For International Women’s Day 2026, we asked Dr Jing (Camille) Zhao about her work in advancing safer, more sustainable mining and the role of women in transforming the resources sector.
For International Women’s Day 2026, we asked Dr Jing (Camille) Zhao about her work in advancing safer, more sustainable mining and the role of women in transforming the resources sector. From nanosensors that improve underground safety to biomining and innovative approaches to reduce methane emissions, Dr Zhao shares her insights on how science, resilience, and creativity are driving a cleaner, more innovative future.
My research is highly multidisciplinary and focuses on advancing safe and sustainable mining. I work across several interconnected areas that aim to reduce environmental impact, enhance safety, and unlock new ways of extracting critical resources.
One area of my research involves nanosensor integration and manufacturing for mine safety. Toxic and explosive gases remain a major hazard underground, yet current gas monitoring systems are difficult to deploy at scale and only provide limited spatial coverage. Nanosensors offer a transformative alternative: their small size, large surface to volume ratio, high sensitivity and selectivity, fast response time, and low power consumption make them ideal for creating more comprehensive, real time monitoring networks that can significantly improve safety outcomes.
I also work on biomining, which uses naturally occurring microorganisms to extract valuable metals from ores, mine waste, and electronic waste. Through processes such as bioleaching, biooxidation, and bioseparation, biomining provides a more environmentally friendly and cost effective alternative to traditional, energy and chemical intensive methods. A third area of my research targets coal mine fugitive methane emissions, a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. My team is developing novel microbial processes to both mitigate methane and convert it into value added products, contributing to more sustainable resource recovery. Across all these areas, chemistry and biochemistry remains the foundation, enabling new sensing This multidisciplinary approach enables me to create innovative solutions that support safer operations, reduce environmental impact, and improve resource recovery, key priorities for the future of mining.
What excites me most about working in this field right now is the opportunity to apply my multidisciplinary knowledge to develop technologies that can genuinely make a difference in industry. Mining is evolving rapidly, and it is rewarding to see how chemistry, nanotechnology, and microbiology, disciplines I have trained in throughout my Bachelor’s, internship, and PhD, are becoming central to the sector’s transformation.
My background in environmental engineering, nanosensor development, and microbial ecology has given me strong foundations in chemistry, nanomaterials, microbial metabolism, and bioprocess engineering. These skills are directly relevant to the challenges mining is facing today. Whether it’s creating nanosensors for safer underground environments, designing microbial systems for biomining, or developing biological pathways to mitigate methane emissions, I can draw on every part of my training.
What motivates me is the feeling that none of my learning was wasted, every step has contributed to my ability to develop solutions that support safer, cleaner, and more sustainable mining. Seeing how our research can translate into real industry impact is truly exciting and reinforces why this work matters.
From my experience, women bring exceptional persistence, resilience, creativity, and openness to all sectors. Women are often very good at adapting to new environments and learning quickly, we take action fast, we plan carefully, and we manage our time efficiently because we are used to balancing many responsibilities in life. Women also tend to approach challenges with patience, tolerance, kindness, and a calm, thoughtful mindset. These qualities are shaped not only by our professional training but also by the physical and emotional experiences unique to women.
Greater gender equity brings real strength to research and industry because it expands the range of perspectives, experiences, and problem solving styles involved in shaping decisions. When women and men contribute equally, the work becomes more balanced, more innovative, and ultimately more effective. In research, gender equity means more diverse ways of thinking.
Women often bring strong skills in collaboration, planning, fast learning, and attention to detail, qualities that help teams explore problems from multiple angles and develop more creative and practical solutions. In industry practice, Women’s strengths in fastidious, resilience, adaptability, and long term planning, kindness, help create workplaces that are safer, more organised, and more forward looking. For communities, gender equity helps ensure that the benefits and impacts of mining are considered more holistically. Women often bring a strong sense of social responsibility, empathy, and connection to community wellbeing.