Rob Morrison (scientist)

As a child, Morrison says he wanted to be "a farmer, then zookeeper then vet — anything to do with animals".{{cite news |url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/lifestyle/sa-lifestyle/everything-you-ever-wanted-to-ask-the-curiosity-shows-rob-morrison/news-story/ada75a1af14b9513a56b591cd4d27e3a |title=Everything you ever wanted to ask the Curiosity Show's Rob Morrison |last1=Spain |first1=Katie |date=22 May 2015 |work=Advertiser |access-date=5 January 2017 |location=Adelaide}}

Morrison studied at St Peter's College, Adelaide, and he went on to study at the University of Adelaide, earning his Bachelor of Science in zoology, physiology, and psychology in 1965, followed by Honours in 1966, and his Ph.D in neuroanatomy and neurophysiology in 1971. His PhD thesis was Comparative Studies on the Olfactory System of the Mammal (University of Adelaide, December 1969).

In 1972 he was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to study in the UK, and in 1972–73 he was a post-doctoral Research Fellow in animal behaviour at the University of Edinburgh, working with the noted animal behavior expert and television presenter Professor Aubrey Manning.

On his return to Australia, he lectured at Sturt College of Advanced Education, the South Australian College of Advanced Education, and Flinders University in zoology, animal behaviour and human biology and he introduced a course on field studies based on his experience during his Churchill Fellowship.{{cite web |title=Calendar 1991 Sturt Campus – Volume 3 – Courses offered at the former SACAE Sturt Campus |url=https://dspace.flinders.edu.au/xmlui/bitstream/handle/2328/35854/1991_Calendar_Flinders_Vol_3.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |publisher=The Flinders University of South Australia |access-date=30 March 2019 |page=10}} Initially he combined his academic roles with writing books and radio and television work, but in 1995 he resigned from the university to focus on his career in writing and the media.

In 2007 he was appointed a Professorial Fellow in the College of Education, Psychology and Social Work.{{cite web |title=Professor Rob Morrison |url=http://www.flinders.edu.au/people/rob.morrison |publisher=Flinders University |access-date=3 January 2017}}

Initially, Morrison's researches continued his PhD topic of mammalian olfactory systems. While at Flinders University, he developed an interest in researching nestboxes.

He conducted a statewide project called "The Nestbox Project" in South Australian schools over 1992 and 1993, getting students to design, build and monitor nestboxes to see what used them. This supported the development of better designs, and educated children as to the value of the hollows in dead trees which were being cleared. The project's results were published in Nature Australia.{{cite journal |title=The Nestbox Project |journal=Nature Australia |date=Winter 1996 |pages=56–63}} Its design suggestions were summarised in a joint publication with major ornithological groups,{{cite book |editor-last=Grant |editor-first=Jim |first1=Hugo |last1=Phillips |first2=Tim |last2=Gunn |first3=Russell |last3=Trainor |first4=Rob |last4=Morrison |first5=Ellen |last5=McCulloch |title=The Nestbox Book |date=1997 |publisher=Gould League |location=Victoria |isbn=1-875687-34-3}} and thousands were made and deployed as part of Rotary's ROBIN project.{{cite web |title=ROBIN {{!}} District 9520 |url=https://rotary9520.org/page/robin |website=rotary9520.org |access-date=6 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180602095741/https://rotary9520.org/page/robin |archive-date=2 June 2018}}

From 2000 to 2006, Morrison was President of the Royal Zoological Society of South Australia (promoted as "Zoos SA"), where he oversaw both the smallest metropolitan zoo in Australia, Adelaide Zoo, and the largest, Monarto Zoo (now Monarto Safari Park). During this period, the Society membership grew three-fold.

He chaired the Society's Research Committee and one of the major research projects during this period involved accelerated breeding programs for animals and birds which had become endangered or extinct in their native habitats in order to reintroduce them in the wild, including Yellow-tailed black cockatoos,{{cite web |title=Ark on Eyre |url=http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/scienceshow/ark-on-eyre/3562296 |publisher=ABC Radio National |access-date=27 January 2018 |date=1 December 1999}} the Mongolian wild horse and the bilby.{{cite web |last1=Negus |first1=George |title=Rob Morrison |url=http://www.abc.net.au/gnt/history/Transcripts/s1197813.htm |website=www.abc.net.au |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Commission |date=13 September 2004 |access-date=4 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110034417/http://www.abc.net.au/gnt/history/Transcripts/s1197813.htm |archive-date=10 November 2011 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}{{cite web |title=Professor Rob Morrison |url=http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/inconversation/professor-rob-morrison/3567770 |publisher=ABC Radio National |access-date=3 January 2017 |date=14 January 2000}}

