The deadline to submit an abstract of your recent research or work has been extended to Friday, May 29. This is your chance to share your techniques, strategies and research with your peers and industry leaders at the world’s largest conference on explosives engineering. If your abstract is selected, you will have the opportunity to present your findings at the 42nd Annual Conference on Explosives and Blasting Technique.

ISEE members and non-members are invited to submit ideas for papers to be presented at the Conference. Presented papers will be published in the Proceedings of the Conference.

During the 2013 Annual Conference on Explosives and Blasting Technique in Fort Worth, Texas, the International Society of Explosives Engineers (ISEE) Board of Directors unanimously voted to appoint a student director to the board for 2014. Because of the continued success during the past two consecutive terms, the ISEE Board would like to continue its efforts to have student representation.

The 2015/2016 appointment will run concurrently with the presiding ISEE President’s term. The position is for a one-year period held by a selected member of an ISEE student chapter. The student director must have approval and support from his or her student chapter and institution prior to applying for the position. Those who have applied to the appointment in the past, but have not been selected, are encourage to resubmit applications.

The deadline to apply for scholarships is almost here. Qualified students, who apply, will be considered for an award among 26 funds. To be eligible, you must be pursuing technical, undergraduate, graduate or doctorate degrees in fields of education related to the commercial explosives industry; and able to demonstrate financial need.

Visit the students section of our website to download the 2015 application. Only complete application packets emailed to isee@isee.org will be considered. The deadline is June 1, 2015.

America’s oldest coal plants are retiring like they’re Baby Boomers, and some of them are the same age. About 17% of U.S. coal-fired power generation will vanish in the next few years — some 7.5% this year alone, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Obstacles facing coal plants include their age, the abundance of cheap natural gas and a new EPA rule that took effect April 16.

The new Mercury and Air Toxics Standards requires that coal plant owners limit poisons such as mercury, arsenic, and metals, which have previously freely spilled into the atmosphere and waterways. The Supreme Court will weigh in on the rules at the end of this term. But with plants this old and gas this cheap, most of these plants are set for closure or conversion to gas, regardless.

Canada’s federal government has promised to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30% below 2005 levels by 2030, an ambitious target that, according to Environment Canada, includes plans for the oil sands sector.

The new emissions target, announced by Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq in Winnipeg, aims to control emissions in three separate areas: methane releases from oil and gas extraction; natural-gas fired power plants, and the manufacture of chemicals and nitrogen fertilizers.

A mining pit collapsed in the Guyanese jungle on Sunday, presumably burying 10 gold miners, authorities and a private association said on Monday. "The men are confirmed dead," said Ajay Baksh, a consultant with the local Guyana gold and diamond miners association. The accident at the private mine was believed to have been caused by heavy rainfall that saturated the soil surrounding the pit.

Global output for three of the most important mined metals, gold, copper and iron ore, fell significantly in the first three month of the year, compared to the previous quarter, a fresh report published Tuesday shows.

Production results published to date, however, suggest that gold and iron ore production are still higher than the year-ago quarter, up almost 12% in the case of iron ore, according to SNL Metals & Mining’s data.

New Orica chief executive Alberto Calderon said that a more respectful and collaborative culture will be critical in improving returns at the explosives giant following the sudden departure of former boss Ian Smith for aggressive behaviour. Mr Calderon, a former senior executive with mining giant BHP Billiton, made the move from the Orica board to the role of interim CEO after Mr Smith stepped down in March.

He was made permanent CEO on Tuesday and takes over the world's biggest supplier of mining explosives as excess explosives production capacity in Australia and cost-cutting miners put pressure on margins.

Head over to the ISEE online store now to get 10% off ISEE gear, books, artwork, DVDs and multimedia. Use coupon code isee10 at checkout to receive the special pricing. Offer expires May 29, 2015. Standard shipping rates apply. The sale does not include SEE Education Foundation items

Join more than 200 colleagues to learn, inspire and share knowledge across the mining, quarrying and construction industries—all with a blasting focus. FRAGBLAST 11 encourages participation by all practitioners, academics, researchers, regulators and manufacturers. The symposium will be held from August 24-26 at the Sheraton on the Park hotel in Sydney, Australia.

May 20-22, 2015
Mackay QLD 4740, Australia

May 21, 2015
Hollywood Casino
Grantville, Pennsylvania

May 25-27, 2015
Perth WA, Australia

May 28-30, 2015
Sunset Beach Resort
Osage Beach, Missouri

June 11, 2015
Hollywood Casino & Inn
Charles Town, West Virginia

June 14-19, 2015