The director of the Department of Mining Engineering of the University of La Serena, Dr. Ing. Alfonso Carvajal, recently participated as a speaker in two important meetings in the field of mining, organized by CODELCO-Chile and Regional Services Manager Latin America of ORICA, and by the company ESSS.In the Workshop ''Applications of Blasting in Reactive Rocks and Hot Soils'' of CODELCO - El Teniente Division, held in Rancagua, the academic participated as a guest expert on the topic of rock fragmentation using explosive substances, being part of the table discussion with a representative of the University of Chile and SERNAGEOMIN, on the risks in blasting hot rock masses.

While at the ESSS Conference & ANSYS Users Meeting, a meeting of ESSS/ANSYS users held in Santiago, Dr. Carvajal spoke about the work being carried out in the Department of Mining Engineering of the ULS, the promotion of the use of new technologies in the unit's classrooms and in joint work with the industry. This annual event aims to bring together the technical and scientific community in the field of Computer Aided Engineering (CAE), and its participants have the opportunity to share the advances of the technologies present in the most advanced simulation tools and verify applications developed to optimize processes and reduce the development cycle of products and services in the industry. 

I. Domeyko book launch and meeting with MC Inversiones

During his stay in Santiago, Dr. Carvajal also attended the launch of the book ''Ignacio Domeyko: the Life and Work'', whose author is Dr. Zdzilaw Jan Ryn, former Polish ambassador to Chile. The text, presented in the Assembly Hall of the Institute of Mining Engineers of Chile, collects passages from the intimate life of this renowned mining hero, his legacy in culture and science in many countries, his personality, his travels as well as his longings and his love for the country.

The academic also held a meeting with representatives of MC Inversiones, in which an analysis of the internship project for students graduating from technical high schools was carried out, an initiative carried out last year and which could be developed again in 2014.