Some more words in addition to David J Killick' letter:
David J Killick wrote:
> I earn the right
> to do so by teaching.
> Most of the students in these courses are engineers,
> and I simply MUST pose the question "why bother with this?" in the early
> lectures or lose half the class. My answer to them, and to this thread, is
> that engineers ignore the history of their professions, and the history of
> technology, at their peril.
etc.
I do the same with special in coal mining. But "my" history of mining
composed from two different, but naturally common, parts. First part is
historical overview of
mining's role on the progress of whole mankind with illustrations needed
from different countries / regions.
Another part of mining history is special "dynamic" course, that include
5 major chapters named Underground Transport Systems, Coal extraction,
Roadways Supports, Long Faces Supports, Rock Mechanics. Some articles
added on Systems of workings, Mining Safety Systems etc.
Like David Killick, I cannot tell the stories 'art for art's sake'. From
another hand, I'm not agree with one respondent, that hearing of history
examples may helps to look into the future. I can argue, that we have
much more problems without understanding a place of our PRESENT
position.
For example, history of Coal Extraction is history of various technical
ideas, rising and falling of technology systems in various countries
(sic!) from the beginning in 19 century up to present days. I try to
investigate the reasons for dis- and advantages of various machines that
works in they best conditions. All that in the comparison.
The same method used to all chapters of the "my" Mining History.
You can say that all the parts of coal mining technology is unified in
any time observed. I say 'not', if we want to to find a problems, that
now are only blossomed, but tomorrow will burns the technology in
common. Problems still raised in all the technologies in to-day and the
best teaching is not only to show a present technology, but also to show
a reasons, that LEADS us to this present day's technology and what must
be changed to do tomorrow's technology better. Reasons mentioned may be
not only in technical and economy, but politically affilated too, you
see.
Question was "Who bother with this?". Well, pop singers may be not. But
"Who NOT bother with this?" at least as it is need to say about future
of mining, that is a base of our civilization, as we've got it.
It is only my opinion.
Sorry for my poor English.
-Pavel N. Dmitriev
Underground Mining Department
St. Petersburg Mining Institute
Russia
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