TFH Georg Agricola

On 15th April 1816, the first 14 students began their studies in “mining sciences” at the Bochumer Bergschule (Bochum School of Mining). This central training institute for the coal mining industry gave birth to today’s Technische Hochschule (TH) Georg Agricola. In a ceremony held on 15th April 2016, Hannelore Kraft, Minister-President of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Dr. Werner Müller, Chairman of the RAG-Stiftung, Peter Schrimpf, Chairman of the university council and board member of RAG Aktiengesellschaft, and Michael Vassiliadis, Chairman of the IG BCE trade union, paid tribute to the development of the most long-standing university in the Ruhr region. Together with Prof. Dr. Jürgen Kretsch­mann, President of the university, the Minister-President unveiled the new logo of the university, which has changed its name to mark the anniversary. The change in name from “Technische Fachhochschule Georg Agricola” to “Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola” represents its development from an Institute of Technology to a diverse University of Applied Sciences which strives to be a leading light in engineering research and teaching.

In his speech, Prof. Kretschmann looked back on two centuries of the university’s history and set out the university’s vision for the future: “The THGA feels indebted to the intellectual legacy of the German coal mining industry. This is the foundation upon which the university grew from a regional establishment to an institution of national and international significance. We want to use our knowledge to answer questions on sustainability, occupational safety and even social justice.”

The TH Georg Agricola was founded by the state of Prussian in 1816. From 1864, it was supported by companies from the coal mining industry, who co-founded the Westfälische Berggewerkschaftskasse (Westphalian Miners’ Union) fund for this purpose. In 1990, this role was taken over by the TH’s current supporting organisation, the DMT-Gesellschaft für Lehre und Bildung (Deutsche Montan Technologie Association for Teaching and Training). Since 1971, the TH has been part-financed by the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

The Minister-President, Hannelore Kraft, emphasised the importance of the TH within the North Rhine-Westphalian higher education landscape: “The quality education provided by the TH was a key foundation for the industrial boom in the Ruhr – the incredible rise of an agricultural region on the Ruhr to the industrial heartland of Germany. For many of its students, studying at this university signified advancement through education here in the Ruhr. The TH Georg Agricola is a key component in the densest higher education landscape in Europe.”

Like RAG Aktiengesellschaft, the RAG-Stiftung also supports the TH. Dr Werner Müller, Chairman of the RAG-Stiftung, explained why the RAG-Stiftung is keen to support the future development of the TH beyond the end of Germany’s active coal mining industry: “Even when coal mining has come to an end there will still be projects in which the TH will make a significant contribution towards finding the right solution. In order to do this, the university will bring together a team of specialist staff to not only preserve the knowledge of mining but also further develop it for future generations.”

Peter Schrimpf, Deputy Chairman of the Board at RAG Aktiengesellschaft and, since 2006, Chairman of the TH Georg Agricola university council, called the TH a “gem in the Bochum higher education landscape”: “With its constant willingness to change and adapt, the TH Georg Agricola has met the challenges of its time and responded both innovatively and productively. For this reason it will continue to play a prominent role for the region.”

As a central training institute for mining, the TH has also long been associated with the German Trade Union for Mining, Chemicals and Energy (IG BCE). Michael Vassiliadis, Chairman of the union, also congratulated the TH on its anniversary: “Teaching and research play a key role in developing a society worth living in. The TH has been making a valuable contribution towards achieving this goal for 200 years and will therefore also play an active role in shaping the future.”

About 400 guests from all areas of public life took part in the ceremony, including Carina Gödecke, President of the Landtag (state parliament), Garrelt Duin, NRW Minister of Economic Affairs, Volker Milk, District Vice President of the Arnsberg District, Thomas Eiskirch, Mayer of Bochum, Bernd Tönjes, Chairman of the Board at RAG AG and Prof. Dr. Vladislav Kecojevic of West Virginia University (USA), Chairman of the International Society of Mining Professors. The teachers, staff and students of the TH also celebrated their university’s great anniversary.

A historic exhibition (Fig. 1) at the TH, open until the end of 2016, offers a glimpse behind the scenes of the oldest university in the Ruhr: Old teaching materials, geological finds, maps and class photos trace the journey of the mining school from its beginnings to the present day. Visitors to the historic classroom take a little journey through time – with interesting and sometimes curious insights into the daily teaching routines from 1816 to today. (THGA/Si.)

The conference will focus on the new VISION ZERO Prevention Strategy of the ISSA & its 7 Golden Rules for successful implementation and economical effective prevention in enterprises. By that a new leaf in safety & health in mining and other high risk industries will be turned over.

Der Rohstofftag in dem 200sten Jubiläumsjahr unserer Hochschule nimmt die zukünftige Entwicklung unserer Branche in den Focus. Was werden die technischen Entwicklungen sein? Wie werden sich die Anforderungen an die Mitarbeiter in der Branche entwickeln? Wie muss sich die Hochschule entwickeln, um zukunftsfähiges Wissen zu schaffen und zu vermitteln?

