Petrographic description of the Au–PGE mineralization in the Skaergaard intrusion (MSc, 1993)
Geochemistry of the East Greenland Tertiary dyke swarm; temporal and spatial variations. (PhD, 1998))
Karen Hanghøj (born 1966) is a Danish geologist with expertise in the sustainable management of natural mineral resources. In 2019 she was appointed
director of the
British Geological Survey. She was the first woman to take on this role since the survey was founded in 1835.[2][3][4]
Education
Hanghøj went to school in Denmark, and studied
geology at the
University of Copenhagen where she obtained an
MSc, and then a
PhD. Her master's work involved fieldwork in east
Greenland, where she studied mineralisation associated with the
igneous rocks that were emplaced during the
opening of the north Atlantic Ocean.[5] Her PhD thesis was a study of the geochemistry and age of the
Paleogenedyke swarm in east Greenland.[6] While working in Greenland, Hanghøj also gained experience with a mining exploration company, drilling for gold and platinum in the area.[4]
Career
After completing her PhD, Hanghøj worked both as a research geologist in academia, and in various mining and exploration geology roles as consultant. She was head of the department of economic geology and petrology at the
Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) from 2011 to 2015. Later, she was
CEO and managing director of EIT RawMaterials,[7] a
European Institute of Innovation and Technology knowledge and innovation community based in
Berlin set up in 2014 to 'develop raw materials into a major strength for Europe'.[4][8]
In 2019, Hanghøj was appointed Director of the
British Geological Survey, the world's oldest national geological survey. She was the first woman appointed to this role.[9][10] In 2022, she established the UK Critical Minerals Centre in partnership with the
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, to advise on the resilience of the critical mineral supply chain for the economy and for green technologies.[11]
Professional contributions
Hanghøj has published research papers on the geology of East Greenland, the
Skaergaard intrusion and the geochemistry of the Earth's crust.[12][13][14] In 2023, Hanghøj co-edited a special publication of the Geological Society, The Green Stone Age: Exploration and Exploitation of Minerals for Green Technologies.[15]
She is currently chair of the
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) expert group on resource management and bureau, which has the mission to develop global systems for sustainable management of natural resources.[16]
Awards
In 2020, Hanghøj was awarded an
honorary doctorate from
Uppsala University, in recognition of 'her outstanding contribution to geological research ... especially in the field of raw materials'.[17]
In 2023, Hanghøj was awarded the
William Smith Medal of the
Geological Society of London, in recognition of her contributions to 'applied and economic aspects of geology', and in particular for her work on raw materials and the sustainable green energy transition and as an 'ambassador for the geosciences ... in the UK and across the world'.[18]