Dr Jane Hodgkinson

Jane Hodgkinson is a research scientist and geologist in CSIRO Mineral Resources. She is Team Leader for Mining Geoscience Team in Sustainable Mining technologies,

Jane has worked at CSIRO for 15 years on environmental and geological projects, linked with mining and resources. She has performed 2- and 3D mine modelling, data analysis techniques using self-organising maps (SOM) and multiple-criteria analyses, Vulcan, coal quality assessments and geosequestration (CO2 storage) projects.

Jane is currently working on in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) - the exploration, extraction and use of extra-terrestrial resources for use in space. Working in the Space Technologies Future Science Platform (FSP), Jane and her colleagues are investigating mining technology options for ISRU and exploring potential locations around Australia that are analogous to extraterrestrial locations for testing Australian payloads. Jane is a member of the Science and technology working groups of the ISECG (International Space Exploration Coordination Group). She is co-supervising a PhD student at Swinburne University of Technology who is looking at lunar and Martian regolith mechanics. Jane has completed the Space Resources Professional Course at the International Space Agency/Colorado School of Mines and Luxembourg Space Agency.

Jane recently completed work with coal mining companies in Queensland and New South Wales, exploring alternative uses of coal, coal-content and its waste streams (carbon-ore) to reduce waste and provide resources for the low-carbon economy.

She has led projects developing knowledge and tools related to climate adaptation in mining, to reduce downtime and hazards associated with climate extremes and climate change. She has also worked on coal seam gas potential and has performed geomorphological and terrain analyses for risk assessments.

Prior to her career in geology, Jane worked in the London money markets in financial, commodities and futures trading and compliance. She moved to Australia in 2002. She holds the degrees of BSc (Hons) in Geology (Birkbeck, London) and PhD in Geology and Geomorphology from QUT, Queensland.

Jane has co-authored two books with Professor Frank Stacey, physicist and fellow at CSIRO: The Earth as a Cradle for Life (2013) and the Practical Handbook of Earth Science, (2017).