Dr. Manchao He is an expert in Mine Engineering and Rock Mechanics. He is an Academician in Chinese Academy of Sciences, professor at China University of Mining and Technology at Beijing (CUMTB), and the vice president at International Society for Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering (ISRM) of the term 2015–2019. He is the director of the State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics and Deep Underground Engineering, the chairman of China National Group of ISRM, the president of Chinese Society for Rock Mechanics and Engineering (CSRME), and the chairman of the Soft Rock Engineering and Deep Disaster Control Sub-society of CSRME. He is also Chief Scientist of the Major Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Chief Scientist of 973 Program and winner of National Outstanding Youth Scholar Fund. He has published 4 books and over 190 research papers. He also serves on the editorial board member of several journals, including Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering.

Dr. Qi Wang is professor of China University of Mining and Technology at Beijing (CUMT) and Shandong University. His research focuses on coal mining methods without pillars and the surrounding rock support theory. He is the executive dean of Research Institute for Deep Underground Science and Engineering of Beijing, the director of the Shandong Province Engineering Laboratory of Safety Control for Underground Space. He is also the vice-president at International Society for Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering (ISRM) Soft Rock Commission, the vice-chairman of Soft Rock Engineering and Deep Disaster Control Sub-society of Chinese Society for Rock Mechanics and Engineering (CSRME). He won the Youth Yangtze River Scholar and the outstanding mid-aged experts in Shandong Province. He took charge of 4 National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and 21 projects from enterprises and institutions. Up to now, he has published 75 SCI- or EI-indexed papers as the first or corresponding author and hold 36 Chinese invention patents as the first inventor.

Shucai Li

Research Center of Geotechnical and Structural Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, 250061, China

Hongke Gao

Research Center of Geotechnical and Structural Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, 250061, China

State Key Laboratory for Geo-mechanics and Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology, Beijing, 100083, China

Yue Wang

Research Center of Geotechnical and Structural Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, 250061, China

State Key Laboratory for Geo-mechanics and Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology, Beijing, 100083, China