Pitt’s Center for National Preparedness to Present Lecture Feb. 10 by Developer of Drill Bit Used in Chilean Mine Rescue

PITTSBURGH—Brandon Fisher, whose company was integral to the heroic rescue of 33 Chilean miners last fall, will be the featured speaker in the University of Pittsburgh’s Center for National Preparedness Seminar Series from 3 to 5 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 10, in Room 532, Alumni Hall. The lecture, “RESCUE 33: Lessons Learned From the Mine Rescues in Chile” is free and open to the public. 

Fisher is founder and president of Center Rock, Inc., of Berlin, Pa. The company’s Low Profile drill was used to bore through rock quickly to rescue the Chilean miners weeks before most experts thought possible. Fisher and his associates spent 37 grueling days and nights drilling the rescue shaft. His firm also led drilling operations for the Somerset, Pa., Quecreek mine rescue, which extracted nine miners from danger in July 2002. 

Fisher will present a summary of the Chilean rescue operation and comment on lessons learned from his experience, including his thoughts on the role of the private sector in public-private collaborations relating to disaster preparedness and response. 

The Center for National Preparedness is an interdisciplinary collaboration of experts and departments at Pitt. It provides research, education, and service aimed at advancing the science, policy, and implementation of effective federal, state, and local preparedness efforts across the public and private sectors. For more information, visit www.cnp.pitt.edu. 

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