Ramani named to National Academy of Engineering

Ramani named to National Academy of Engineering

University Park, Pa. -- Dr. Raja V. Ramani, who holds the emeritus George H. Jr. And Anne B. Deike Chair in mining engineering and emeritus professor of mining and geoenvironmental engineering, Penn State, has been named to the National Academy of Engineering.

Election to the National Academy of Engineering is among the highest professional distinctions for an engineer. NAE honors those who have made outstanding contributions to engineering research, practice or education.

Ramani is honored "for improvements in the health and safety of miners through a better understanding of the nature and control of airborne particulates."

Through a long career, the Penn State researcher has contributed greatly to mine health and safety, improved mine productivity and ensured a safe and well-managed mine environment. He was involved in the design of mine ventilation systems and innovative mining methods.

Ramani received an A.I.S.M. in mining engineering from the Indian School of Mines in 1962, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in mine engineering from Penn State in 1968 and 1970, respectively. He is a registered professional engineer in Pennsylvania and a Certified Mine Manager in India. In 1970, he was appointed assistant professor of mining engineering and in 1974 associate professor. At the same time he was named chair of the Mining Engineering Section. In 1978 he became professor of mining engineering. In 1987 he was named department head and he received the Deike chair in 1998. During this time, two new undergraduate programs -- geoenvironmental engineering and industrial health and safety -- were created. He became professor emeritus in 2001.

During his career he directed or co-directed four centers: Standard Oil Center for Excellence in Longwall Mining, Generic Mineral Technology Center for Respirable Dust, National Mined Land Reclamation Research Center and the Penn State Miner Training Center. He directed the studies of more than 100 graduate students and is author more than 200 publications.

Ramani has been a member of the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Engineers (AIME) since 1967. He was elected a distinguished member of the Society of for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME) in 1989, and the president of SME in 1995. He was a consultant to the World Bank, United Nations and National Safety Council on mineral industry issues.

He received the Fulbright Scholar Award to Soviet Union in 1989: Environmental Conservation Award, AIME in 1991, Honorary Doctor of Science from Indian School of Mines in 1997; Howard L. Hartman Award, SME in 1997; Mineral Industry Education Award, AIME in 1999; the Thornton Medal, Institution of Mining and Metallurgy (UK) in 2000; and the Erskine Ramsay Medal from AIME in 2005.

In 2002, Ramani was appointed chair of the Pennsylvania Governor's Commission on Mine Voids and Mine Safety, created soon after the Quecreek Mine Inundation Incident.