More than 1,700 people from around the world met Jan. 28–31, 2018, in San Antonio, Texas, for the 44th Annual Conference on Explosives & Blasting Technique, the world’s largest conference on explosives engineering.

During the conference, keynote presenter and astronaut Mike Mullane spoke about the space shuttle Challenger disaster and emphasized the importance of safety. The new online SEE Education Foundation auction, which concluded Tuesday, Jan. 30, raised more than $11,000. Big-ticket items included rare vintage Atlas stamping plates, a lifetime ISEE membership and a helicopter tour in Alaska.

The money raised through the auction will go to the Education Foundation ISEE Scholarship Fund, which awards scholarships to college students from across the globe who are pursuing a career in the blasting industry.

Accolades
David Siskind, Ph.D., DE Siskind & Associates (DESA), was inducted into the Explosives Industry Hall of Fame. He becomes the second person to be given such honors. Several other industry members who throughout the year have made exceptional contributions to the explosives and drilling fields were also given awards at the conference.

Michael Cechanski, STT-Surfex Technology & Trading, won the Distinguished Service Award; Paul Worsey, Missouri S & T, was honored with the Industry Service Award; Nancy Allen, HTA Enterprises Inc., was awarded the Blaster's Leadership Award; Patrick Garven, Finndrill Inc., was honored with the Driller's Leadership Award; Catherine Johnson, Missouri S & T, was awarded the President's Award; and Ryan Brogden, Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, won Paper of the Year.

Passing of the Gavel
After completing his two-year term, Jack Eloranta handed over the reins and gavel to the new ISEE Board President Jim Daley. The next Annual Conference on Explosives & Blasting Technique will be from Jan. 27 – 30, 2019, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Tenn.