Their vet (David Schultz) pioneered the surrogacy technique of using more common species of wallabies to foster the translated joeys of rarer species, allowing the rare mothers to bring on more joeys much faster and greatly increasing the number of individuals of that species.{{cite journal |last1=Morrison |first1=RGB |title=Surrogacy Gives Rare Marsupials a New Chance |journal=Australasian Science |date=March 2003 |page=38}}

Morrison is a passionate science communicator, telling an interviewer: "Science should be as much a part of the spectrum of civilised people’s interests as art, music and politics."{{cite web |last1=Keenihan |first1=Sarah |title=Science in a glossy mag? Tell 'em they're dreaming |url=http://www.asc.asn.au/blog/2014/11/13/science-in-a-glossy-mag-tell-em-theyre-dreaming/ |publisher=Australian Science Communicators |access-date=30 January 2018 |date=12 November 2014}}

For over thirty years, he was a regular contributor and columnist for works including The New Inventors, Science Magazine, Chemistry in Australia, Ockham’s Razor, and The Science Show on ABC Radio National.{{cite web |title=Australia Day Ambassadors – Dr Rob Morrison OAM (South Australia) |url=http://www.australiaday.org.au/ambassadors/view/?id=33 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331132229/http://www.australiaday.org.au/ambassadors/view/?id=33 |archive-date=31 March 2017 |website=www.australiaday.org.au |publisher=National Australia Day Council |access-date=5 January 2017}}{{cite web |title=Program & Speakers {{!}} Parkinsons Australia National Conference |url=http://www.aomevents.com/ParkinsonsAustraliaNationalConference/Program_Speakers |website=www.aomevents.com |access-date=23 February 2019}} On television, in addition to The Curiosity Show, he was the Channel Ten News science correspondent for ten years, and made regular appearances on shows including The New Inventors, as producer and presenter of science segments for Nexus, a program which was produced by the ABC for the Australian government and broadcast to more than 40 countries in the Asia Pacific region via the Australia Network,{{cite web |title=Watch this space |url=https://www.adelaide.edu.au/library/special/footlights-archive/Shows/Be%20Your%20Age%20II/program.htm |website=www.adelaide.edu.au |access-date=23 February 2019 |location=Cast Members}} and Science Magazine. He has written or co-written 48 books for the general public about science and natural history.

Nowadays, he jokingly observes that "It's a bit daunting when some middle-aged, bald bloke comes up and says 'you were a great influence when I was young.'"

{{Quote box|align=right|quote="What kid doesn't love volcanoes, dinosaurs, animals and explosions."| author=Rob Morrison}}

{{main|The Curiosity Show}}

In 1971, Morrison was invited onto the Channel 9 children's show Here's Humphrey to talk about a possum which he was hand-rearing. The day after that shoot, the network offered him the job as presenter for their new show, which became The Curiosity Show.{{cite interview |last=Morrison |first=Rob |interviewer=Lainie Anderson |title=How Is Curiosity Show's Rob Morrison Connected To Azaria Chamberlain? |url=https://www.fritzmag.com.au/how-is-curiosity-shows-rob-morrison-connected-to-azaria-chamberlain/ |publisher=Newstyle Media Pty Ltd |date=25 October 2016 |access-date=5 January 2017 |website=www.fritzmag.com.au}}

Morrison and scientist Deane Hutton co-hosted over 500 episodes of The Curiosity Show which aired between 1972 and 1990, in 14 countries. The emphasis was on science and nature, with a strong emphasis on practical demonstrations, and it also included general craft and music. The Curiosity Show won many national and international awards, including the Prix Jeunesse International in 1984, voted by peers from around the world as the best factual program for children.{{cite book |last1=Heading |first1=Rex |last2=Jones |first2=Trevor |title=Miracle on Tynte Street – The Channel Nine story |date=1996 |publisher=Wakefield Press |location=Kent Town, SA |isbn=978-1862543904 |pages=102–105}}

