Bruce Edward Hobbs was born 23 October 1936 in Sydney.[1][2]
He completed his secondary schooling at Newcastle Boys High School.[1]
He matriculated to the University of Sydney.[1] He was graduated a Bachelor of Science in 1959.[5] He presented his research thesis, Tectonic studies in the Central West of N.S.W. and was awarded his PhD in Science in 1964.[5][6]
Hobbs lectured in geology at the University of Sydney first as lecturer (1960 – 66) then as senior lecturer (1967).[1][2]
Between 1965 and 1967 he was Research Geologist at the Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics at the University of California.[2]
He was a research Fellow in the Department of Geology and Geophysics, Australian National University, Canberra (1967 – 71).[1][2]
Between 1971 and 1972 he was Professor of Structural Geology, State University of New York.[1]
He returned to Australia to be the Foundation Professor of Geology and chair of the Department of Earth Sciences, Monash University (1972 – 84).[1][2]
He was a Member of the Australian Science and Technology Council (1977 – 1982).[2]
He spent fourteen months as visiting professor at Brown University in Rhode Island (1978 – 1979) and won a Fulbright Award in 1979 and spent six months as visiting professor at the University of California, Davis.[2]
He left full-time work as an academic to join the CSIRO in 1984 but, in 1987, accepted an offer of Honorary Research Associate at Monash University.[2]
Hobbs joined the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in 1984. He was Chief Research Scientist in the Division of Geomechanics (1984 – 1987) then being promoted to chief of the division in 1987.[1][2]
He moved to the Exploration Geoscience Division in 1992. He became Chief of CSIRO Exploration and Mining (1993 – 2000).[1]
In 2000 he became Deputy Chief Executive of CSIRO and retired in 2002.[1]
In 2003, the Government of Western Australia created a position of Chief Scientist within the Department of premier and Cabinet and Hobbs was appointed, the first to hold the post. He was also executive director of Office Science and Innovation.[1]
The position was moved to the Environment portfolio and in 2006 to Industry and Resources Department. Shortly after, Hobbs resigned citing fundamental differences with the government over the direction of policy. He was reported as saying that he believed research funds should be used to support and develop mining and agriculture but the Government wanted to find new technologies such as biofuels and IT to replace natural resources when they run out.[3]
On 26 August 1960 Hobbs married Robyn Savage. They have two sons and two daughters.[1]
Mendez, Torrance (3 May 2006). "WA's chief scientist quits over policy stoush with Carpenter". The West Australian. Perth, Western Australia: West Australian Newspapers Limited. p. 1.