Skip to content | Change text size
 

60 seconds with … Stuart Batten

16 April 2008

 

Name: Dr Stuart Batten
Dept: School of Chemistry, Faculty of Science

How long have you been with Monash University?

Since 1996 -- 12 years. It doesn't seem that long.

Prior to working at Monash, where were you located and what was your role?

I completed my degrees at the University of Melbourne, then a Post Doc at the University of Bristol, followed by a year of short-term Post Doc positions bouncing between Melbourne and Monash. Then I got a fellowship at Monash, and have been here ever since.

What challenges are ahead in your current role?

In addition to all my other research and teaching, I'm trying to finish a book. I am also co-chairing the first Australasian school on crystallography. Both feel like they're in complete chaos, and by the end of July I'll be in a dark corner gently rocking back and forth and mumbling to myself. But nonetheless they're both exciting challenges and I'm looking forward to making a success of them both.

In a nutshell, what is crystal engineering and why is it at the cutting edge of scientific research?

Crystal engineering tries to understand the way that molecules pack together to give a solid, and to use that understanding to design new solids. This is important because the properties of a solid are often governed by the way its molecules pack. For example, both diamond and graphite (the lead in your pencil) are made up of carbon atoms, just arranged in different ways. As a result, one is the hardest known substance to man, the other is soft enough to rub off on a page. We try to control the arrangement of molecules not atoms, and the properties we're interested in include magnetic properties, porosity (including storage of gases such as hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide) and catalysis. But our main interest is the basic fundamental science.

What is it about crystal engineering research that holds your interest or is particularly satisfying?

The best part is seeing a new crystal structure for the first time. How do the molecules arrange themselves? Do they do it in a way we might have expected, or is it completely different to what we thought might happen? That moment of anticipation when you first bring up a new structure on the computer is very exciting. And the most enjoyable results are usually when the structure has done something completely and utterly unexpected!

Earlier this month you were recognised in the Thomson Scientific Research Day and Citation Awards -- and I believe you have an average of 44 citations per paper! What advice do you have for up and coming researchers?

I still like to regard myself as 'up and coming', but I guess that avoids the question. For the wannabe academic I would say be persistent (even stubborn) -- from personal experience I know that getting a tenured position can be very difficult, so keep at it (and always think about what you need to do to get to the next step). For the research itself, I would say always stop to think about what your results are telling you. Also, read the literature in your field continuously and voraciously -- it helps you understand the context of your own work, and I find it a great source of new ideas. And finally, your research is not finished until it is published. All that time spent doing the research is pointless if you don't tell anyone what you've found.

Of all the places in the world you would like to visit/re-visit, where is your favourite destination and why?

I always enjoy going 'home' -- North East Victoria, where I grew up. Internationally, I've fallen in love with both Florence and New Zealand. I couldn't say for sure why -- something intangible (and different) about both places. And having lived there for a year, I love the UK, where even the tiniest village can have a church that's stood there for a 1000 years!

What is something about yourself that most of your colleagues wouldn't know?

My music collection is full of heavy metal and bogan music -- Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Guns 'n' Roses, Led Zeppelin, etc..

Archive of 60 seconds with...