Australia gets another part-time science advisor

Written byStephen Pincock

| 1 min read

More than eight months after Australia's last Chief Scientist, Robin Batterham, stepped down from the post, the government has named Jim Peacock, president of the Australian Academy of Science, as his successor. Peacock, a plant scientist, has been given a ringing endorsement from many in the research world. John Mullarvey, CEO of the Australian Vice-Chancellor's Committee, for example, said he had made a strong contribution to science both nationally and internationally. ?I am sure [he] will serve Australia well in the important position of Chief Scientist,? he said. Some Australian scientists are less impressed, however, that Peacock has taken the job on a part-time basis. Batterham had been linkurl:criticized;http://www.the-scientist.com/article/display/15537/ for sharing his time between the government post and a job with mining giant Rio Tinto. In fact, back in 2004, Peacock and the Australian Academy of Science had been among those who called for the post to be made full-time. But Peacock told The Australian newspaper this week that he didn?t expect to have the same problems, because he works with a publicly-funded organization, the CSIRO, and not a private firm. 'I think the general public will relate to the idea that someone working with what they regard as a national icon will be chief scientist,' he said. Peacock?s will involve advising government on issues like stem cell research, genetically modified food, energy and climate change. ?A full-time Chief Scientist would also be able to play a far more important role in promoting the strength and quality of Australian science and innovation, and would provide a more obvious role model for science students and scholars at all levels of the education system,? said Mullarvey.

Australia gets another part-time science advisor

The Scientist ARCHIVES

Become a Member of

Meet the Author

Stephen Pincock

Related Research Resources

A Stubborn Gene, a Failed Experiment, and a New Path

Research Resources

Podcasts

Webinars

Videos

Infographics

eBooks

Advancing Drug Discovery with Complex Human In Vitro Models

Redefining Immunology Through Advanced Technologies

Ensuring Regulatory Compliance in AAV Manufacturing with Analytical Ultracentrifugation

Maximizing Cancer Research Model Systems

Products

Product News

Sino Biological Pioneers Life Sciences Innovation with High-Quality Bioreagents on Inside Business Today with Bill and Guiliana Rancic

Sino Biological Expands Research Reagent Portfolio to Support Global Nipah Virus Vaccine and Diagnostic Development

Beckman Coulter Life Sciences Partners with Automata to Accelerate AI-Ready Laboratory Automation

Refeyn named in the Sunday Times 100 Tech list of the UK’s fastest-growing technology companies