# Robin Batterham

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Robin_Batterham
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Robin_Batterham.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Batterham
> Source revision: 1353855358
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|Australian scientist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox scientist
| honorific_prefix  = 
| name              = Robin Batterham
| honorific_suffix  = {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AO|FREng|FAA|FTSE|size=100}}
| image             = BatterhamIChemE2005.jpg
| image_size        = 
| image_upright     = 
| alt               = 
| caption           = Robin Batterham, 2005, wearing an IChemE tie
| birth_name        = <!-- if different from "name" -->
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|df=y|1941|4|3}}
| birth_place       = [Brighton, Victoria](/source/Brighton%2C_Victoria), Australia
| death_date        = <!--{{death date and age |YYYY|MM|DD |YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth date)-->
| death_place       = 
| fields            = Chemical engineering
| workplaces        = [CSIRO](/source/CSIRO)<br />[Rio Tinto](/source/Rio_Tinto_(corporation))
| alma_mater        = [University of Melbourne](/source/University_of_Melbourne)
| thesis_title      = <!--(or  | thesis1_title =  and  | thesis2_title = )-->
| thesis_url        = <!--(or  | thesis1_url  =   and  | thesis2_url  =  )-->
| thesis_year       = <!--(or  | thesis1_year =   and  | thesis2_year =  )-->
| doctoral_advisor  = <!--(or  | doctoral_advisors = )-->
| academic_advisors = 
| doctoral_students = 
| notable_students  = 
| known_for         = 
| influences        = 
| influenced        = 
| awards            = 
| signature         = <!--(filename only)-->
| signature_alt     = 
| website           = <!--{{URL|www.example.com}}-->
| footnotes         = 
}}
'''Robin John Batterham''' (born 3 April 1941) is an Australian scientist specialising in [chemical engineering](/source/chemical_engineering). He was the [Chief Scientist of Australia](/source/Office_of_the_Chief_Scientist_(Australia)) from 1999 to 2006.

Born in the [Melbourne](/source/Melbourne) suburb of [Brighton](/source/Brighton%2C_Victoria), Batterham graduated from the [University of Melbourne](/source/University_of_Melbourne) in 1965 with a degree in chemical engineering, and received a PhD from the same institution in 1969. He received a scholarship from the [Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation](/source/Commonwealth_Scientific_and_Industrial_Research_Organisation) (CSIRO) to undertake postgraduate studies at the central research laboratories of [ICI](/source/Imperial_Chemical_Industries) in the [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom).<ref name=unimelb1>[http://www.unimelb.edu.au/unisec/calendar/honcausa/citation/batterham.html Dr Robin Batterham], [University of Melbourne](/source/University_of_Melbourne).</ref> Batterham returned to Australia in 1970, and took up the position of chief scientist of the CSIRO's Division of Mineral Engineering, and was later promoted to division chief.<ref name=unimelb2>[http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/biogs/P004487b.htm Batterham, Robin John (1941 – )], ''Bright Sparcs'' ([University of Melbourne](/source/University_of_Melbourne)), 13 December 2006.</ref>

In 1999, he was appointed [Chief Scientist of Australia](/source/Office_of_the_Chief_Scientist_(Australia)), a role which he undertook simultaneously to acting as chief technologist for the multinational mining company [Rio Tinto](/source/Rio_Tinto_Group). Supporters of [renewable energy](/source/renewable_energy) technologies claimed that Batterham's employment by a mining company made his advice to the [Prime Minister](/source/Prime_Minister_of_Australia) on [climate change](/source/climate_change) and [geosequestration](/source/Carbon_sink) questionable, although Batterham assured his critics that his advice and work as Chief Scientist was neutral and not affected by his Rio Tinto position.<ref name=Fowler>Fowler, Andrew: [http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2003/s1006343.htm Questions raised over chief scientist's Rio Tinto role], ''[The 7.30 Report](/source/The_7.30_Report)'' ([ABC](/source/Australian_Broadcasting_Corporation)), 8 December 2003.</ref> In 2004, concern was expressed over Dr. Batterham's dual roles, and a [Senate](/source/Senate_of_Australia) committee found that there was a [conflict of interest](/source/conflict_of_interest) between the two, recommending that the Chief Scientist position be made full-time.<ref name=Guerrera>Guerrera, Orietta: [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/08/05/1091557994478.html Chief scientist's dual roles 'damaging'], ''[The Age](/source/The_Age)'', 6 August 2004.</ref> In May 2005, Batterham stepped down as Chief Scientist and took on a full-time position at Rio Tinto.<ref name=Barlow>Barlow, Karen: [http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2005/s1370112.htm Australia's Chief Scientist gives up Govt position for mining giant], [''AM'' (ABC Radio)](/source/AM_(ABC_Radio)), 17 May 2005.</ref>

