Fellows' biographical memoirs

Bob Symons died in Adelaide on 4 October 2006 after a long illness. He was distinguished through his contributions to our knowledge of the structure, function and replication of plant viruses, viroids and virusoids. His research culminated in the discovery of the hammerhead folding of the RNA chain and its role as a ribozyme in self-cleavage of the RNA in some of these plant pathogens. He was a leader in his field and was responsible for commercial applications of his research and the establishment in Adelaide of the first Australian company to produce and market molecular biologicals for research.

Professor Robert Morton FAA was a biochemist who pioneered enzyme purification techniques, achieved the first crystallisation of a cytochrome, and shaped Australian biochemistry through prolific, wide-ranging research.

Professor Rob Sutherland pioneered the application of molecular and cellular biology approaches to translate research discoveries into cancer treatment regimes.

Professor Bob Street AO FAA was a physicist who studied the magnetic properties of materials. He was a dedicated science communicator and an influential figure in higher education administration.

Bob Bilger FAA FTSE was an engineer whose insightful experiments, theory and modelling advanced combustion chemistry and fluid mechanics.

Robert (Bob) Crompton was a towering figure in low energy electron and ion physics in Australia and internationally.

Rod Rickards was an organic chemist who made outstanding contributions to research on a wide range of compounds of medical, biological, agricultural and veterinary importance.

Professor Roger Richardson FAA was a mathematician known for his contributions to algebraic geometry and a leading figure in Lie group theory.

Dr Roland Andrews CMG FAA rose from chemist to industry leader, pioneering brown coal gasification research and steering Victoria's gas industry through the landmark Morwell plant project.

Professor Ron Brown FAA was a chemist who made contributions spanning spectroscopy, theoretical chemistry, astronomy, and molecules and life in space. He discovered the tricarbon monoxide and propadienone molecules, and was the founder of the chemisty department at Monash University.