In 2013, the show's former hosts, Hutton and Morrison, announced they had purchased the remaining rights to the show and around 5,000 segments.{{cite news |last=Leo |first=Jessica |title=Curiosity Show back for a new generation |url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/television/curiosity-show-back-for-a-new-generation/story-e6frfmyi-1226673441920 |access-date=3 July 2013 |newspaper=news.com.au |date=3 July 2013}}

The show was repackaged as an online YouTube channel and launched in 2014.{{Cite news |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/aussie-science-program-the-curiosity-show-makes-a-comeback-after-24-years/news-story/5ea1b289baf81fc8b4a371381b5e624e |title=The Curiosity Show makes a comeback |last=Keene |first=Neil |date=May 27, 2014 |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=2017-03-18}}

{{As of|2022|08}} the channel has over 330,000 subscribers.The number of subscribers is shown on {{YouTube |user=curiosityshow |title=The Curiosity Show}}. His books on science and natural history included 10 written with Deane Hutton which featured material from The Curiosity Show, including companion books containing scientific explanations and instructions for experiments for children to perform at home themed on the four Western classical elements of earth, air, fire and water.

In addition to his formal academic roles and media work, Morrison has been involved with bodies that champion scientific literacy, evidence-based medicine and policies. He is cited in the media as an expert on fields including the role of the Therapeutic Goods Administration,{{Cite news |url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/dodgy-cures-off-the-market/news-story/2811a6d3e29296e794192cd72a8217bf |title=Dodgy 'cures' off the market |last=Shepherd |first=Tory |date=1 April 2013 |work=The Advertiser |access-date=2017-03-28 |location=Adelaide}} government restrictions on dangerous "alternative health" practices{{Cite news |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/its-healthy-to-question-the-value-of-bogus-treatments/news-story/585d5d04b3e0d18fc3d56b6b9747c7b2 |title=It's healthy to question the value of bogus treatments |last=Leggatt |first=Johanna |date=5 February 2017 |work=Herald Sun |location=Melbourne}}{{cite news |last1=Shepherd |first1=Tory |title=Our cash wasted on unproven medicine |work=The Advertiser |date=24 June 2009 |location=Adelaide |page=3 |id=Accession Number: 200906241003676427}} and the risks of university courses in health-related subjects which are not backed by appropriate standards of evidence.{{Cite news |url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/ipad/quacks-galore-in-facade-of-quirky-medicine/news-story/83a83173152e05830a948f8a95740c9f |title=Quacks galore in facade of quirky medicine |last=Des |first=Houghton |date=26 May 2012 |work=CourierMail |access-date=2017-03-28 |location=Brisbane}}{{cite news |title=Should universities teach alternative medicine? |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/should-universities-teach-alternative-medicine-20120203-1qxb3.html |access-date=23 February 2019 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=3 February 2012 |location=The Question}} He is also a commentator on matters of the balance between the economy and ecology.{{cite news |last1=Morrison |first1=Rob |title=Economy and ecology may live in the same house, but as unevenly matched siblings |work=The Advertiser |date=2 January 2010 |location=Adelaide |page=72}} In 2010 when the federal Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research conducted a review of science communication as a step towards a "national strategy", his evaluation was a supplement.{{cite journal |last1=Pockley |first1=Peter |title=Bureaucratic Soup for Science Promotion. |journal=Australasian Science |date=April 2010 |volume=31 |issue=3 |pages=36–37}}

He chaired the Anti-Rabbit Research Foundation of Australia (ARRFA) from 1995 to 1998, investigating ways to reduce this introduced pest so that native animals and plants can get re-established.{{cite journal |last1=Light |first1=Deborah |title=Rabbits: from pest to plate |journal=Australian Geographic |date=17 February 2011 |url=https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/wildlife/2011/02/rabbits-from-pest-to-plate/ |access-date=23 February 2019}} This organization was renamed in 1998 to The Foundation for Rabbit-Free Australia (RFA).{{cite web |title=History |url=http://www.rabbitfreeaustralia.com.au/about/history/ |publisher=Rabbit Free Australia |access-date=5 March 2019}} In the 1990s they introduced chocolate "Easter Bilbies" as an alternative to conventional Easter rabbits, to publicise the plight of native animals brought about by rabbits.{{cite web |last1=Coates |first1=Nathan |title=The Easter bilby vs bunny: why do we celebrate a devastating pest? |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2016-03-24/easter-bilby-vs-bunny-why-do-we-celebrate-a-pest/7273530 |website=ABC Rural |access-date=5 March 2019 |date=24 March 2016}}{{cite web |last1=Verass |first1=Sophie |title=Bilbies, not bunnies – How this endangered animal became our Easter mascot |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2017/04/13/bilbies-not-bunnies-how-endangered-animal-became-our-easter-mascot |website=NITV |publisher=SBS |access-date=5 March 2019}} In addition, some chocolate makers have helped to raise funds by donating part of the sales of chocolate bilbies to the Foundation.{{cite journal |last1=Conroy |first1=Gemma |title=10 reasons Australians should celebrate bilbies, not bunnies, this Easter |journal=Australian Geographic |date=13 April 2017 |url=https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/wildlife/2017/04/10-reasons-australians-should-celebrate-bilbies-not-bunnies-this-easter/ |access-date=5 March 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Cooke |first1=Brian |title=Bunnies or bilbies? Why animals define Easter |url=https://theconversation.com/bunnies-or-bilbies-why-animals-define-easter-13067 |website=The Conversation |date=29 March 2013 |access-date=5 March 2019}}

