Arequipa, December 26, 2025. Technology, innovation, and risk management were the central themes of the Slope Stability Pre-Symposium, successfully held at the National University of San Agustín in Arequipa (UNSA). The event brought together specialists from the mining industry and academia to analyze the current challenges of slope stability and promote academic and student participation in the 2026 International Slope Stability Congress (SS2026).

The conference stood out for promoting early student involvement and strengthening geotechnical engineering in the country, establishing itself as a high-level technical and academic exchange forum.

The SS 2026 Organizing Committee highlighted that this event has significantly encouraged the participation of UNSA students in specialized spaces such as Women Geotechnicians and Young Geotechnicians, initiatives that seek to strengthen early professional development and promote their active involvement in the international geotechnical community.

The Pre-Symposium placed special emphasis on the role of industry, covering topics such as technologies, development and expansion of projects related to slope stability and mining, as well as the commitment to academia, integrating students into the understanding of the strategic role of geotechnics in addressing current challenges in the sector.

Top-Level Technical Talks

The program included keynote talks by leading professionals in the sector. Marco Pacheco, commercial director of Clonsa Ingeniería Chile and director of Technologies at Slope Stability 2026, presented the conference “Technology at the service of risk management in open-pit mining,” while Ignacio San Martín, commercial manager of Clonsa, presented “Innovation and solutions for the challenges of Peruvian mining.” Both presentations addressed the main current and future challenges in risk management in mining and slope stability, sharing success stories from Chile and Peru, as well as replicable models for the sector. They also highlighted the implementation of technological solutions applied to slope stability and hydrogeology, emphasizing the need to strengthen the link between academia and the actual challenges faced by the industry.

Lizardo Huamaní, director of Water Solutions at Amphos 21, and Eduardo Ruiz, general manager of the same institution, presented the paper “Key hydrogeological aspects in slope stability.” The presentation highlighted the importance of integrating hydrogeological criteria from the conception stage of an open-pit mine, emphasizing the control of water and its direct influence on slope stability.

Industry–Academic Collaboration

The Pre-Symposium not only provided an opportunity to disseminate new technologies, scientific knowledge, and management approaches, but also created a space for exchange between professionals, academics, and students, promoting the development of sustainable solutions and strengthening the link between industry and academia, looking ahead to Slope Stability 2026.

During the event, representatives from Clonsa Ingeniería and Amphos 21 reaffirmed their commitment to the technical strengthening of the mining sector, highlighting the importance of applying solutions based on evidence, operational experience, and continuous technological development. They also expressed their willingness to continue actively participating in technical, academic, and specialized outreach forums, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, closing gaps between theory and practice.

Recognition Ceremony

As part of the program, PhD. Pablo Rubén Meza Aréstegui, a distinguished professor at the UNSA Faculty of Geology, Geophysics, and Mining, a geological engineer with a master's degree in Geotechnics and a doctorate in Geography, and a specialist in Geomorphology, was honored. His extensive professional career encompasses areas such as geotechnics, rock and soil mechanics, hydrogeology, structural geology, geotourism, geomaterials, geomatics, and geological risk assessment, as well as a renowned teaching and academic work in Peru and abroad.

University authorities, including the dean of the Faculty, PhD. Vilma García, and the director of the School of Geology, PhD. Antenor Chávez, along with professors, speakers, invited colleagues, and students, attended the recognition ceremony. The commitment of UNSA, both its authorities and its student community, was also highlighted for their active participation and support in the development of the event.

With this Pre-Symposium, UNSA and the participating institutions consolidate their role as key players in training, knowledge exchange, and the international projection of the geotechnical and mining sector, laying the foundations for outstanding participation in Slope Stability 2026.