Declan Vogt has degrees in electrical engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand, and a PhD in electronics from the University of York in the UK. He spent the first half of his career to date developing geophysical instrument, and the balance managing mining research. Declan's research interests are diverse, including:

• In-mine geophysics, especially radio-based techniques, including RIM and GPR

• Underground communications

• Application of Lean principles to mining 

• Stand-off remote sensing 

• Mining automation 

• Robotics

 

He is driven by a desire to make mines more pleasant working environments that are also more productive, safer and lower cost.

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He started his career at what later became known as the CSIR mining research division, developing geophysical tools for in-mine use. He was responsible for the development of a borehole radar system that is still in routine use in Bushveld platinum mines. From 2005 until 2014, Declan managed mining research at the CSIR. After that, he was the director of the Centre for Mechanised Mining Systems at the University of the Witwatersrand and currently he is a Lecturer in Robotics and Autonomous Mining at the University of Exeter.