In 2007 he jointly established SciWorld, a mobile not-for-profit science education organization in Adelaide which runs education programs and regional science fairs and shows, and he was its inaugural chairman.{{cite web |title=About SciWorld |url=https://sciworld.org.au/about-sciworld/ |website=sciworld.org.au |access-date=27 January 2018}}

SciWorld came after the closure of The Investigator Science and Technology Centre in Adelaide; Morrison and three co-founders bought the assets and formed SciWorld to keep interactive science going in the state.{{cite journal |title=SciWorld; The Investigator's Legacy |journal=SASTA Journal |date=2010 |issue=1 |pages=3–5 |publisher=SA Science Teachers' Association}}

In 2015, SciWorld partnered with the Australian Science and Mathematics School to offer cadetships for young people in the field of science communication.{{cite news |last1=Peddie |first1=Clare |title=Ex-Curiosity Show presenters to lead the new SciWorld Science Cadet Program at the Australian Science and Mathematics School |url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/excuriosity-show-presenters-to-lead-the-new-sciworld-science-cadet-program-at-the-australian-science-and-mathematics-school/news-story/015f5f5c080fd603bf7287d771495697 |access-date=4 January 2017 |work=The Advertiser |date=8 July 2015 |location=Adelaide}}

He was Patron of National Science Week SA for 13 years.

Morrison was{{cn|date=February 2022}} for many years Vice-President of the organisation "Friends of Science in Medicine" (FSM), which he jointly founded in 2011,{{cite web |title=FSM Executive |date=7 February 2019 |url=https://www.scienceinmedicine.org.au/who-are-we-2/ |publisher=Friends of Science in Medicine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190208145130/https://www.scienceinmedicine.org.au/who-are-we-2/ |archive-date=8 February 2019 |access-date=9 February 2019}} described by the University of Adelaide as "a public health watch dog group ... concerned about honesty in medical claims and the need for evidence-based medicine".{{cite web |title=Emeritus Professor Alastair MacLennan |url=http://www.adelaide.edu.au/directory/alastair.maclennan |website=www.adelaide.edu.au |publisher=The University of Adelaide Staff Directory |access-date=2 December 2016}}

He created the Lesueur Conservation Park (part of which was previously called Cape Hart Conservation Park), a {{convert| 14.14|km2|mi2 acre}} reserve including a {{convert| 2|km|mi}} length of coastline on Kangaroo Island.{{cite web |title=Protected Areas Information System – reserve list (as of 14 December 2016) |url=http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/b88e6e26-4bd9-4c68-8fff-9e800114eb69/park-management-protected-areas-gen.pdf |publisher=Department of Environment Water and Natural Resources |access-date=26 April 2017}}

