The 9th International Symposium on Mine Safety Science and Engineering

The 9th International Symposium on Mine Safety Science and Engineering (ISMSSE2026) was held in Wollongong, Australia from 28 September to 2 October 2026. Honorary Chairs were Academician G.Q. Max Lu AO, Academician Shirong Ge, Academician Liang Yuan, Academician Yishan Pan, Academician Qingxue Huang, Academician Aixiang Wu, Academician Guofa Wang, Prof. Xueqiu He (Chair ICMSSE), Prof. Hani Mitri (International Chair ICMSSE), Prof. Alan Rowan, Prof. Jixiong Zhang, Prof. Jun Deng, Prof. Hua Guo, and Prof. Jun Han. Prof. Ting Ren served as General Chair.

The theme of the symposium focused on a wide range of topics, including green and sustainable mining technologies, critical minerals and green processing, mine safety science and safety engineering, ground control and dynamic hazard control, mine hazard control, smart mining and safety monitoring, occupational health and safety in mines, emergency management and information technology, post-mining rehabilitation and ecological restoration technology, carbon capture and decarbonisation for renewable energy, AI+ and data-driven mining and safety, geoenvironmental safety of mine tailings, design of advanced materials for mining equipment, artificial intelligence and data-driven solutions for mining equipment utilization, green manufacturing processing, new materials and composite materials manufacturing, and other related topics. The symposium showcased cutting-edge results and successful experiences, bridging mine safety science theory research to engineering applications. 

The symposium was hosted by University of Wollongong and co-hosted by University of Science and Technology Beijing; McGill University; China University of Mining and Technology (Xuzhou); GIG National Research Institute; Heilongjiang University of Science and Technology; Henan Polytechnic University; Shandong University of Science and Technology; Anhui University of Science and Technology; Liaoning University; University of New South Wales; Adelaide University; University of Queensland; Curtin University; Missouri University of Science and Technology; Taiyuan University of Technology; Liaoning Technical University; AGH University of Krakow; Xian University of Science and Technology; China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing); Chongqing University; Jiangxi University of Science and Technology; Hunan University of Science and Technology; Tashkent State Technical University; World Association of Young Scientists; and supported by Jiangsu Ji'an Mining Technology Joint Stock Co., Ltd; China Coal Technology & Engineering Group Co., Ltd; GM3; Blackrock Mining Solutions; SANSEN Well Mining Technology Co., Ltd; Shandong Micro-Sensor Photonics Co., Ltd; Yabby Innovations; Shanxi Gowan Construction Technology of Coalbed Gas Co., Ltd, et al. More than 220 experts and scholars from eight countries, including China, Canada, United States, Czech Republic, India, Japan, Uzbekistan, and Australia, attended the symposium and carried out academic exchanges on mine safety, green and low-carbon practices, intelligent mining, disaster prevention and control, and sustainable development. 

At the opening ceremony, Prof. Ting Ren of University of Wollongong, the general chair of this symposium, delivered a welcome address. Ms Alison Byrnes MP, the member for Cunningham, delivered the opening remarks. Prof. Alan Rowan, the Vice-President of University of Wollongong, expressed his congratulations. Prof. Xueqiu He of USTB, the Chair of the International Committee on Mine Safety Science and Engineering, welcomed all participants and announced the list of Outstanding Young Scholars in International Mining Safety. Prof. Hani Mitri from McGill University, the International Chair of the International Committee on Mine Safety Science and Engineering, extended his greetings and introduced the development history of the ICMSSE. Prof. Zhengyi Jiang of University of Wollongong, the director of the Australian Research Council-Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Innovative Composites for the Future of Sustainable Mining Equipment, extended a cordial welcome to all delegates and briefly introduced his Centre. Prof. Hua Guo from Anhui University of Science and Technology, Vice-Chair of World Mining Congress, warmly greeted the participants and promoted the 28th World Mining Congress.

Prof. Ting Ren, Dr Marc Elmouttie, Prof. Hua Guo, and Prof. Erkan Topal served as main venue chair, respectively. Academician Shirong Ge of Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, China, Peter Baker of Chief Executive Officer of GM3, Academician Aixiang Wu of University of Science and Technology Beijing, China, Dr Marc Elmouttie of CSIRO, Australia, Academician Guofa Wang of CCTEG Beijing Tianma Intelligent Control Technology Co., Ltd., China, Prof. Quansheng Li from China Energy Investment Corporation Co., Ltd., China, Dr Richard Campbell from Blackrock Mining Solutions Pty Ltd, Australia, Prof. Wanxing Ren of Jiangsu Ji'an Mining Technology Joint Stock Co., Ltd., China, Dr Mike Yao from Vale Base Metals, Canada, Dr Dennis Black from Dendrobium Mine of GM3, Dr Xing Li from CSIRO, Australia, Russell Thomas from Appin Mine of GM3, Colin Wade from Komatsu, Prof. Derek Apel from University of Alberta, Canada, Prof. Jun Han from Liaoning Technical University, China, Scott Thomson from Yabby Innovations, were invited to deliver academic reports during the symposium. 

Sub-venue chairs included Prof. Alex Remennikov, Prof. Guangyao Si, Dr Richard Campbell, Prof. Derek Apel, Prof. Lina Zheng, Prof. Petr Konicek, Dr Xing Li, Prof. Wu Cai, Prof. Murat Karakus, Dr Dennis Black, Prof. Liang Wang, Prof. Mehmet Kizil, Prof. Anye Cao, Dr Radovan Kukutsch, Prof. Lei Zhang, Prof. Danqi Li, Dr Mani Ram Saharan, Prof. Dazhao Song, Dr Jan Nemcik, Prof. Wei Yang, Prof. Xuyao Qi, Prof. Xiaofei Liu, Prof. Shengquan He, Prof. Changbin Wang, Dr Lihong Su, Dr Ming Qiao, Prof. Hongwei Liu, Prof. Beifang Wang, Dr Jon Roberts, Prof. Xu Yu, Prof. Guanyu Yang, Dr Ping Chang. The program comprised 16 plenary invited talks, 16 invited talks in parallel sessions, and 152 regular presentations. Based on the conference outcomes, ICMSSE selected 13 Outstanding Young Scholars in international mining safety.

At the Conference Gala Dinner, Vice-President Jun Han from Liaoning Technical University, announced the 10th ISMSSE will be hosted by Liaoning Technical University in China, with Professor Song Cen as the conference Chair.

The symposium has built a genuine bridge for international exchange. Representatives from multiple countries and regions engaged in candid discussions on key topics including mine safety, green and low-carbon, intelligent mining, disaster prevention and control, and sustainable development, all aligned with the goal of "Building a Safe, Sustainable, and Efficient Mining System". This collaboration laid a solid foundation for a global mining safety cooperation network. We highly acknowledge everyone's support.