'Scientific Knowledge Is Like Water, It Flows Everywhere'

Professor Martin Banwell has spent more than four decades in organic chemistry. He has published over 500 papers, filed 14 patents, and delivered countless international conference addresses. He was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science in 2004 and received the Officer of the Order of Australia in 2018.

At the Australian National University, his research group was one of the largest and most productive in the chemistry school. His work received funding from Australian government agencies and major international pharmaceutical and chemical companies.

A bond that began at home

His connection with China runs deep. His father, a consulting geophysicist for the United Nations, was enthusiastic about Chinese culture and self-taught in Mandarin. This early exposure left an impression that would not fade.

So when an opportunity to visit Jinan University in Guangdong province in south China arose in April 2014, he took it. Over the following years, he returned regularly to China. Between 2016 and 2019, he held a visiting appointment as Zhujiang Scholar Chair Professor at the university. During this period, he contributed to several national-level research platforms, including a joint laboratory for traditional Chinese medicine modernization and innovative drug discovery.

In October 2018, Jinan University established the Institute for Advanced and Applied Chemistry Synthesis on its Zhuhai campus, appointing Banwell as its first dean. He moved to China full-time the following year and was honored the Chinese Government Friendship Award in 2021.

With the institute in place, his next challenge was to build a research center that could operate at an internationally competitive level, while also training young researchers and translating basic research into practical applications.

Over the years, the institute has attracted prominent scholars from China and abroad, strengthening Jinan University's engineering and applied science programs. Banwell has pushed for international collaboration and maintained working relationships with academic peers, companies, and government agencies.

A dynamic research environment

Banwell describes China's academic environment as dynamic, competitive, and stimulating. He cites the country's broad support for scientific research and its sizable chemical industry as key factors in his decision to move there.

"I feel as though China is a major focal point of research in chemistry in the world these days," he said. "The combination of all these possibilities makes life attractive here." He also acknowledged his colleagues at Jinan University for laying the groundwork for his research.

From his perspective, China is increasingly focused on using organic chemistry to address global warming and other environmental challenges. He emphasized the role of green chemistry in building a sustainable future. He also pointed out that Guangdong province, with its strong chemical industry, places greater emphasis on translating laboratory research into commercial products than the Australian system does.

"China has numerous successful examples and astounding accomplishments in research and innovation," he said.

Banwell regards failure as part of the research process. "We should always prepare to encounter failures and interpret or exploit them properly so that we eventually achieve our goals," he said. He believes that funding and perseverance are the most important factors in turning university research into commercial applications. Since moving to China, he has continued to receive industry funding and some of his research outcomes have been commercialized.

Training the next generation

Throughout his career, Banwell has supervised over 80 doctoral students, including more than 20 Chinese students, and hosted more than 100 visiting scholars from China. Many now hold academic or industry positions across the country.

He regularly takes students and young researchers to international conferences such as the Maritime Silk Road Industry-University-Research Collaboration Conference and the Lingnan Organic Chemistry Forum. He encourages them to present their work and stay current with emerging trends.

"Academic research is international by nature," he said. "We build on the work of others to update our knowledge and decide where to go next."

Building bridges through science

Banwell said international scientific exchange retains its fundamental value. "Scientific knowledge is like water, it flows everywhere" and collaborative efforts are essential for advancing knowledge.

"We hope that outstanding experts in chemistry from other countries will visit China in the not-too-distant future and so enhance already fruitful academic exchanges," he said. "Their work on drug development and green chemistry complements ours extremely well."

He sees science as a way to build understanding between nations. "I think science is an excellent way of building bridges between China and Australia," he said. "I am hoping to play a role as a bridge between the two countries with the advantage of knowing both well."

Source: Science and Technology Daily