Although Dr. Watts' career has been vigorous, diverse and continuous in its community application, it is best understood as consisting of two phases. The first was his work during the years 1962 to 1979 when he advanced from an initial position as Senior Lecturer in Physical and Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Western Australia to become the holder of a Personal Research Chair in 1977. The second is his work as Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Western Australian Institute of Technology (WAIT), Australia's largest institute of technology. Overlapping these two periods has been a compelling interest in the education of young people, particularly in science.
Dr. Watts' science was focused on the role of solvents in determining the nature of the reactions of inorganic solvents. It commenced in 1954 with a stuay of the solutions used in sulfuric acid manufacture by the Chamber Process and gradually moved to the study of a range of coordination compounds in dipolar solvents using a wide range of physical techniques. This internationally significant work resulted in the publication of about 90 papers in refereed journals and at national
and international conferences. During the latter part of this period, Dr. Watts directed the Australian Academy of Science Project which produced uniquely Australian chemistry texts for upper secondary schools.
As Director of WAIT, Dr. Watts has emerged as one of the innovative thinkers in the development of science and technology policy in Australia. His energy changed political and bureaucratic thinking in Western Australia, leading to the Western Australian Technology Park, to the Technology Development Authority and to much of the vigour associated with technological development in Western Australia. Under his leadership, WAIT has grown into a significant national institution in applied technological and scientific research and development.
His role as a member of the Australian Science and Technology Council (ASTEC) is just one way in which his views on science and technology are influencing national policy.