Person

Williams, Robyn (1944 - )

AO FAA

Born
30 January 1944
Buckinghamshire, England
Occupation
Science broadcaster

Summary

Robyn Williams, in 1972, joined Peter Pockley, as a science broadcaster with the Australian Broadcasting Commission (later the Australian Broadcasting Corporation). In 1975 he started "The Science Show" which celebrated its 50th anniversary in August 2025 having broadcast over 2600 1 hour shows. As a key member of the ABC Science Unit he was actively involved in establishing some of its iconic television and radio productions.

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Details

Born Buckinghamshire, UK, 30 January 1944. AM 1988. Educated University of London Northern Polytechnic (BSc (hons) 1971). Small parts on BBC TV, ATV and Thames TV 1966-72; Broadcaster, ABC Science Unit (Radio) since 1972: Freelance Broadcaster 1972, Staff Talks Assistant in Science 1973, permanent appointment as Talks Assistant in Science September 1973, Executive Producer in Science Unit from 1977. Foundation Commissioner, Commission for the Future since 1984, Chairman 1990-94. Fellow, Australian Academy of Science 1993; Humanist of the Year 1993; Rostrum Australia Speaker of the Year 1993; Individual Award, Centre for Australian Cultural Studies 1996; Michael Daley Award 1996. President, ANZAAS 1992; President, Australian Museum Trust 1985-93.

Chronology

1988
Award - Member of the Order of Australia (AM) - for service to science, particularly in the fields of media and education.
1993 -
Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA)
1 Jan 2001
Award - Centenary Medal - for outstanding service in science communication
2020
Award - Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) - for distinguished service to science as a journalist, radio presenter and author, and to education

Colleague

Related Corporate Bodies

Related Cultural Objects

Published resources

Books

  • Williams, R.; and Evans, G., Commonwealth Policy for Rural Research, Past and Present: a Review, Part II of Workshop on the Organisation and Funding of Research for the Rural Industries: Canberra, 12-13 May, 1988 (Canberra: A.G.P.S., 1989), 115 pp. Details

Broadcast News Items

Edited Books

  • Moyal, Ann ed., Portraits in Science (Canberra: National Library of Australia, 1994), 203 pp. Details
  • Williams, Robyn ed., The Best of the Science Show (Melbourne: Thomas Nelson, 1983), 292 pp. Details
  • Williams, Robyn ed., The Uncertainty Principle: Australian Scientists Talk About Their World and Our Future (Crows Nest, New South Wales: ABC Enterprises, 1989), 217 pp. Details
  • Williams, Robyn ed., The Uncertainty Principle: Australian scientists talk about our world, our past and our future. (Crows Nest, New South Wales: ABC Enterprises, 1991), 307 pp. Details

Journal Articles

  • Williams, Robyn, 'Inventing the Future: the History of Australian Scientific Developments Generated by Wartime', Australian Way (1989), 32-34. Details

Newspaper Articles

Radio Broadcasts

Resources

Resource Sections

See also

  • Dahlitz, Ray, Secular who's who : a biographical directory of freethinkers, secularists, rationalists, humanists and others involved in Australia's secular movement from 1850 onwards (Balwyn, Victoria: R. Dahlitz, 1994), 192 pp. pp.171-172. Details

Rosanne Walker

Created: 25 May 2001, Last modified: 19 May 2026

EOAS ID: biogs/P003498b.htm

This Edition: 2026 May - New Office
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