The American Rock Mechanics Association (ARMA) is a professional and international engineering and scientific society, which promotes interaction among specialists, practitioners, scholars, and educators in rock mechanics and geomechanics. We advocate for individuals and firms in all aspects of rock mechanics and geomechanics, including multi-disciplinary rock physics and rock engineering technology advancement and technological applications for civil engineering, mining engineering and tunneling, oil and gas recovery, and geo-related socioeconomic problem-solving. We provide a forum and information resources for our members, related organizations, and the public, while our strong student membership ensures future continuity.
Advisor: Zach Agioutantis – zach.agioutantis@uky.edu, 859.257.2953
The Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, Inc. (SME) is a national professional society with the objectives of fostering standards of professionalism, promoting technologic information exchange, providing opportunities for comradeship and recognizing professional service and accomplishment. In order to insure the future of mining engineering as a professional discipline, SME sponsors numerous student chapters at colleges and universities that offer mining engineering, mineral processing or geology in their curricula.
The basic purpose of SME’s student chapters is to get students involved in their professional society early in order to:
The Norwood Student Chapter of SME at the University of Kentucky is named for Charles J. Norwood, the first head of the State of Kentucky’s mine safety agency, who later went on to be the head of the College of Mining at UK. Mr. Norwood was inspector of mines from 1884 to 1893, chief inspector of mines from 1893 to 1896 and again from 1902 to 1919. All mining engineering students at the University of Kentucky are invited and encouraged to be part of this organization.
The student organization meets regularly for technical presentations by industry personnel and informal sessions geared toward planning and information exchange. Several field trips are scheduled each year. These include trips to surface and underground mines in Kentucky and neighboring states and attendance at regional SME meetings. Each year a few students are selected to represent the student chapter at the SME annual meeting. There are also numerous social events such as picnics and an annual mining banquet that provide opportunities for students and faculty to know each other better.
Advisor: Jack Groppo – john.groppo@uky.edu, 859.257.2833
The International Society of Explosives Engineers (ISEE) is the world’s largest professional association for explosives engineers. ISEE has a presence in over 90 countries, bringing nearly 4,000 professionals in the explosives industry together across the globe. Some of the main goals of ISEE are:
The student chapter of ISEE at the University of Kentucky helps establish a connection with professionals in the explosives industry. It supports the professional development of its members through outreach, annual conferences, social events, and guest speakers to our meetings within the industry. Participation with ISEE will leave students with worldwide industry connections, communication skills, and a community to belong to during and after college. Any STEM major is welcome to join our group!
Advisor: Josh Calnan – joshcalnan@uky.edu, 859.257.8032
Mu Nu Gamma is an honor society devoted solely to the mining engineering profession. It recognizes mining engineering students that have completed at least 60 semester hours with a minimum of 9 hours designated with a mining prefix; the students must also have a minimum 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and rank in the top 35 percent of their class.
The University of Kentucky Mining Competition Team, also known as the Muckin’ Wildcats, is an organization in which students compete in 7 events rooted in old school mining techniques. The events are swede saw, jack leg, gold panning, surveying, track stand, mucking, and hand-steel. The organization is centered on an annual competition, when University teams from all around the world travel to one location in order to compete against each other in a friendly bout of speed, skill, and strength, but many students also use the club as just an opportunity for fun! The Muckin’ Wildcats also pride themselves on creating a truly inclusive team atmosphere for all members, whether during practice, while competing, or just around campus. Beyond the fun to be had and connections to be made, many of our current and former students have highlighted how participating in mucking has given them a concrete example of work ethic to share with companies during interviews.
Advisor: Josh Calnan – joshcalnan@uky.edu, 859- 257-8032
RescUKats is a collegiate mine rescue team that competes with other top universities in mock mine rescue scenarios under real-life working conditions and professional equipment. Students will apply risk management and teamwork in a timed competitive environment. Students will network and engage with students from other universities and industry professionals at practices as well as competitions.
Advisor: Steven Schafrik – steven.schafrik@uky.edu, 859-257-5387
Trainer: Bruce Taylor (Warrior Coal LLC)
Women in Mining (WIM) is a national organization striving to:
Our Women in Mining student chapter exists to help minorities in the department get established and feel supported both in our department and in the industry at large. To accomplish this, our chapter hosts informal social events for members, outreach events with community organizations, networking opportunities with industry leaders, and professional opportunities including an annual conference. Through participation in WIM members leave the university experience with expanded industry connections, speaking and leadership experience from various events, and feeling connected to a national organization that can continue to support them as they grow their careers.
Advisor: Lesley Brenner – lesley.brenner@uky.edu, 859.257.4596
