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Robyn Williams

Robyn Williams AM FAA (born 30 January 1944) is a British/Australian science journalist and broadcaster who has hosted The Science Show on ABC Radio National (RN) since 1975, and created Ockham's Razor in 1984.

Robyn Williams

Born (1944-01-30) 30 January 1944 (age 80)
United Kingdom
Occupation(s)Science journalist, broadcaster

Early life and education edit

Williams was born on 30 January 1944[1][2] in Wales[3] or High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England.[2][a] His father, Gwyn, a Welshman, has been variously reported as a union executive and journalist,[2] or a coalminer who also studied engineering.[3] His mother, Ray (nee Davis), was Jewish, from London's East End, and worked as a translator.[2]

Williams attended various schools in London, including Tooting Bec Grammar, as well as spending a few years at a German language school in Vienna, Austria.[2]

Williams first spent time in Australia in 1964 and worked as a temporary clerk at the Decimal Currency Board of Australia, among other jobs. He moved back to London with his Australian wife to study science.[2] He graduated from the University of London with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree. During this period he was active in university acting and was hired as an extra in BBC series The Goodies, Monty Python's Flying Circus and Doctor Who.[3][2]

Professional life edit

He joined the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Science Unit in 1972 where, after several years in background production and interviewing for the Insight program, he hosted Innovations in early 1974,[4] Investigations (2-hour format) from 6 November 1974. [5] In 1975 he began hosting The Science Show, a one-hour science-based radio interview show. At one time it was the most popular radio show on Radio 2 (Radio National's former name), and it is one of the longest-running radio shows in Australia and the world.[3]

Ockham's Razor 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 commenced in 1997, with Williams interviewing the personality.[3]

Other media work edit

Trade union activism edit

In 1977, Williams gave an impassioned speech to the ABC Staff Association against ABC management's quiescence in the face of budget cuts and political interference. He said that a UK proposal that the government appoint one third of BBC board members had been publicly opposed by BBC management but that the ABC chairman acted as if he headed an organisation rivalling the BBC. Following his speech the meeting voted unanimously that it had no confidence in the ABC chair, John Norgard.[6]

Other roles edit

Honours, awards and recognition edit

Australian honours edit

  • 1988: Honorary Member of the Order of Australia (AM), 26 January, "For service to science, particularly in the fields of media and education"[10]
  • 2001: Centenary Medal, 1 January, "For outstanding service in science communication"[11]
  • 2020: Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia (AO), 26 January, "For distinguished service to science as a journalist, radio presenter and author, and to education"[7]

Academic honours edit

As of May 2022 Williams has honorary doctorates from seven universities:[3]

He was a Reuters Fellow at the University of Oxford in 1994[2] (where he wrote his autobiography), and a visiting fellow at Balliol College in 1995–6.[12]

Other recognition edit

Publications edit

As well as many articles and introductions to books,[2] Williams has written at least 10 books,[3] including:

  • The Uncertainty Principle (1991, nonfiction)[2]
  • And Now For Something Completely Different (1995), autobiography, written when he was a Reuters Fellow at Oxford.[12] The title refers to a popular radio interview he did with John Cleese on the topic of psychiatry.[14]
  • This Is the Science Show (1995, nonfiction)[2]
  • Normal Service Won't Be Resumed: The Future of Public Broadcasting (1996, nonfiction)[2]
  • Future Perfect (2007, nonfiction),[15] about "the future of just about everything"[16]
  • Turmoil: Letters from the Brink (2018, nonfiction)[18]

Personal life edit

Williams met Pamela Traylor when in Australia for the first time, and they married on 10 June 1966 before both moving back to the UK, where he studied science. They had two children.[2]

He is a good friend of fellow ABC presenter, Norman Swan, a qualified medical doctor, who intervened to help save his life when he suffered a cardiac arrest in 1988.[3]

As of 2022 Williams is in a long-term relationship with Jonica Newby,[3] a former presenter on ABC Television's Catalyst science journalism program. Williams underwent chemotherapy for colorectal cancer in 2014 and 2015; at one point he was hospitalised for five weeks but continued to make The Science Show from his hospital bed.[19]

