Robert La Nauze has made a substantial contribution in Australia to the application of scientific and engineering knowledge to practical purposes in the mineral and energy industries in three broad areas:

1. Contributions to the understanding of fluidised bed systems especially to new knowledge concerning heat and mass transfer to burning particles.

2. The pilot plant trialing, then design and commissioning of full-scale fluidised bed plants for combustion and mineral processing.

3. Research leadership within CSIRO which has continued since his appointment as Chief-of-Division in 1989 to make a significant contribution to the economy through technology transfer to commercial operations.