Australia gets another part-time science advisor

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....