The 5th International Symposium on Mine Safety Science and Engineering

The 5^th International Symposium on Mine Safety Science and Engineering (ISMSSE2021) was held in Katowice, Poland on 21-25 November 2021. It was hosted in a hybrid mode giving the opportunity for a face to face and an online experience.

The general chair of this symposium is Prof. Stanislaw Prusek. International Chair is Prof. Hani Mitri. Honorary Chair is Prof. Xueqiu He.

The motif of the symposium focusing on prediction and prevention of natural hazards in mining, occupational health and safety in mining, health and safety culture in mining, mine safety regulations and policies, risk assessment & safety management, epidemiology and occupational disease, ground control & strata monitoring, emergency preparedness and mine rescue, impact of industry 4.0 on mine safety, improving mining safety through digitalization and mechanization, mining productivity and efficiency, from hazard to resource: coalbed/mine methane, environmental sustainability in mining and other related topics. The Symposium showed cutting-edge results and successful experiences from safety science theory research to practical application.

The symposium was hosted by Central Mining Institute, and co-hosted by McGill University, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Shandong University of Science and Technology and Institute of Geonics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, supported by University of Wollongong, University of New South Wales, University of Queensland, Shandong University of Science and Technology, et al. And it has been granted the honorary patronage of the Minister of State Assets, sponsored by KGHM POLSKA MIEDZ, BOGDANKA, JSWSA, POLSKA GRUPA GORNICZA, FAMUR and HTA LABEDY. More than 837 experts and scholars from 18 countries, including China, Canada, Poland, U.S., Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Australia, Japan, India, Nigeria, Republic of Peru, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Vietnam, attended the meeting.

At the opening ceremony, Prof. Stanis?aw Prusek from Central Mining Institute, the general chair of this symposium, gave a welcome speech. Prof. Xueqiu He from USTB, the Chair of the International Committee on Mine Safety Science and Engineering, gave a welcome speech and introduced the global mine safety situation, the current situation of mine safety in China, and the new technology developments and potential influence on mine safety technology. Finally, he shared his heartfelt gratitude to all the experts, leaders and friends who have given enthusiastic support to the development of ISMSSE, and hoped the symposium in a complete success!

Prof. Hani Mitri, international chair of the International Committee on Mine Safety Science and Engineering from McGill University, Canada, Professor Petr Konicek from Institute of Geonics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic, Prof. Rudrajit Mitra from RWTH Aachen University, Germany, Prof. Ting Ren from University of Wollongong, Australia, Prof. Raymond J. Durrheim from School of Geosciences University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Prof. H. ?ebnem Düzgün Mining Engineering Department, Colorado School of Mines, USA, were invited to give an academic report.

The symposium lasted 5 days, and was divided into 11 venues, Prof. Józef Dubiński, Prof. Derek Apel, Prof. Adam Smoliński, Dr Zbigniew Lubosik, Prof. Alicja Krzemień, Prof. Petr Konicek, Dr. Tomasz Rogala, Dr. Isaac Vennes, Prof. Mitra Rudrajit, Dr. Krzysztof Kapust, and Dr. Aleksandra Koteras served as venue chair, respectively.

The symposium serves as a bridge for global mine players to exchange mine safety science theory, technology and engineering practice, and enhance the interactions among the government, enterprises and academic circle. Highly acknowledge for the support from everyone.