Syd Peng

Peng has served as the Charles E. Lawall Chair of Mining Engineering Emeritus in the WVU Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources Department of Mining Engineering since his 2013 retirement from the University after nearly 40 years of service.

First hired at the University in 1974, Peng became chair of the Department of Mining Engineering in 1978 — a position he held continuously until 2006.

In 1985, Peng established the Longwall Mining and Ground Control Research Center and became its director. In 1998, he was appointed director of the West Virginia Coal and Energy Research Bureau.

Over the years, his research emphasized both theory and practice, meaning theory was validated with mining practice and mining practice was based on sound theory.

Peng, who is a member of the West Virginia Coal Hall of Fame, has written several textbooks and published more than 380 conference proceedings and journal papers in the areas of longwall mining, ground control, surface subsidence, respirable dust, modeling and mine seals.

In 2007, Peng became the University’s first National Academy member with his induction into the National Academy of Engineering, recognition for his leadership in the development of advanced longwall mining and ground-subsidence-control technologies.