Robyn Williams

:"This is about the Australian science journalist; for others, see Robin Williams (disambiguation)."
Robyn Williams AM (born 1944) is an Australian-based British science journalist and broadcaster who has been interviewer and host of the "Science Show" on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation since 1975, "Ockham's Razor" (created 1984) and "In Conversation" (created 1997).

Background

Robyn Williams was born in Wales, and educated in London and Vienna. He graduated from the University of London with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree. During this period he was active in university acting and, like many other notable students, made (guest) appearances in the BBC series "The Goodies", "Monty Python's Flying Circus" and "Doctor Who".

Professional life

Williams emigrated to Australia and joined the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Science Unit in 1972 where, after several years in background production and interviewing, in 1975 began hosting the award winning "Science Show", a one-hour (format) science based radio interview show.

"Ockham's Razor" (15 minute format) followed in 1984, with Williams introducing a leading scientist or personality who then expounds from a prepared text on a topic of their choice, with a view to making a subject simple and accessible to the public, hence the title relating to the famous statement on parsimony by William of Ockham. "In Conversation" (15 minute format) commenced in 1997, with Williams interviewing the personality.

Other media work has included:
* narrating "Nature of Australia", a series for ABC TV;
* appearing in "World Safari" with David Attenborough;

At his instigation, the ABC and Australian Museum established the Eureka Awards for Excellence in Science Communication and Innovation.

Honorary and subsidiary positions

* President of the Australian Museum Trust;
* Deputy Chairman of the Commission For The Future;
* President of the Australian & New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (ANZAAS) Congress held in Brisbane;

He is a visiting professor at the University of New South Wales.

Publications

Williams has written some 10 books, with 3 used in high school reading lists. His autobiography is "And Now For Something Completely Different", a reference to an interview (on psychiatry) with Monty Python star John Cleese.

Honours

* Williams is a Fellow of The Australian Academy of Science, the first journalist so honoured;
* Williams has Honorary Doctorates of Science from Deakin University, University of Sydney, and Macquarie University and an Honorary Doctorate of Law from the Australian National University
* Honorary Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1988 (he has never taken out Australian citizenship)
* Australian Rostrum Speaker of the Year (1993)
* Australian Humanist of the Year (1993); awarded by the Council of Australian Humanist Societies
* Reuter Fellow, University of Oxford (1994)
* In 1998 he was voted one of Australia's Living National Treasures;
* Radio Prize from the Human Rights Commission
* United Nations Media Peace Prize
* Michael Daley Award for Science Journalism
* Centre for Australian Cultural Studies National Award 1996 (Individual).

External links

* [http://www.icmi.com.au/speakerfull.phtml?id=220 Robyn Williams, Full Biography]
* [http://www.abc.net.au/rn/science/ockham/rwilliam.htm Robyn Williams's ABC biography]
* [http://www.abc.net.au/rn/science/ ABC Science Unit]