Morrison was called as an expert witness in the third trial looking into the death of Azaria Chamberlain. He had been in the area of Uluru several months before that incident, filming and collecting materials for his book A Field Guide to the Tracks and Traces of Australian Animals, and he had presented for Curiosity Show on dingoes at Uluru. He testified at the Morling enquiry into the Chamberlain Convictions about why local trackers had given conflicting evidence about dingo tracks, and he conducted forensic tests to show that dingoes had the strength, the gape, and the dexterity needed to take the baby and remove her clothes. His collection of specimens and artefacts from the trial have since been acquired by the National Museum of Australia.{{cite web |title=Azaria Revisited |url=http://blogs.flinders.edu.au/flinders-news/2012/02/27/azaria-revisited/ |publisher=Flinders University News |access-date=3 January 2017 |date=February 27, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114081509/http://blogs.flinders.edu.au/flinders-news/2012/02/27/azaria-revisited/ |archive-date=14 November 2012}}{{cite web |title=Collection Explorer – Professor Robert Morrison collection |url=http://collectionsearch.nma.gov.au/?f[0]=obj_collectiontitle%3AProfessor%20Robert%20Morrison%20collection |publisher=National Museum of Australia |access-date=27 January 2018 |quote=Each item in the collection has the following Statement of Significance: The Professor Robert Morrison collection consists of objects used in the 1986 Morling Royal Commission of Inquiry into the convictions of Michael and Lindy Chamberlain in the Northern Territory. Professor Morrison's evidence was central to overturning earlier forensic evidence. In particular, his evidence, as an expert on Australian fauna, was used to cast doubts on the earlier evidence of a London-based forensic odontologist with no knowledge of dingos. The trial of Lindy and Michael Chamberlain for the death of their daughter Azaria was one of the major issues of public debate in Australia in the 1980s. The case involved almost every level of the federal judicial system in Australia, from a local coronial inquest to an appeal to the High Court of Australia. Two significant questions regarding the administration of justice were raised by the case – the heavy reliance on forensic evidence by the prosecution, and possible political interference in the judicial process. The convictions of murder (Lindy Chamberlain) and accessory to murder (Michael Chamberlain) were obtained without the prosecution producing a body, a murder weapon, a witness, or a convincing motive. Circumstantial evidence was supported by forensic evidence that was later discredited.}}

Morrison and his wife Penny have two sons.

His hobbies include being a jazz musician (playing trumpet and trombone), ship-bottler, and silversmith. He also has an interest in maritime history, and he was involved in bringing the clipper ship City of Adelaide back to South Australia. He also produced a simplified model of that ship, aimed at allowing primary school children to build the ship in a bottle.{{cite news |title=Help bottle the clipper City of Adelaide |url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/help-bottle-the-clipper-city-of-adelaide/news-story/6e81b6658d03553a1784d4655a81dc8a |access-date=5 January 2017 |work=The Advertiser |date=26 July 2010 |location=Adelaide}}{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Robyn |title=The Shipping Muse |url=https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/ockhamsrazor/the-shipping-muse/3566532 |website=Radio National |access-date=23 February 2019 |date=6 August 1999}}

In the 2004 Australia Day honours, Morrison was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in recognition of his "service to conservation and the environment, and to the fields of science education and communication".{{cite web |title=It's an Honour – Australian Honours – Morrison, Robert G B |url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1056343 |website=www.itsanhonour.gov.au |publisher=Australian Government – Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |access-date=3 January 2017}} In 2008, he was South Australia's "Senior Australian of the Year" and a finalist for the national "Senior Australian of the Year".{{cite web |title=National Finalist Senior Australian of the Year 2008: Professor Rob Morrison OAM, Science communicator |url=https://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/recipients/rob-morrison/611/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920095926/https://australianoftheyear.org.au/recipients/rob-morrison/611/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 September 2020 |website=www.australianoftheyear.org.au |publisher=Australian of the Year Awards |access-date=18 March 2021}}

Other awards and recognitions include:

• 1972: Awarded a Churchill Fellowship to study in the UK.{{cite web |title=MORRISON, Robert's profile |url=https://www.churchilltrust.com.au/fellows/detail/293/Robert+MORRISON |website=www.churchilltrust.com.au |publisher=Winston Churchill Memorial Trust |access-date=8 January 2017}}

• 1994: Michael Daley Award for Science Journalism.

• 1995–2017: Councillor of Nature Foundation SA{{cite web |title=Corporate publications |website=Nature Foundation |url=https://www.naturefoundation.org.au/who-we-are/publications/annual-reports |access-date=11 January 2022}}

• 2002: Eureka Prize for critical thinking awarded by the Australian Skeptics{{cite web |title=The University of Adelaide News and Events |url=https://www.adelaide.edu.au/news/news380.html |publisher=The University of Adelaide |access-date=28 August 2015}}{{Cite journal |date=Spring 2002 |title=Eureka Prize Winners |url=http://www.skeptics.com.au/wp-content/uploads/magazine/The%20Skeptic%20Volume%2022%20(2002)%20No%203.pdf |journal=The Skeptic |publisher=Australian Skeptics |volume=22 |issue=3 |page=11 |access-date=4 January 2017}}
• 2003: Awarded Honorary Research Associate, Royal Zoological Society of South Australia

