WJU to Host Mining Symposium

The National Technology Transfer Center (NTTC) at Wheeling Jesuit University will again coordinate an International Mining Health and Safety Symposium to continue the progress made at last year’s inaugural event. Working closely with the office of West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin III, officials at the NTTC have announced the two-day event is scheduled for April 26-27 and will attract representatives of the coal industry, labor, government, academia as well as technology innovators and equipment manufacturers.

During this month’s 2007 State of the State Address, Governor Manchin outlined several proposals for continued mine safety improvements, citing the symposium as a key initiative to his overall strategy. ”Once fully implemented, these plans and proposals, coupled with other initiatives such as the continuation of the International Mining Health and Safety Symposium that will be hosted by Wheeling Jesuit University in April, will go a long way toward meeting our goal of making West Virginia the safest mining state in the nation,ã® Manchin stated.

Wheeling Jesuit University Vice President for Sponsored Programs Davitt McAteer says the university is proud to contribute to the governor’s plan for safer mines. ”Last year’s symposium set the stage for significant health and safety improvements in coal mining. This year, we will bring together experts from all over the world to examine the progress we’ve made and discuss what else needs to be done,ã® said McAteer, who will continue his role as Governor Manchin’s special advisor on mine safety in 2007.

Preliminary plans for this year’s symposium include a sober look at the results of safety technology development efforts that were undertaken in 2006, a technology exhibit hall to be housed at WJU’s Alma Grace McDonough Center, and a mine rescue team competition at WesBanco Arena in downtown Wheeling.

Symposium sponsors include Governor Manchin’s office, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). For more information, visit the symposium website at www.nttc.edu/minesafety or call (304) 243-2513.

One of 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States, Wheeling Jesuit University offers students a high-quality private education. Since 1995 U.S. News & World Report has ranked Wheeling Jesuit University among the top institutions in its ”Best Master’s Universities in the Southã® category. The campus is also home to the Robert C. Byrd National Technology Transfer Center, the Erma Ora Byrd Center for Educational Technologies®, the NASA-sponsored Classroom of the Future, a Challenger Learning Center® and the Clifford M. Lewis Appalachian Institute.

Source: www.theintelligencer.net