Prof. Debasis Deb is currently a HAG Professor at the Department of Mining Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur. He is the Former Dean of Undergraduate Studies at IIT Kharagpur, with more than 25 years of experience in teaching and research. He has also supervised multiple masters and doctoral theses. His research areas primarily include Geomechanics and rock engineering, FEM/X-FEM and mesh-free numerical methods in reinforced fractured porous media, SMART Bolts for early warning, Digital Image Correlation (DIC) for contact-free strain measurement, and Explosives, blasting and dynamic behavior of rock structures. Prof. V. M.S.R. Murthy is currently a HAG Professor and Head at the Centre of Rock Excavation Engineering, Department of Mining Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Dhanbad (IIT-ISM). He has supervised several doctoral and master’s students. His research interests include Rock Characterization, Drilling and Blasting, Mechanized Rock Excavation and, Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology. He is a fellow of the Institution of Engineers (India), and a Lifetime Member of the Indian Society of Rock Mechanics and Tunnelling Technology; Mining Engg. Association of India; Mining Geological and Metallurgical Institute of India; Tunnelling Association of India (TAI-ITA); and the International Society for Rock Mechanics-India Group (CBIP). Dr. H.S. Venkatesh is the Former Director and Head, Excavation Engineering, at the National Institute of Rock Mechanics, Kolar, Karnataka. He obtained his B.E (1986) in Mining Engineering from Osmania University. Immediately after his graduation he joined Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) as Mining Graduate Trainee (MGT). He completed his M.tech (Mining) from IT BHU (1990) and PhD from NIT(K), (2003). Since 1990, Dr Venkatesh actively pursuing research at the National Institute of Rock Mechanics, Karnataka in the area of Rock Blasting & Excavation Engineering. He specialized in the area of controlled blasting, optimization of blast design parameters and economizing the blasting operations, and has contributed to multiple excavation projects all over the country and in Bhutan. Prof. K.S. Rao is an Emeritus Professor of the Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. Spanning more than four decades, his research focuses on Engineering behaviour of rockmass, stability of slopes and mine dumps, underground structures, foundations, numerical modelling and seismic microzonation of mega cities, re-profiling and retrofitting of Himalayan Tunnels. He has supervised several Ph.D. and Master’s theses. He is the recipient of IGS-Prof Leonard’s best Ph.D. thesis award and multiple best research awards. Prof. Rao has published more than 430 technical papers in national and international journals. Prof. Rao designed and developed a large-scale Poly axial (σ1, σ2, σ3), Impact testing facilities and, established a large-scale direct shear facility for characterization of mine dump materials at CMPDI, Ranchi. Prof Rao is the Fellow of Indian Geotechnical Society (IGS). Presently, he is the Director of the ‘KSR-Geotechnical Testing and Research Solutions Private Limited’ for providing end to end solutions in the Infra Structure domine. Dr. R. K. Goel is a Former Professor, Chief Scientist and Scientist-in-Charge of Roorkee Research Centre of CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CIMFR). His research focuses on Engineering Geology and Rock Mechanics Applications for the Design of Slopes, Tunnels and Underground Space in Rocks. Dr. Goel is still active as an Independent Consultant/Advisor and currently Member, NHIDCL Expert Tunnel Group. He has worked on numerous R&D and consultancy projects. Dr. Goel has formulated ten BIS codes and designed, developed and patented three instruments for the monitoring of tunnels and underground structures till date. He has published multiple books and research papers and is an Editor for the Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology (TUST) journal. He is an Editorial Board member, ISRM (India) Journal and Editor, Journal of Rock Mechanics and Tunnelling Technology. Dr. Goel is the recipient of the several prestigious awards including Ministry of Mines, Govt of India’s National Geosciences Award 2004, ISRMTT award for Outstanding Contributions in Rock Mechanics (2007), IIT Roorkee Gopal Ranjan Research Award 2012 and ISRMTT Lifetime Achievement Award 2021. Currently, he serves as the Co-Chairman for the IGS Roorkee Chapter and as an Executive Member for the ISRMTT Main Body. Prof. Mahendra Singh is an Emeritus Fellow at the Department of Civil Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee. With multiple decades of teaching experience, Prof. Singh has supervised several master’s and doctoral students. He specializes in Geotechnical engineering, and his research areas include Rock Mechanics: Strength and Deformation Behavior of Jointed Rocks and Rock Masses, Stability of Soil and Rock Slopes, Landslide Analysis and Mitigation, Tunnels and Underground Excavation. He is a member of the Indian Society for Rock Mechanics and Tunnelling Technology, Indian Geotechnical Society, Indian Society for Construction Materials and Structures, Indian Water Resources Society, International Society for Rock Mechanics, and the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering.
