John is a Physical and Colloid Chemist with complementary training in metallurgy, whose research interests embrace various aspects of interfacial science and engineering. In 1994, the Ian Wark Research Institute (1994 to 2015, an ARC Special research Centre) was founded at the University of South Australia, with John as its Director, until his retirement in 2012.John’s research deals with three main themes - how bubbles contact particles; why things stick together and how liquids spread over surfaces. The problems addressed cross the boundaries from pure physical chemistry to materials science to chemical and minerals engineering, with many connections with, and knowledge transfer to, national and international industry. John has received numerous awards and honours over the years. These include the Chemeca Medal in 2006 [ Australia's highest honour in Chemical Engineering], the ATSE Clunies Ross Lifetime Contribution Award in 2009 and the Staudinger Durrer Lecture and Medal in 2012 from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zurich, for influential contributions to the fields of colloid and surface science. In 2008 John was made an Officer of the Order of Australia. In 2007 John was awarded South Australian of the Year, the first scientist to be so honoured, as well as South Australian Scientist of the Year. Apart from mentoring research teams at UniSA, a number of his present activities include strong interactions with universities, companies and research institutes internationally. John has an h-index of 95. His publications have been cited more than 26000 times.

Professor John Ralston has an international reputation in colloid chemistry applied to mineral science, with extensive research and consulting experience in particle technology, surface chemistry and materials processing both in Australia and overseas. He is the author of over 80 journal publications and textbook chapters together with conference papers, several patents and industry reports. His scientific standing has been recognised by the receipt of a number of prizes and awards and by membership of numerous national and international panels and committees. He has had over twenty years? experience in the direct application of research in industry with a proven record in developing new products, inventing new equipment and improving existing processes. His research group?s efforts have led to significant productivity gains in Australian industry and his excellent standing with industry is emphasised by the very high levels of industry funding received by his department. Professor Ralston conceived and played the major role in establishing the Ian Wark Research Institute at the University o South Australia. This eighty member Research Institute is dedicated to fostering fundamental and applied research in advanced mineral science for the benefit of Australia and its minerals industry. It is rapidly becoming recognised as one of the outstanding centres for research in mineral science on a worldwide basis.