Footnotes edit

  1. ^ Sources vary as to place of birth; the Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation says Buckinghamshire,[1] and Encyclopedia.com says High Wycombe, Bucks.[2] Using 2022 ABC source for now.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Williams, Robyn". Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation. Swinburne University of Technology. 25 May 2001. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Williams, Robyn 1944-". Encyclopedia.com. 30 January 1944. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Johnson, Natasha (29 May 2022). "Robyn Williams, host of ABC RN's The Science Show, on 50 years of broadcasting and the day Norman Swan saved his life". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  4. ^ "Prof Lovejoy lives", The Sydney Morning Herald, 30 September 1974: 14.
  5. ^ "Anyone can talk science", The Sydney Morning Herald, 28 October 1974: 11.
  6. ^ Molomby, Tom (1991). Is there a moderate on the roof? ABC Years. Port Melbourne: William Heinemann Australia. pp. 97–100.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "Mr Robyn Williams [H]: Officer of the Order of Australia". Australian Honours Search Facility. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia). Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h "In conversation with Robyn Williams". ANU. 13 September 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  9. ^ . Voiceless. Archived from the original on 28 February 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  10. ^ "Mr Robyn Williams [H]: Member of the Order of Australia". Australian Honours Search Facility. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia). Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  11. ^ "Mr Robyn Williams: Centenary Medal". Australian Honours Search Facility. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia). Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  12. ^ a b "Robyn Williams". ABC Radio National. 10 June 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  13. ^ "Past Winners & Finalists (Eureka Prizes)". Australian Museum.
  14. ^ "Robyn Williams AO". Celebrity Speakers. 18 February 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  15. ^ . Celebrity Speakers. Archived from the original on 2 April 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  16. ^ Conway-Wood, Sian; Vincent, James. "Future Perfect". Allen & Unwin. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  17. ^ "Robyn Williams, 2007—a true story, waiting to happen". Nautilus Institute. 19 December 2011.
  18. ^ Williams, Robyn (2018). Turmoil: Letters from the Brink. NewSouth. ISBN 9781742235776. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  19. ^ Newby, Jonica (15 May 2016). "Catalyst - Exercise and Cancer - Transcript". ABC Website. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 22 May 2016.

External links edit

  • Robyn Williams, Full Biography
  • ABC Science Unit
  • Encyclopedia of Australian Science

