Edmundo Tulcanaza | Environmental Data Analysis | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Edmundo Tulcanaza | Environmental Data Analysis | Best Researcher Award

Universidad Politecnica De Madrid | Germany

Edmundo Tulcanaza is a seasoned mining engineer and researcher whose work bridges mining, geostatistics, resource economics, and sustainable extraction of strategic minerals. Educated at Universidad de Chile (Mining Engineering, 1966), he pursued postgraduate studies in Geostatistics & Mineral Economics at École des Mines Paris (1971), later completing an MSc in Geospatial Technologies at Universität Münster (2022), and is currently a PhD candidate at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (2023-2026) studying ecosystems of strategic minerals. Over decades in academia and industry, he has lectured in Chile and Peru, worked as a research assistant at Harvard, been senior engineer in the USA, served as Managing Director of Mineral Resources & Mine Projects at CODELCO Chile, and since 2011 acted as senior consultant for mine asset certification, valuation, and strategic management. His research interests focus on natural capital valuation in mineral ecosystems, mine development risk, exploration decision-making, and resource/reserve reporting under international standards (e.g. NI 43-101, CRIRSCO). Among his major contributions is the book Evaluación de Recursos y Negocios Mineros. He has been awarded recognitions like the Alexander Sutulov award (Chile, 2008) and held leadership roles including in CRIRSCO. His h-index and citation counts are not publicly verified in major indexing services at this time, but his work is widely cited in mining economics and resource estimation. He continues to influence both policy and practice in sustainable mining asset reporting.

Profiles : Orcid |Scopus

Featured Publication

Tulcanaza, E. (2025). “Towards sustainable extraction of lithium-bearing brine resources: Role of natural capital in the High Andes business strategies” in Mineral Economics.”

Vivekanand Kumar | Vibration | Best Researcher Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Vivekanand Kumar | Vibration | Best Researcher Award

Sandip University | India

Dr. Vivekanand Kumar is an accomplished academic and researcher specializing in mechanical and mining engineering, with significant contributions to vibration analysis, occupational safety, and heavy machinery operation in industrial environments. He is currently serving as an Assistant Professor at Sandip University, Madhubani, Bihar, India, where he also holds key roles as the University Coordinator for SodhGanga and SodhShuddhi. His professional journey combines a strong foundation in engineering education, extensive research in vibration control and occupational health, and practical industrial experience in thermal power plants and heavy earth-moving machinery operations.

Professional Profile

ORCID

Education

Dr. Kumar holds a doctoral degree in Mining Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi, where his research focused on whole-body vibration and its impact on heavy earth-moving machinery operators in opencast coal mines. He completed his Master of Technology in Fuel Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, with a thesis on quantitative dynamic analysis of shale gas reservoirs. His undergraduate studies in Mechanical Engineering from R.G.P.V., Bhopal, provided the groundwork for his multidisciplinary expertise spanning mining, fuel engineering, and mechanical systems.

Experience

Dr. Kumar’s career integrates academic, research, and industrial experience. In academia, he has taught core mechanical engineering subjects and engineering graphics to undergraduate students, contributing to the development of future engineers. He served as a faculty member at Government Engineering College, Madhubani, before joining Sandip University, where he continues to mentor students and lead research initiatives. His industrial background includes roles in thermal power plant operations and waste heat recovery boiler commissioning, providing him with practical insights into large-scale industrial systems.

Research Interest

His primary research interests revolve around vibration engineering, occupational health and safety, heavy machinery operation, and ergonomic risk assessment in industrial and mining sectors. Dr. Kumar has authored several peer-reviewed journal articles and conference papers focusing on whole-body vibration exposure, musculoskeletal health risks of operators, and adaptive vibration damping technologies. His research also extends to smart composite materials, Bayesian network-based risk assessment approaches, and the analysis of shale gas reservoirs for energy resource evaluation.

Awards

Throughout his academic journey, Dr. Kumar has been recognized with multiple fellowships and awards that supported his research and higher education. He received prestigious fellowships from the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) during his postgraduate and doctoral studies, enabling him to advance his expertise in mining engineering and vibration control technologies.

Publications

Kumar, V. (2025). “Design and Analysis of Smart Composite Materials for Active Vibration Damping and Adaptive Control in Aerospace and Automotive Structures” in Journal of Vibration Engineering and Technologies.

Kumar, V., Palei, S.K., & Karmakar, N.C. (2025). “Discomfort Survey of Dumper Operators Exposed to Whole-Body Vibration in Opencast Coal Mines” in Journal of Vibration and Control.

Chaudhary, D.K., Palei, S.K., Kumar, V., & Karmakar, N.C. (2022). “Whole-Body Vibration Exposure of Heavy Earthmoving Machinery Operators in Surface Coal Mines: A Comparative Assessment of Transport and Non-Transport Earthmoving Equipment Operators” in International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics.

