Rizzardo, Ezio (1943 - )

Summary

Ezio Rizzardo is an organic chemist who is a leading expert in the chemistry of polymerisation. During his time at the CSIRO he has led projects on Free Radical Polymerisation, Polymeric Biomaterials and Engineering Polymers. His research contributed to the development of novel polymerisation processes including nitroxide-mediated living radical polymerisation and the CSIRO-patented Reversible Addition-Fragmentation chain Transfer (RAFT) polymerisation process.

Details

Rizzardo has been awarded the following CSIRO medals:

1990 - CSIRO Medal for Research Achievement (with the Engineered Polymers Team) for the invention and development of a new polymerisation method with potential to revolutionise much of the high-tech polymer industry;

1992 - CSIRO Chairman's Medal for Science and Engineering Excellence for his contributions to polymerscience and technology, leading to the development of new materials;

2003 - CSIRO Medal for Research Achievement (with Graeme Moad and the Specialty Poylmers Group) for developing innovative methods of preparing polymeric materials;

2009 - CSIRO Medal for Lifetime Achievement for seminal contributions to polymer science and pioneering work in controlled free radical polymerisation which has revolutionised the way polymers are made, leading to the development of new generations of polymeric materials in the field of electronics, healthcare and biotechnology.

Chronology

1957

Life event - Migrated to Australia with his family

1966

Education - First-Class Honours in Applied Organic Chemistry, University of New South Wales

1973 - 1976

Career position - Research Fellow, Australian National University

1974

Career event - Joined the CSIRO Division of Applied Chemistry

1976 - 1992

Career position - Senior Research Scientist, CSIRO Division of Applied Organic Chemistry

1980 - 1989

Career position - Manager, Polymers Program, CSIRO

1981

Award - Fellow, Royal Australian Chemical Institute

1984 - 1985

Career position - Chairman, Victorian Polymer Division, Royal Australian Chemical Institute

1988

Career position - Chair, Advisory Committee, Applied Chemistry, Swinburne University of Technology

1989 - 1990

Career position - Chairman, Polymer Division, Royal Australian Chemical Institute

1990

Award - CSIRO Medal for Research Achievement (with the Engineered Polymers Team)

1990

Career position - Chairman, Organizing Committee, 18th Australian Polymer Symposium, Bendigo, Victoria

1990 - 1995

Career position - Member, Advisory Committee, Australian Journal of Chemistry

1992

Award - CSIRO Chairman's Medal for Science and Engineering Excellence

1992

Award - Batteard-Jordan Australian Polymer Medal for outstanding achievements in polymer science, Polymer Science Division, Royal Australian Chemical Institute

1992 - 1994

Career position - Director, CRC for Polymer Blends

1992 - 2000

Career position - Chief Research Scientist, CSIRO Division of Chemicals and Polymers

1994 -

Career position - Member, Editorial Board, Progress in Polymer Science

1994

Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE)

1995 - 2000

Career position - Council Member, Pacific Polymer Federation

1996

Award - Applied Research Medal, Royal Australian Chemical Institute

2000 -

Career position - Member, Fellowship Committee, Royal Australian Chemical Institute

2000 -

Career position - Member, Editorial Board, European Polymer Journal

2000

Award - Elected a CSIRO Fellow

2001

Award - Most Prolific Inventor Award, CSIRO

2001

Award - Centenary Medal - for service to Australian society and polymer science

2002

Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA)

2003

Award - H. G. Smith Memorial Medal, Royal Australian Chemical Institute

2003

Award - CSIRO Molecular Science Award for Innovation

2003

Award - CSIRO Medal for Research Achievement (with Graeme Moad and the Engineered Polymers Team)

2003

Award - Victor Chang Medal and Barbara Ell Lecturer, Victor Chang Institute, Sydney

2003 - 2006

Career position - Member, Fellowship Committee, Australian Academy of Science

2004

Award - CRC for Polymers Chairman's Award for Excellence in Commercialisation (with David Solomon)

2004 - 2006

Career position - Member, Australian Research Council College of Experts

2009

Award - CSIRO Medal for Lifetime Achievement

2010

Award - Fellow, Royal Society, London (FRS)

2011

Award - Prime Minister's Prize for Science (with David Solomon), Commonwealth of Australia

2014 -

Award - Honorary Fellow, CSIRO

2014

Award - Clunies Ross National Science and Technology Award (joint), Australian Academy of Technological Science and Engineering

2014

Life event - Retired

2015 -

Career position - Distinguished Professor, Monash University

2018

Award - Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) - for eminent service to scientific technological research and development in the field of polymer chemistry, to its application in the biomedical, electronics and nanotechnology context, as an author, and through mentorship roles

Related entries

Published resources

Journal Articles

• Anon, 'Perth showcases 2014 ATSE Clunies Ross Awards', ATSE focus, 185 (2014), 16-17, https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3171718660. "Dr Ezio Rizzardo FRS FAA FTSE, Dr Graeme Moad FAA and Dr San Thang FTSE for their work in developing better ways of making polymers and plastics.". Details

Resources

• Wikidata, http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q15809092. Details
• 'Rizzardo, Ezio (1943 - )', Recipients [of the Prime Minister's Prizes for Science, 2000 - 2017], Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, 2017, https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20171113015220/http://www.science.gov.au/community/PrimeMinistersPrizesforScience/Recipients/2011/Pages/Professors-Ezio-Rizzardo-David-Solomon.aspx. Details
• 'Rizzardo, Ezio (19431226-)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1491594. Details

Resource Sections

• Ward, C., 'Ezio Rizzardo', in CSIROpedia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), 2011, https://csiropedia.csiro.au/Rizzardo-Ezio. Details

See also

• Companion (AC) in the General Division of the Order of Australia [Australia Day 2018], Governor General's Office, Canberra, 2018, https://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-02/ad18_media_notes_-_ac.pdf. Details
• Ward, Colin, 'CSIRO Entrepreneurship Award', in CSIROpedia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), 2013, https://csiropedia.csiro.au/csiro-entrepreneurship-award/. Details
• Ward, Colin, 'CSIRO Medal for Lifetime Achievement', in CSIROpedia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), 2022, https://csiropedia.csiro.au/csiro-medal-for-lifetime-achievement/. Details
• Ward, Colin, The Chair's Medal for Science and Engineering Excellence, CSIROpedia, CSIRO, 2023. https://csiropedia.csiro.au/chairmans-medal/. Details