Geoffrey Malcolm Badger

Sir Geoffrey Badger was born on 10 October 1916 in Port Augusta, South Australia.

In 1949 he accepted a position as Senior Lecturer in the University of Adelaide and became Reader of Organic Chemistry in 1951.

In 1955, Badger became, at 39, the Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Adelaide. He resigned in 1964 to become a Member of the Executive of CSIRO.; but at the end of 1965 he was encouraged to return to Adelaide to become Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

He was appointed Vice-Chancellor in March 1967 and completed a ten-year term in March 1977.

In 1971, Badger was awarded the Leighton Memorial Medal from the Royal Australian Chemical Institute. In his Commemoration address, Badger showed empathy and understanding when he urged both students and the older generations to keep open the channel of communications, to show moderation, patience and tolerance. He kept his door open to hear them moan about the war and social conditions and kept the police off campus. He was protective of the students and it was reported that he'd rather risk prosecution rather than disclose confidential information of student files.

In 1974, Badger was elected President of Australia's Academy of Science where he was widely known for his work on the history of navigation. In 1975, he was awarded Officer of the Order of Australia and received his knighthood in 1979. He received the honorary degree of Doctor of the University from the University of Adelaide in 1980.

After stepping down from vice-chancellorship, he then became Research Professor of Organic Chemistry in the University of Adelaide. He retired from his Chair towards the end of 1979 to spend more time on his other activities.

Badger presided as the first chair of Australia Science and Technology Council, reporting to the Prime Minister. Through his role, he informed and guided government understanding as how research, scientific research, engineering and technology could shape and develop the state's resources and industry, most notably in the mining industry.

Sir Geoffrey Badger died at Adelaide on 23 September 2002, aged 85.

Sources:

University of Adelaide Archives Provenance Record UAR-0296
Rae, I 2009, Australian Academy of Science: “Geoffrey Malcolm Badger 1916–2002”,  viewed 02/03/2020
Walker, R 1993, Encyclopedia of Australian Science 2015, seen 26/02/2020