He will be replaced by Penn State University’s mining engineering and industrial health and safety chair Chris Bise.

Bise’s appointment is effective September 1, giving Peng two more months in the seat.

Peng told International Longwall News his decision does not mean that he’s done with the industry for good.

“Definitely, I am not retiring yet!” he said.

“After 32 years working on coal research and consulting worldwide, I feel I need to wrap up my experience, especially the practical side of coal operations as seen from a professor’s viewpoint.

“I have three books to write based on my research: Longwall Mining, Coal Mine Ground Control and Surface Subsidence. I have completed the second edition of Longwall Mining, which should be available in late September 2006. So my next project is Coal Mine Ground Control.”

Peng earned his undergraduate degree while working in the coal mines if Taiwan, coming to the US in 1965 where he earned his PhD in mining engineering from Stanford.

In 1974, he came from the US Bureau of Mines to join WVU as an assistant professor, and four years later became chair of the department. Since then, he has authored three textbooks as well as countless industry research reports and journal articles.

“Many years ago I accepted the challenge of leading this department, and I have enjoyed it,” he said. “But I have four books in the works and a lifetime of research I want to wrap up, and I am excited about entering the next phase of my career.”

Bise, a 30-year faculty veteran of Penn State, brings a plethora of experience and education to the seat. He earned his BS in mining engineering from Virginia Tech and his MS and PhD in the same discipline from PSU, and in 1998 added a master’s in environmental health engineering from Johns Hopkins University.

Like Peng, he is an accomplished author, having written the Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration’s (SME) textbook Mining Engineering Analysis and edited another SME text, Coal Mining Technology: Theory and Practice.

A registered professional engineer and certified mine safety professional and forensic engineer, Bise is the resident engineer for two Ohio Consolidation Coal operations.

Additionally, he is editor in chief for technical papers of SME’s Mining Engineering and Transactions of SME.

WVU College of Engineering and Mineral Resources dean Gene Cilento said he is confident that Bise can fill Syd’s very large shoes: “[He] has the broad knowledge and experience needed to uphold the high standards and commitment to excellence that Syd Peng established for this very important department at West Virginia University.”