After attaining a PhD in physical chemistry, he developed a passionate interest in the challenges of education in chemistry, and for some time his research interests have been in that field. Bob has been a titular member of the Committee on Teaching of Chemistry of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, and a member of the National Committee for Chemistry of the Australian Academy of Science. He was a winner in 1988 of the UWA 75th Anniversary Distinguished Teacher Award, and was the fifth recipient of the Medal of the Chemical Education Division of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute for contributions to education in chemistry.