• 2005: inaugural winner of the South Australian Premier's Award for Science Communication Excellence{{cite web |title=Research awards |url=https://www.flinders.edu.au/research/research-achievements/research-awards.cfm |website=www.flinders.edu.au |publisher=Flinders University |access-date=3 January 2017}}

• 2007: Won the Australian Museum Eureka Prize for promoting understanding of science, after being a finalist for the same prize the previous year and in 1999.{{cite web |title=Past Winners & Finalists (Eureka Prizes) |url=http://australianmuseum.net.au/eureka-past |website=australianmuseum.net.au |publisher=Australian Museum |access-date=3 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028090552/https://australianmuseum.net.au/eureka-past |archive-date=28 October 2018}}{{cite web |title=South Australia's Australian of the Year award recipients announced |url=http://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/news-and-media/news/article/?id=south-australias-australian-of-the-year-award-recipients-announced3 |website=www.australianoftheyear.org.au |publisher=Australian of the Year Awards |access-date=3 January 2017 |date=22 November 2007}}{{dead link|date=March 2019}}
• 2006–2012: National Vice President, Australian Science Communicators{{cite web |title=2012 AGM – summary of outcomes |url=http://www.asc.asn.au/blog/2012/11/29/2012-agm-summary-of-outcomes/ |publisher=Australian Science Communicators |access-date=30 January 2018 |date=28 November 2012}}
• 2010: Australia Day Ambassador for South Australia.
• 2012: Jointly with the other founding members of Friends of Science in Medicine, named as the "Skeptics of the Year" by the Australian Skeptics.{{cite journal |last1=Singer |first1=Jessica |last2=Hadley |first2=Martin |title=Skeptics' Awards 2012 ... and The Winner is |journal=The Skeptic |date=December 2012 |volume=32 |issue=4 |page=14 |url=https://www.skeptics.com.au/wp-content/uploads/magazine/The%20Skeptic%20Volume%2032%20(2012)%20No%204.pdf |access-date=30 October 2021 |issn=0726-9897}}
• 2015: Inaugural winner; Bert Davis Spoken Word Award and People's Choice.{{cite web |title=Bert Davis spoken word awards |url=https://writerssa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Brochure.pdf |publisher=Writers SA |access-date=30 March 2019 |page=2 |date=2017}}
• 2015: Delivered the Golden Jubilee Address at the University of Adelaide{{cite web |title=Class of 1968 Golden Jubilee |url=http://www.adelaide.edu.au/alumni/system/files/docs/Golden-Jubilee-2018-Commemoration-booklet.pdf |publisher=University of Adelaide |access-date=30 March 2019 |page=3}}

• 2017: Elected a Lifetime Fellow of Nature Foundation{{cite web |title=Our People – Our Fellows of the Foundation |url=https://www.naturefoundation.org.au/about-us/our-people |website=www.naturefoundation.org.au |publisher=Nature Foundation SA |access-date=30 March 2019}}
• 2018: Patron, Adelaide Hills Science Hub (Inspiring Australia) {{cite web |title=Adelaide Hills Science Hub |url=https://www.sustainablecommunitiessa.org.au/projects/adelaide-hills-science-hub/ |website=www.sustainablecommunitiessa.org.au |publisher=Sustainable Communities SA |access-date=27 January 2020}}

Morrison has written or co-written 48 books on science and natural history, including:{{cite web |title=reCollections – Rob Morrison |url=http://recollections.nma.gov.au/issues/vol_5_no_2/commentary/the_biodiversity_gallery_south_australian_museum/rob_morrison |website=recollections.nma.gov.au |publisher=National Museum of Australia |access-date=27 January 2018}}

