Dr Murray, Chief of the CSIRO Division of Material Science and Technology, has achieved an international reputation in the field of advanced materials research. Beside being author of over fifty scientific papers, he has been very successful in the commercialisation of Australian Science.
As OIC of CSIRO's Advanced Materials Laboratory in the early 1980's he successfully commercialised the Partially Stabilised Zirconia and solid electrolyte oxygen sensors research projects and achieved the establishment of an Australian zirconia powder industry.
His success as a research leader stems from his strong belief in the value of science to the community, and his ability to enthuse first class scientists to work on relevant industrial problems without compromising their excellence as scientists. As Chief he has transformed his Division into a strongly motivated and interactive group of scientists.
In 1983 Dr Murray was awarded the Society of Automotive Engineers" top honour (the Rhodda Award) for his group's work on ceramics for diesel engines. In 1990 he was elected a foundation member of ??he International Ceramics Academy, and Honorary Member of the Materials Research Society of Japan.