At the end of 2015, Dr Andreas Merchiers will retire from the Management Board of Schalker Eisenhütte Maschinenfabrik GmbH in Bochum and, on 1st January 2016, he will take office as a professor at the TFH Georg Agricola University of Applied Siences in Bochum. His successor at Schalker Eisenhütte will be Karl-Heinz Rieser, who will simultaneously serve as Managing Director of the parent company, Eickhoff Bergbautechnik GmbH in Bochum.

After having completed his second term of office as a vice-president of the TFH Georg Agricola University of Applied Siences in Bochum, which he has held since 2009, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christoph Dauber is leaving his post at his own request. His successor is Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ulrich Paschedag, who was appointed to the TFH as a Professor for International Mining since 31st August 2015.

On 27th November 2015 the TFH awarded its long-term lecturer Dr. Ing. Peter Goerke-Mallet with the dignity of a honory professor.

In May 2014, a terrible mining disaster struck the Turkish town of Soma, resulting in the deaths of over 300 miners. A research group from Bogazici University in Istanbul examined the causes of the disaster. Working with experts from TFH Georg Agricola University, the Turkish engineers now plan to look into ways to prevent this type of catastrophe occurring in the future. At a two-day meeting at the TFH in Bochum on 11th and 12th June 2015, representatives from the two universities discussed ways in which they could work together. Going beyond the topic of occupational safety, the two groups also identified reference points in the areas of mechanical engineering, environmental technology, post-mining and energy production. The meetings came about as a result of an initiative by North Rhine-Westfalia’s Minister for Science Svenja Schulze, who suggested that the two universities work together while on a visit to Turkey.

“The Disaster that is known to happen” is the title of the study of the Soma mining disaster published by Bogazici University this year. A lack of safety standards, inadequate monitoring and poor technical equipment were identified as the main reasons why the fatal fire broke out in the underground mine and why many of the victims could not be evacuated on time.

The two parties identified various possible topics for the joint projects, including the development of underground sensor and communication systems, a comparative study of environmental, occupational safety and health regulations in Germany and Turkey, and the creation of handbooks and training programmes for miners and engineers. During a tour of the campus, the Turkish visitors were able to find out more about the TFH’s work in its key areas of post-mining, and electronic and information technology. Accompanied by academics from the TFH, the party from Istanbul visited the headquarters of the mining rescue service run by the company RAG in the town of Herne, the spoil tips in Rheinelbe and Graf Molkte, and the German Mining Museum.

(TFH/Si)

Hydrogeology, the science of the subterranean water, investigates the origin, the stocks and the dynamics of the water and deals with its physical and chemical qualities. Special attention is paid to the development and use of ground water as well as interferences of human activities.

The supply of reliable data for the judgement of the hydrogeological circumstances of an investigation area assumes the professional contact with the appropriate measuring methods and measuring instruments. Hence, the present book focus on the measurements of the area’s and water geometry and its depth from ground surface. The regulation of the parameters of the water balance, precipitation, vaporisation and drainage, as well as the capacity of the receiving waters are main components of the implementation. In addition the inquiry of hydrochemical and geohydraulic characteristics also belongs to it. The description of the worked area is rounded by tips for the data evaluation and data representation as well as for the production of reports and certificates. The book also provides advices to keep a safe work environment as well as related literature and numerous addresses of professional authorities and appropriate institutions. Particularly the high quality and the information content of the pictures conceived for this book must be emphasized.

The far-reaching knowledge of both authors and their didactic abilities has let arise a specialist book that is also for readers foreign to the field as well as a source of interesting information.

Prof. Wilhelm Coldewey taught applied geology at the University of Münster (WWU). Before that, he acted in leading function with the Deutsche Montan Technologie GmbH in Essen and had teaching missions at the Ruhr University of Bochum and the University of Technology of Clausthal. Together with Hölting he publishes the textbook “Hydrogeologie”. Prof. Coldewey in particular brings in his experiences from the production of the hydrologic atlas of the Rhenish-Westphalian coal district. He is nationally and internationally known as an expert in the hydrological field.

Dr. Patricia Göbel acts as an academic upper council member in the Institute of Geology and Paleontology of the WWU. Before that, she was an employee with the Deutsche Montan Technologie GmbH in Essen. Dr. Göbel has a long-standing experience in the student education in the field of hydrogeological lab and field investigations.

The present work is clearly structured and attractive. It is an important and easy accessible source of information to the important questions and problems of ground water.

The authors have succeeded in writing a book for students, earth scientists and engineers, where measuring procedures and methods for the hydrogeological work are described. This book could be used worldwide, and could be a great companion in regions with poor infrastructure. It can be also recommended to those who work in the hydrogeological field and want to understand better methodologies.

Recension: Dr.-Ing. Peter Goerke-Mallet, Technische Fachhochschule (TFH) Georg Agricola, Bochum