Robyn Williams
Robyn Williams | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 30, 1944 Wales or High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England |
| Occupation(s) | Science communicator, broadcaster, author |
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Known for | Host of The Science Show on ABC Radio National; founder of Ockham's Razor |
| Notable work | The Uncertainty Principle; And Now For Something Completely Different; This Is the Science Show; Normal Service Won't Be Resumed; Future Perfect; 2007; Turmoil: Letters from the Brink |
Robyn Williams (born 30 January 1944) is a science communicator and broadcaster with British and Australian ties, recognized for his long-standing role as host of The Science Show on ABC Radio National since 1975 and for founding the program Ockham's Razor in 1984.
Early life and education
Williams entered the world on 30 January 1944, with sources citing either Wales or High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England as his birthplace. His father, Gwyn, has been variously identified as a union official, journalist, or coalminer who pursued engineering studies. His mother, Ray (née Davis), was of Jewish heritage from London's East End and worked professionally as a translator.
His schooling took place in London, including attendance at the Bec School and a German-language institution in Vienna. Williams first arrived in Australia in 1964, briefly employed by the Decimal Currency Board of Australia, before returning to London with his Australian spouse to pursue scientific studies.
He obtained a Bachelor of Science with Honours from the University of London and engaged in acting roles, appearing as an extra in BBC productions such as The Goodies, Monty Python's Flying Circus, and Doctor Who.
Professional life
Williams became part of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Science Unit in 1972, initially contributing behind the scenes and conducting interviews for the program Insight. He went on to host Innovations in early 1974 and then took charge of the two-hour format show Investigations starting November 1974. In 1975, he commenced hosting The Science Show, a one-hour interview series about science that grew to become one of Australia's most enduring and popular radio programs.
In 1984, he introduced Ockham's Razor, a series featuring notable scientists or figures who break down complex subjects for general audiences, inspired by William of Ockham’s principle of simplicity. Later, in 1997, he launched In Conversation, focusing on interviews with distinguished personalities.
Other media work
- Provided narration for ABC TV’s Nature of Australia
- Participated in World Safari alongside David Attenborough
- Played a key role in founding the Eureka Awards for Excellence in Science Communication and Innovation, a collaboration between ABC and the Australian Museum
Trade union activism
In 1977, Williams delivered a pointed address to the ABC Staff Association criticizing management’s passive approach to budget reductions and political meddling. He contrasted ABC leadership unfavorably with the BBC’s resistance to government-appointed board members. The assembly subsequently passed a vote expressing no confidence in ABC chair John Norgard.
Other roles
- Adjunct professor at University of Queensland
- Visiting professor at University of New South Wales
- Deputy Chair of the Australian Science Media Centre since 2012
- President of Australian Science Communicators from 1998 to 2001
- President of Australia and New Zealand Advancement of Science (ANZAAS) in 1992
- Chairperson of the Australian Commission for the Future between 1990 and 1994
- President of the Australian Museum Trust from 1986 until 1994
- Co-Chairman of the Biology Department at University of Texas, El Paso
- Council member of Voiceless, the animal protection institute, starting in 2009
Australian honours
- 1988: Appointed Honorary Member of the Order of Australia (AM) on 26 January for contributions to science, especially through media and education
- 2001: Awarded the Centenary Medal on 1 January in recognition of exceptional service in science communication
- 2020: Named Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) on 26 January for eminent service to science as a journalist, radio broadcaster, author, and educator
Academic honours
Williams has been conferred honorary doctorates by seven universities:
- Australian National University (law)
- Deakin University (science, 1988)
- University of New South Wales
- University of Queensland
- University of South Australia
- University of Sydney (science, 1988)
- Macquarie University (science, 1988)
In 1994, he was a Reuters Fellow at the University of Oxford, during which time he composed his autobiography. He also held a visiting fellowship at Balliol College from 1995 to 1996.
Other recognition
- Elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science in 1993, becoming the first journalist to receive this honour
- Designated an Living National Treasure in 1987
- Named Australian Rostrum Speaker of the Year in 1993
- Honoured as Australian Humanist of the Year in 1993 by the Council of Australian Humanist Societies
- Recipient of a Radio Prize from the Human Rights Commission
- Awarded the United Nations Association of Australia Media Peace Prize
- Winner of the Michael Daley Award for Science Journalism
- Earned the Centre for Australian Cultural Studies National Award (Individual) in 1996
Publications
Williams has written over ten books, including:
- The Uncertainty Principle (1991), a nonfiction work
- And Now For Something Completely Different (1995), his autobiography penned during his Reuters Fellowship at Oxford; the title alludes to a famous radio interview with John Cleese concerning psychiatry
- This Is the Science Show (1995), nonfiction
- Normal Service Won't Be Resumed: The Future of Public Broadcasting (1996), nonfiction
- Future Perfect (2007), nonfiction examining "the future of just about everything"
- 2007 (published in 2001), a dystopian novel portraying an animal uprising
- Turmoil: Letters from the Brink (2018), nonfiction
Personal life
Williams wed Pamela Traylor in 1966 prior to moving to the United Kingdom for his scientific studies. Together they have two children.
He maintains a close friendship with ABC presenter and physician Norman Swan, who played a critical role in saving his life following a cardiac arrest in 1988.
As of 2022, Williams is engaged in a long-term partnership with Jonica Newby, formerly an ABC Catalyst presenter. He underwent chemotherapy treatment for colorectal cancer between 2014 and 2015 yet continued to produce The Science Show even during hospitalization.