Two mine rescue teams from UMR finished in fourth and sixth places overall in the Southeast Missouri Mine Rescue Contest held Oct. 7-8 at the UMR Experimental Mine.

UMR is the only university in the United States to have mine rescue teams. Five other teams — all from industry — competed in the contest.

"These young men and women have done an excellent job in competing with and against professional teams," says Dr. R. Larry Grayson, UMR professor and chair of mining and nuclear engineering. "This area of expertise is quickly vanishing in the United States," he says.

"UMR is the only university in the U.S., that can build mine-rescue expertise and train the students before they leave school for the real world. That is one of the reasons our graduates are in such high demand by the industry," Grayson says.

The UMR team competed against industry mine rescue teams in a simulated mine disaster situation, which was set up and judged by representatives of Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). The teams were rated on how well they followed basic rules and regulations in carrying out a rescue.

Adam Kresler of Winter Park, Colo., a sophomore in mining engineering, placed second in the Benchmen Contest for the Draeger BG174A, which is a self-breathing apparatus. The competition was judged on knowledge of its maintenance and operation.