New chief scientist to maintain double life [March 01, 2006]

AFTER criticising his predecessor's part-time role, Australia's new chief scientist will take on the job part-time.

As president of the Australian Academy of Science, Jim Peacock - former head of CSIRO Plant Industry in Canberra - backed the academy's call for a full-time science adviser in a submission to the 2004 inquiry into the office of the chief scientist.

The inquiry followed allegations that then chief scientist Robin Batterham - chief technologist at mining giant Rio Tinto - faced potential conflicts of interest in his dual public-private role, a claim Dr Batterham strongly denied.

But yesterday, Dr Peacock said he did not expect such questions because he works with a publicly-funded organisation, the CSIRO, not a private corporation. "I think the general public will relate to the idea that someone working with what they regard as a national icon will be chief scientist," he said.

"I'm an optimist."









One area in which Dr Peacock is expected to differ from Dr Batterham is in energy and global warming. While his predecessor pushed technological fixes such as "clean coal" and "geosequestration", Dr Peacock said a mix of solutions had to be considered for managing planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions, from solar and wind energy to nuclear power.

Last year, Dr Peacock and John Zillman, president of the Australian Academy of Technological Science and Engineering, wrote to John Howard, offering to lead a fact-finding inquiry into the nuclear power option.

"We've got to explore these things," Dr Peacock said.

Although he has not yet signed a contract outlining details of his employment, Dr Peacock said the most important aspect of his role as science adviser would be chairing the Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council Standing Committee.

"It's one of the most wonderful interactions with parliament I've seen anywhere in the world," he said.

Dr Peacock's appointment was welcomed by the scientific, university and political communities, although the Australian Vice-Chancellors Committee and Opposition Deputy Leader Jenny Macklin expressed disappointment that his appointment was part-time.



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