mine for making the event possible. Special thanks to Sanford Underground Research Facility and NIOSH for providing a virtual tour of their facilities.
The 57 peer-reviewed papers and the recorded technical paper presentations were scored by the judges and the best papers and best presentations awards were presented to the authors and the speakers. The prestigious Hartman award was presented to Dr. Jurgen Brune, and the mine ventilation scholarship was awarded to Nana Amoah. Dr. Tukkaraja would like to congratulate all the award winners.
The next NAMVS will be held at South Dakota Mines, Rapid City, SD, in 2023. Dr. Tukkaraja looks forward to welcoming the ventilation community to the South Dakota Mines and the beautiful Black Hills in June 2023.