UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s College of Earth and Mineral Sciences and Shandong University of Science and Technology in China have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to pursue collaborative research, teaching and educational opportunities. The goal of the MOU is to strengthen and disseminate research outcomes in environmental and safety sciences and mining engineering.
The first planned step is to increase student exchange opportunities before moving to opportunities for faculty. Other opportunities such as hosting joint conferences, such as the International Symposium on Mine Dust and Aerosol Research, will be discussed in the coming years.
Professor Weimin Cheng in Shandong University of Science and Technology’s College of Safety and Environmental Engineering, said he is excited about establishing a student exchange program.
“There's a great need for students to go abroad for master's degree study,” Cheng said. “This agreement is a good mechanism to strengthen our relationship toward collaborative research on important topics like battery safety, mine dust control and many others that impact environmental health worldwide.”
Shimin Liu, the George H., Jr. and Anne B. Deike Chair in Mining Engineering and professor of energy and mineral engineering at Penn State, said he is looking forward to seeing how the collaboration will continue to grow once students and faculty become more involved.
“Human-to-human interactions are the cornerstone for relationships and future research successes,” Liu said. “With this agreement, we can build on Penn State’s outstanding legacy of coal research and stay at the forefront of mine safety and the development of more sustainable mining practices.”
Founded in 1951, Shandong University of Science and Technology offers multidisciplinary education in engineering, sciences, management, literature, law, economics and education. In addition to the MOU with Penn State, the university has established cooperative relationships with 120 universities and research institutes in 23 countries and regions.