Professor Larkins has travelled in the UK, USA, Europe, New Zealand, Japan, India, China and Korea building research linkages for the University over the past 15 years as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research). He will now develop a strategy to ensure the University can maintain and build its reputation for eminence in global higher education.
During 2005, Professor Larkins was Dean of the Faculty of Land and Food Resources ? concurrent with his DVC (Research) responsibilities ? shepherding the Faculty through a time of transition and review.
Professor Larkins believes that internationalisation needs to inform all activities of the University and is working on a strategy to position it as a destination of choice for students and scholars, enhance international components of the curriculum, and promote enduring, profitable linkages with key international research organisations.
With a strong scientific and research background, Professor Larkins remains Professor of Chemistry at the University, from which he graduated with the degrees Bachelor of Science (Hons), Master and Doctor of Science, and Bachelor of Education. He is a Victorian Rhodes Scholar, a Wadham College Senior Scholar, Queen Elizabeth II Fellow and Fulbright Senior Scholar.
Professor Larkins has published more than 200 papers in theoretical chemical physics, catalysis, coal chemistry, materials and fuel science, has a strong interest in education and science policy, and has received major awards and prizes for his scientific work.
He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, the Australian Institute of Physics and the Australian Institute of Energy and is a past president of the Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies and the Royal Australian Chemical Institute.
Professor Larkins is a director of several companies linked to the University for research and innovation engagement with industry and the community and chairs the National and the International Scientific Advisory Committees for the Australian Synchrotron Project.
He was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2001 and received the Centenary Medal from the Australian Government in 2003.
