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According to Virginia Tech, where he served most recently as interim dean of its College of Engineering, the Scotland native was a miner and rescue brigadesman who followed in the footsteps of men on both sides of his family by entering the industry.
His work in mining safety and health issues began in 1965, when McPherson was completing his PhD coursework at the University of Nottingham in England, during which time he developed mine ventilation planning programs for use on computers.
“These were the first steps on a path that was to revolutionise methodologies of underground ventilation design around the world,” officials for the university said.
“The research had a dramatic effect on the design of such systems, improving the quality of mine environments and preventing explosions [and] modern versions of the software are used by mining industries throughout the world.”
During the next 20 years, McPherson remained at Nottingham but expanded his research interests internationally, including assignments for research institutions and industry from the United Kingdom, the countries of eastern and western Europe, South Africa, Australia, Canada and India.
He moved to the US in 1981, when he became involved with deep geologic repositories design at the University of California-Berkeley. It was during that time that he founded what is now known as the consultant firm Mine Ventilation Services, based in Fresno.
“We are deeply saddened by the death of our dear friend and colleague, Malcolm. He was a talented engineer, visionary leader and a man of great personal warmth,” said VT College of Engineering president Richard Benson.
“On behalf of the college, I extend my deepest sympathy to his wife Shirley and to the McPherson family."
According to the university, McPherson was recognised with several honours throughout his career in mining engineering, including gold medals from the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy of the United Kingdom and the Mine Ventilation Society of South Africa. He also earned the HL Hartman Award from the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME).
