The Kentucky Professional Engineers in Mining (KY-PEM) is a non-profit membership society for registered professional engineers, and other professionals that specialize in the mining, metallurgy, and exploration industries in Kentucky. KY-PEM was organized in 1988 to promote professional development and educational opportunities to Professional Engineers registered in Kentucky, non-licensed engineers and individuals who work in the mining industry, and to encourage aspiring students to consider and to receive education in mining engineering and related fields in Kentucky. To achieve its purpose, KY-PEM sponsors an annual seminar devoted to updating its members and associated individuals on changes in government regulations, technical advancements in mining and resource development, requirements of legal and regulatory compliance, and engineering issues related to mine safety and health, and to provide opportunities for the free discussion of subjects relating to those objectives. During 2020, KY-PEM aligned its members with the goals, purpose, and vision of the Central Appalachian Section of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc. (SME). The change in affiliation in 2020 allows KY-PEM to continue to provide professional development and educational opportunities and to support aspiring mining and mineral engineers at the University of Kentucky (UK).
To achieve its purpose, KY-PEM co-sponsors with the Department of Mining Engineering at UK, an annual seminar devoted to updating the membership on changes in government regulations, technical advancements in mining and resource development, requirements of legal and regulatory compliance, and engineering issues related to mine safety and health. Since 1988, KY-PEM and UK have sponsored this seminar every August, and award attendees with credit for eight (8) professional development hours (pdh), which can be applied toward the continuing education requirement of maintaining professional engineering licensure.