From May 2004 to May 2005, Batterham was President of the [Institution of Chemical Engineers](/source/Institution_of_Chemical_Engineers).<ref name=TCE>''The Chemical Engineer'', June 2004, p 21 "High Flier has landed" (interview)</ref>

Batterham was elected a member of the [National Academy of Engineering](/source/National_Academy_of_Engineering) in 2004 for the modeling of iron ore systems and team leadership in the development of innovative industrial metallurgical processes. He was appointed an International [Fellow](/source/Fellow)<ref name="List of Fellows">{{cite web|title=List of Fellows|url=http://www.raeng.org.uk/about-us/people-council-committees/the-fellowship/list-of-fellows|access-date=24 October 2014|archive-date=8 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160608094405/http://www.raeng.org.uk/about-us/people-council-committees/the-fellowship/list-of-fellows|url-status=dead}}</ref> of the [Royal Academy of Engineering](/source/Royal_Academy_of_Engineering)<ref name="List of Fellows"/> in 2004. He was also appointed a Fellow (FTSE) of the [Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering](/source/Australian_Academy_of_Technological_Sciences_and_Engineering) (ATSE) in 1988, and served as its President 2007&ndash;2012.<ref name=ATSE>[http://www.atse.org.au/index.php?sectionid=866 Robin Batterham appointed ATSE President], [Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering](/source/Australian_Academy_of_Technological_Sciences_and_Engineering), 2007.</ref> in 2014 the Batterham Medal was established in his honour by ATSE as an early career award in the field of engineering.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-11-14|title=History of the Batterham Medal|url=https://www.atse.org.au/programs-and-awards/batterham-medal/history-of-the-batterham-medal/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604132304/https://www.atse.org.au/programs-and-awards/batterham-medal/history-of-the-batterham-medal/|archive-date=2021-06-04|access-date=2021-06-10|website=Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering}}</ref>

In 2023, Batterham joined the [Alliance for Responsible Citizenship](/source/Alliance_for_Responsible_Citizenship) led by [Jordan Peterson](/source/Jordan_Peterson), which has a membership that includes several conservative politicians and public figures. These include former Australian Prime Ministers [John Howard](/source/John_Howard) and [Tony Abbott](/source/Tony_Abbott), and the climate-sceptic economist [Bjørn Lomborg](/source/Bj%C3%B8rn_Lomborg).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/jun/13/tony-abbott-and-john-howard-join-jordan-peterson-led-group-looking-at-meaning-of-life|title=Tony Abbott and John Howard join Jordan Peterson-led group looking at ‘meaning of life’|first1=Graham|last1=Readfearn|first2=Paul|last2=Karp|date=12 June 2023|via=The Guardian}}</ref> 

==Personal==
Batterham is the assistant organist at [Scots' Church, Melbourne](/source/Scots'_Church%2C_Melbourne).<ref name=unimelb1/><ref name=Scots>{{cite web|title=Music|url=http://www.scotschurch.com/music/about-music|publisher=[Scots' Church, Melbourne](/source/Scots'_Church%2C_Melbourne)|accessdate=21 January 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110122014023/http://www.scotschurch.com/music/about-music|archivedate=22 January 2011}}</ref> He has given numerous organ recitals, and has released several CDs.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-gov}}
{{s-bef | before = [John Stocker](/source/John_Stocker_(scientist)) }}
{{s-ttl | title = [Chief Scientist of Australia](/source/Office_of_the_Chief_Scientist_(Australia)) | years = 1999–2005}}
{{s-aft | after = [Jim Peacock](/source/Jim_Peacock)}}
{{end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Batterham, Robin}}
Category:1941 births
Category:Living people
Category:People educated at Brighton Grammar School
Category:University of Melbourne alumni
Category:Chief Scientists of Australia
Category:Australian chemical engineers
Category:Australian mining engineers
Category:Imperial Chemical Industries people
Category:Officers of the Order of Australia
Category:Australian classical organists
Category:Australian male classical organists
Category:Fellows of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering
Category:Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science
Category:Foreign members of the Chinese Academy of Engineering
Category:21st-century Australian public servants
Category:21st-century Australian engineers
Category:20th-century Australian engineers
Category:21st-century Australian organists
Category:21st-century Australian male musicians
Category:People from Brighton, Victoria
Category:Scientists from Melbourne

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Robin Batterham](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Batterham) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Batterham?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.