Gabriel Ng (Menzies, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is with great pride that I rise to speak today to congratulate Professor Richard Robson, a resident of Menzies, on recently being jointly awarded the Nobel Prize for chemistry. Professor Robson has worked for over four decades on world-leading research into metal-organic frameworks. Notably his inspiration for this innovation came through his teaching at the University of Melbourne. He devised a strategy using molecular rods by which a wide variety of molecular building blocks could be linked together to form network structures. They are crystal structures that are typically the size of only a millionth of a millimetre in length. This pioneering work has led to the development of an entire new field of research worldwide.

This honour is a fitting testament to the work Professor Robson has undertaken throughout his career and is one that recognises his diligence, creativity and leadership. I know that his work is already serving as an example to students across our community and country of the power of scientific research to expand possibilities and change lives. I was pleased to be able to personally congratulate Professor Robson last week and to extend the warm congratulations of the Prime Minister, the government and our local community in Menzies. His humility, imagination and commitment to learning and teaching exemplifies the very best of Australia's scientific community, and I thank him again for his extraordinary contribution.