Kumar, V., Palei, S.K., Karmakar, N.C., & Chaudhary, D.K. (2022). “Whole-Body Vibration Exposure vis-à-vis Musculoskeletal Health Risk of Dumper Operators Compared to a Control Group in Coal Mines” in Safety and Health at Work.

Atal, M.K., Palei, S.K., Chaudhary, D.K., Kumar, V., & Karmakar, N.C. (2020). “Occupational Exposure of Dumper Operators to Whole-Body Vibration in Opencast Coal Mines: An Approach for Risk Assessment Using a Bayesian Network” in International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics.

Conclusion

Dr. Vivekanand Kumar exemplifies a well-rounded professional with a strong commitment to advancing research and education in the fields of mechanical and mining engineering. His blend of academic rigor, research contributions, and industrial experience positions him as a valuable contributor to occupational safety, vibration analysis, and engineering education. His work not only addresses key industrial challenges but also aligns with sustainable and safer practices in mining and heavy machinery operations, making a meaningful impact on both academia and industry.

Viwe Notole | Augmented Analytics | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Viwe Notole | Augmented Analytics | Best Researcher Award

University of the Witwatersrand | South Africa

Mr. Viwe Notole is an emerging geoscientist and data analyst whose academic and professional journey reflects a strong dedication to Earth sciences, mining, and geometallurgy. With a foundation built through advanced studies at the University of Fort Hare, University of Johannesburg, and the University of the Witwatersrand, he has developed expertise across geology, mineralogy, geostatistics, and machine learning applications in geosciences. His career aspiration is to contribute meaningfully to the mining and geoscience sectors through innovative research, data-driven approaches, and applied geological solutions that support both industry development and sustainable resource management.

Professional Profile

SCOPUS

Education

Mr. Notole has pursued a comprehensive academic trajectory in geology and mineral sciences. He began his studies with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology and Chemistry at the University of Fort Hare, where he built the scientific foundation for his career. Advancing further, he completed a B.Sc. Honours in Geology at the University of Johannesburg, refining his technical and analytical skills in applied geosciences. His passion for mineralogy and mining processes led him to the University of the Witwatersrand, where he obtained a Master of Science in Economic Geology with research focused on the mineralogy and processing characteristics of the Elsburg Reefs in the South Deep Gold Mine of South Africa. Currently, he is a doctoral candidate in the field of Geometallurgy at the University of the Witwatersrand, where his research integrates advanced mineral characterization, geostatistics, and metallurgical evaluation to optimize mineral recovery and processing techniques.

Experience

Mr. Notole’s professional experience reflects a blend of field geology, laboratory-based mineral analysis, and applied data analytics. At Umvoto Africa in Cape Town, he worked as a Junior Geologist where he contributed to geological and hydrogeological projects through data acquisition, processing, and interpretation. His responsibilities included supervising borehole drilling and test pumping, conducting geotechnical site investigations, supporting GIS-related tasks, and performing data analysis and visualization for project outcomes. He later joined Mintek, a leading mineral research organization in Randburg, as a Mineralogist Intern. There, he honed his technical skills in mineral characterization using advanced techniques such as X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and QEMSCAN technology. These roles equipped him with a strong interdisciplinary skillset that spans mineral exploration, hydrogeology, mineral processing, and data science applications in the mining industry.

Research Interest

His research interests are primarily centered on economic geology, geometallurgy, and the integration of data analytics into mineral processing. Mr. Notole focuses on investigating the mineralogical and processing characteristics of gold-bearing reefs, with the aim of improving mineral recovery processes. His interests extend to diagnostic leaching, mineral characterization techniques, geostatistical modeling, and the application of machine learning to predict metallurgical performance. By combining traditional geological expertise with modern computational methods, he aims to bridge the gap between field-based geological sciences and advanced data-driven resource optimization. He is particularly passionate about exploring environmentally friendly processing alternatives, such as glycine-based leaching, to support sustainable mining practices.

Awards and Achievements

Among his academic accomplishments, Mr. Notole was formally admitted to the degree of Master of Science in Economic Geology by the University of the Witwatersrand, marking a significant milestone in his scholarly journey. His upcoming publications reflect his commitment to advancing research in geometallurgy, with studies exploring predictive data analytics for gold recovery and innovative leaching techniques using glycine and potassium permanganate. These contributions highlight his role as a young researcher actively pushing the boundaries of mineral processing technologies and sustainable mining practices.

Publication

(2025). “Investigating mineral composition of PGE low-grade ore in Bushveld Igneous Complex, South Africa” in Minerals Engineering.

Conclusion

Mr. Viwe Notole exemplifies the new generation of geoscientists who combine deep geological knowledge with data-driven approaches to solve contemporary challenges in mining and resource management. His academic background, professional experience, and active research contributions position him as a promising figure in the fields of geometallurgy, mineral processing, and applied geosciences. Driven by innovation, sustainability, and the pursuit of scientific excellence, he continues to advance his career with the vision of making a lasting impact on the mining industry and the broader geoscientific community.