Grand Conclusion of International Conference: Intensive Discussion on Digital Empowerment in Mining and Youth-Led Sustainability

Udaipur, A two-day international conference on "Future of Mining: Digital Empowerment and Youth-Driven Sustainability" concluded successfully at the College of Technology and Engineering (CTAE), Udaipur. The event was organized by the Mining Engineers' Association of India (MEAI), Rajasthan Udaipur Chapter, and the Student Chapter, in collaboration with CTAE, with the aim of promoting technological innovation and sustainability in the mining sector.

The valedictory ceremony featured Chief Guest S. N. Mathur and Session Chair Dr. Anupam Bhatnagar (Professor and Head, Mining Engineering Department), who highlighted the future of the mining industry and the role of youth in its development. Mathur emphasized that such conferences serve as platforms for knowledge exchange and offer young mining engineers opportunities to refine their technical skills and innovative thinking. He lauded MEAI Rajasthan Udaipur Chapter’s initiative and expressed hope that other MEAI chapters across the country would also encourage similar events. He extended his gratitude to the organizing team for their dedicated efforts in making the conference a success.

Expressing his delight over the conference’s success, Dr. Anupam Bhatnagar stated that the event not only facilitated technical discussions but also provided an excellent networking opportunity for participants from across the country and abroad. He remarked that the conference would open new avenues for employment and career growth for aspiring mining engineers.

Organizing Secretary Dr. Hitanshu Kaushal delivered the vote of thanks, while Co-Convenor and Assistant Professor, Mining Engineering Department, Dr. Vikram Sirvi, presented a detailed report on the conference proceedings. Dr. Sirvi noted that the technical sessions were highly engaging, with discussions, presentations, and research papers exploring new possibilities in the mining sector.

Around 50 technical research papers were presented during the conference, featuring contributions from esteemed institutions such as IIT Varanasi, IIT Kharagpur, MBM University Jodhpur, University of Kerala, The Safety Government Polytechnic Bhuj, Sir Padampat Singhania University Udaipur, Sangam University Bhilwara, Jharkhand Rai University Ranchi, AKS University Satna, National Institute of Hydrology Jodhpur, MLSU Udaipur, CTAE Udaipur, and even international participants from South Africa.

The technical sessions covered a wide range of topics, including the application of machine learning in surface mining, advancements in drilling and blasting processes, mobile app development for predicting blast-induced ground vibrations, drone-based mineral mapping, the future of rare earth elements, and the use of AI and robotics for safer and more efficient mining.

Session chairs, including Dr. S. C. Jain, R. C. Purohit, M. S. Paliwal, Dr. S. K. Vashistha, D. D. Shripat, R. P. Mali, and Arif M. Sheikh, provided valuable insights and guidance to researchers, significantly enhancing the quality of the presented studies.

Dr. Kaushal credited the conference's success to the relentless efforts of the organizing team and the active participation of attendees. He extended special gratitude to MEAI National President S. N. Mathur, Rajasthan Chapter Chairman Praveen Sharma, Secretary Asif M. Ansari, and CTAE Mining Engineering Department Head Dr. Anupam Bhatnagar for their support.

The organizers announced that MEAI Rajasthan Udaipur Chapter would continue hosting such international conferences in the future, fostering technological innovation and creating leadership opportunities for young professionals in the mining industry. The event concluded with the belief that it would serve as a milestone in advancing new perspectives, digital empowerment, and sustainability in the mining sector.