robyn, williams, this, article, about, australian, science, journalist, australian, cricketer, cricketer, other, people, with, similar, names, robin, williams, disambiguation, born, january, 1944, british, australian, science, journalist, broadcaster, hosted, . This article is about the Australian science journalist For the Australian cricketer see Robyn Williams cricketer For other people with similar names see Robin Williams disambiguation Robyn Williams AM FAA born 30 January 1944 is a British Australian science journalist and broadcaster who has hosted The Science Show on ABC Radio National RN since 1975 and created Ockham s Razor in 1984 Robyn WilliamsAMBorn 1944 01 30 30 January 1944 age 80 United KingdomOccupation s Science journalist broadcaster Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Professional life 3 Other media work 4 Trade union activism 5 Other roles 6 Honours awards and recognition 6 1 Australian honours 6 2 Academic honours 6 3 Other recognition 7 Publications 8 Personal life 9 Footnotes 10 References 11 External linksEarly life and education editWilliams was born on 30 January 1944 1 2 in Wales 3 or High Wycombe Buckinghamshire England 2 a His father Gwyn a Welshman has been variously reported as a union executive and journalist 2 or a coalminer who also studied engineering 3 His mother Ray nee Davis was Jewish from London s East End and worked as a translator 2 Williams attended various schools in London including Tooting Bec Grammar as well as spending a few years at a German language school in Vienna Austria 2 Williams first spent time in Australia in 1964 and worked as a temporary clerk at the Decimal Currency Board of Australia among other jobs He moved back to London with his Australian wife to study science 2 He graduated from the University of London with a Bachelor of Science Honours degree During this period he was active in university acting and was hired as an extra in BBC series The Goodies Monty Python s Flying Circus and Doctor Who 3 2 Professional life editHe joined the Australian Broadcasting Corporation ABC Science Unit in 1972 where after several years in background production and interviewing for the Insight program he hosted Innovations in early 1974 4 Investigations 2 hour format from 6 November 1974 5 In 1975 he began hosting The Science Show a one hour science based radio interview show At one time it was the most popular radio show on Radio 2 Radio National s former name and it is one of the longest running radio shows in Australia and the world 3 Ockham s Razor 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 commenced in 1997 with Williams interviewing the personality 3 Other media work editNarrating Nature of Australia a series for ABC TV Appearing in World Safari with David Attenborough Instigating the establishment of the Eureka Awards for Excellence in Science Communication and Innovation by the ABC and Australian MuseumTrade union activism editIn 1977 Williams gave an impassioned speech to the ABC Staff Association against ABC management s quiescence in the face of budget cuts and political interference He said that a UK proposal that the government appoint one third of BBC board members had been publicly opposed by BBC management but that the ABC chairman acted as if he headed an organisation rivalling the BBC Following his speech the meeting voted unanimously that it had no confidence in the ABC chair John Norgard 6 Other roles editAdjunct professor at the University of Queensland 3 Visiting professor at the University of New South Wales 3 Deputy Chair Australian Science Media Centre since 2012 7 President Australian Science Communicators 1998 2001 7 President Australia and New Zealand Advancement of Science 1992 7 Chair Australian Commission for the Future 1990 1994 7 President of the Australian Museum Trust 1986 1994 7 2 Chairman of the Commission For The Future 8 President of Australian Science Communicators 8 President of the Australian amp New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science ANZAAS Congress in Brisbane 2 Co Chairman of the Biology Department at the University of Texas El Paso Member of the council of Voiceless the animal protection institute 2009 9 Honours awards and recognition editAustralian honours edit 1988 Honorary Member of the Order of Australia AM 26 January For service to science particularly in the fields of media and education 10 2001 Centenary Medal 1 January For outstanding service in science communication 11 2020 Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia AO 26 January For distinguished service to science as a journalist radio presenter and author and to education 7 Academic honours edit As of May 2022 update Williams has honorary doctorates from seven universities 3 Australian National University law 8 Deakin University science 8 1988 2 University of New South Wales University of Queensland University of South Australia University of Sydney science 8 1988 2 Macquarie University science 8 1988 2 He was a Reuters Fellow at the University of Oxford in 1994 2 where he wrote his autobiography and a visiting fellow at Balliol College in 1995 6 12 Other recognition edit Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science 1 the first journalist so honoured 8 in 1993 2 Proclaimed a Living National Treasures 1987 8 Australian Rostrum Speaker of the Year 1993 Australian Humanist of the Year 1993 awarded by the Council of Australian Humanist Societies Radio Prize from the Human Rights Commission United Nations Association of Australia Media Peace Prize Michael Daley Award for Science Journalism 13 Centre for Australian Cultural Studies National Award 1996 Individual Publications editAs well as many articles and introductions to books 2 Williams has written at least 10 books 3 including The Uncertainty Principle 1991 nonfiction 2 And Now For Something Completely Different 1995 autobiography written when he was a Reuters Fellow at Oxford 12 The title refers to a popular radio interview he did with John Cleese on the topic of psychiatry 14 This Is the Science Show 1995 nonfiction 2 Normal Service Won t Be Resumed The Future of Public Broadcasting 1996 nonfiction 2 Future Perfect 2007 nonfiction 15 about the future of just about everything 16 2007 published 2001 is a dystopian novel describing a rebellion of animals 17 Turmoil Letters from the Brink 2018 nonfiction 18 Personal life editWilliams met Pamela Traylor when in Australia for the first time and they married on 10 June 1966 before both moving back to the UK where he studied science They had two children 2 He is a good friend of fellow ABC presenter Norman Swan a qualified medical doctor who intervened to help save his life when he suffered a cardiac arrest in 1988 3 As of 2022 update Williams is in a long term relationship with Jonica Newby 3 a former presenter on ABC Television s Catalyst science journalism program Williams underwent chemotherapy for colorectal cancer in 2014 and 2015 at one point he was hospitalised for five weeks but continued to make The Science Show from his hospital bed 19 Footnotes edit Sources vary as to place of birth the Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation says Buckinghamshire 1 and Encyclopedia com says High Wycombe Bucks 2 Using 2022 ABC source for now References edit a b c Williams Robyn Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Swinburne University of Technology 25 May 2001 Retrieved 30 May 2022 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Williams Robyn 1944 Encyclopedia com 30 January 1944 Retrieved 30 May 2022 a b c d e f g h i j k Johnson Natasha 29 May 2022 Robyn Williams host of ABC RN s The Science Show on 50 years of broadcasting and the day Norman Swan saved his life ABC News Australian Broadcasting Corporation Retrieved 29 May 2022 Prof Lovejoy lives The Sydney Morning Herald 30 September 1974 14 Anyone can talk science The Sydney Morning Herald 28 October 1974 11 Molomby Tom 1991 Is there a moderate on the roof ABC Years Port Melbourne William Heinemann Australia pp 97 100 a b c d e f Mr Robyn Williams H Officer of the Order of Australia Australian Honours Search Facility Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Australia Retrieved 30 May 2022 a b c d e f g h In conversation with Robyn Williams ANU 13 September 2018 Retrieved 30 May 2022 Robyn Williams Voiceless Archived from the original on 28 February 2017 Retrieved 30 May 2022 Mr Robyn Williams H Member of the Order of Australia Australian Honours Search Facility Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Australia Retrieved 30 May 2022 Mr Robyn Williams Centenary Medal Australian Honours Search Facility Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Australia Retrieved 30 May 2022 a b Robyn Williams ABC Radio National 10 June 2016 Retrieved 30 May 2022 Past Winners amp Finalists Eureka Prizes Australian Museum Robyn Williams AO Celebrity Speakers 18 February 2021 Retrieved 30 May 2022 Robyn Williams AM Celebrity Speakers Archived from the original on 2 April 2011 Retrieved 30 May 2022 Conway Wood Sian Vincent James Future Perfect Allen amp Unwin Retrieved 30 May 2022 Robyn Williams 2007 a true story waiting to happen Nautilus Institute 19 December 2011 Williams Robyn 2018 Turmoil Letters from the Brink NewSouth ISBN 9781742235776 Retrieved 21 August 2023 Newby Jonica 15 May 2016 Catalyst Exercise and Cancer Transcript ABC Website Australian Broadcasting Corporation Retrieved 22 May 2016 External links editRobyn Williams Full Biography ABC Science Unit Encyclopedia of Australian Science Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robyn Williams amp oldid 1180639024, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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