Penn State will host the 20th North American Mine Ventilation Symposium (NAMVS) in collaboration with the Society of Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME) and the SME Underground Ventilation Committee (UVC) on June 21-26 in Pittsburgh.
The symposium is North America's largest biennial gathering of mine ventilation professionals, which brings mine operators, equipment manufacturers, researchers and regulators together to showcase products, attend presentations and discuss the leading technologies and research. Credentialed workshops and regional facilities tours will also be held throughout the weeklong event.
"Topics in mining are extensive," said Ashish Kumar, assistant professor of mining engineering in the John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering at Penn State and chair of the organizing committee. "There's exploration, reclamation and processing; however, this symposium is unique because it is exclusively for mine ventilation engineering."
For Kumar, the importance of mine ventilation is simple.
"The moment you go underground, you need a fresh air supply to breathe," Kumar said. "Proper mine ventilation ensures you have fresh air and the harmful dust particles from running diesel equipment or minerals are removed to create a safe working environment."
While safety is the top priority, mines must also consider productivity while complying with regulations. According to the organizers, recent regulations such as the Respirable Crystalline Silica rule from the Mine Safety and Health Administration will significantly impact mine ventilation.
"With underground mining operations extending deeper than ever, mine ventilation faces increasing challenges in ensuring worker safety, air quality and efficiency," said Sekhar Bhattacharyya, associate teaching professor of mining engineering at Penn State and co-host of NAMVS 2025. "As the industry adapts to evolving regulations, new technologies and the shift toward automation and battery-powered vehicles, collaboration becomes essential. The North American Mine Ventilation Symposium provides a crucial platform for researchers, industry leaders and practitioners to exchange ideas and develop innovative solutions. By coming together, are advancing our technical knowledge and strengthening our collective ability to create safer and more sustainable underground mining environments."
Penn State will be the first university to host the event for a third time in the symposium's 43-year history.
Barbara Arnold, undergraduate program chair of mining engineering and professor of practice in mining engineering, said she believes Penn State's heritage as a global leader in mining is an asset for the symposium.
"It is fitting that Penn State hosts this year's symposium as we celebrate 135 years of mining engineering at Penn State," Arnold said. "It represents our ongoing commitment to the discipline, especially through our health and safety research focused on reducing the effects of respirable dust."
Additional Penn State committee members include: Shimin Liu, Deike Chair Professor in Mining Engineering; Ang Liu, assistant teaching professor of energy and mineral engineering; and Mohammad Rezaee, Centennial Career Development Professorship in Mining Engineering in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.
Visit the NAMVS website for registration information, a complete speaker list and event schedule.