• Morrison, Rob (1972). A stereotaxic atlas of the guinea-pig forebrain, Adelaide: S.A. Dept. of Education.
• Hutton, D.W. & Morrison, R.G.B. (1980). Exploring your world: Air Brisbane: Jacaranda Wiley. {{ISBN |9780701613334}}
• Hutton, D.W. & Morrison, R.G.B. (1980). Exploring your world: Earth Brisbane: Jacaranda Wiley. {{ISBN |9780701613365}}
• Hutton, D.W. & Morrison, R.G.B. (1980). Exploring your world: Water Brisbane: Jacaranda Wiley. {{ISBN |0 7016 1334 3}}
• Hutton, D.W. & Morrison, R.G.B. (1980). Exploring your world: Fire Brisbane: Jacaranda Wiley. {{ISBN |0 7016 1335 1}}
• Hutton, D.W. & Morrison, R.G.B. (1980). Super mindstretchers Gosford: Ashton Scholastic. {{ISBN |0 86896 131 0}}
• {{cite book |last1=Morrison |first1=R.G.B. |title=A Field Guide to the Tracks and Traces of Australian Animals |date=1981 |publisher=Rigby |location=Adelaide |isbn=0727014897}}
• {{cite book |last1=Morrison |first1=Rob |last2=Hutton |first2=Deane |title=String for lunch, and other things to make |date=1981 |publisher=Ashton Scholastic |location=Sydney |isbn=0868961302}}
• Hutton, D.W. & Morrison, R.G.B. (1984). What happens when ..... Brisbane: Jacaranda Press. {{ISBN |0 7016 1780 2}}
• Hutton, D.W. & Morrison, R.G.B. (1985). What happens ... and why? Brisbane: Jacaranda Press. {{ ISBN |0 7016 1903 1}}
• Hutton, D.W. & Morrison, R.G.B. (1985). Arrow book of things to make and do, Gosford: Ashton Scholastic. {{ ISBN |0 86896 304 6}}
• Hutton, D.W. & Morrison, R.G.B. (1986). Let’s experiment, Brisbane: Jacaranda Press. {{ ISBN |0 7016 2125 7}}
• Morrison, Rob (1988). Experimenting with Science. Melbourne: Horwitz Grahame. {{ ISBN| 0 7253 1068 5}}
• Morrison, Rob (1989). Scientifically Speaking. Melbourne: Horwitz Grahame. {{ISBN |0 7253 1171 1}}
• Morrison, Rob (1989). Nature in the Making: Over 100 Things to Make and Do from The Curiosity Show. Willoughby, N.S.W.: Weldon {{ISBN|0 947116 65 6}}
• {{cite book |last1=Morrison |first1=Rob |title=Space Technology |date=1990 |publisher=Jacaranda Press |location=Milton, Qld. |isbn=9780701626938}}
• {{cite book |last1=Morrison |first1=Rob |title=What's up There? |date=1990 |publisher=Jacaranda Press |location=Milton, Qld. |isbn=0701626887}}
• Morrison, Rob (1991). It’s Raining Fish and Frogs, Adelaide: Omnibus. {{ISBN |1 86291 071 5}}
• {{cite book |last1=Morrison |first1=Rob |title=The Australian Desert |date=1992 |publisher=Jacaranda |location=Milton, Qld. |isbn=0701628022}}
• {{cite book |last1=Morrison |first1=Rob |title=Technology and the Environment |date=1992 |publisher=Jacaranda Press |location=Milton, Qld. |isbn=9780701630447}}
• {{cite book |last1=Morrison |first1=Rob |others=Illustrations by Don Black |title=X-rays |date=1994 |publisher=SRA |location=Santa Rosa, California |isbn=978-0383037893}}
• {{cite book |last1=Morrison |first1=Rob |last2=Morrison |first2=Penelope |title=Snorkels for tadpoles |date=1994 |publisher=SRA |location=Santa Rosa, California |isbn=978-0383037756}}
• {{cite book |last1=Morrison |first1=Rob |last2=Morrison |first2=James |others=Warren Crossett (Illustrator) |title=Monsters! Just Imagine (Voyages Series, Gathering Speed) |date=1994 |publisher=Thomas Nelson Australia |asin=B000E7R6XS}}
• {{cite book |last1=Morrison |first1=Rob |title=Tracks |date=1994 |publisher=SRA |location=Santa Rosa, California |isbn=978-0383037213}}
• {{cite book |last1=Morrison |first1=Rob |title=Weather |date=1995 |publisher=Rigby |location=Port Melbourne, Vic. |isbn=0731218280}}
• Morrison, Rob (1996). Life in the Mangroves, Melbourne: Rigby Heinemann. {{ISBN |0 7312 2062 5}}
• {{cite book |last1=Morrison |first1=Rob |others=Illustrated by Xiangyi Mo |title=Inventions: Then and Now |date=1996 |publisher=Rigby Heinemann |location=Port Melbourne, Vic. |isbn=9780731220861}}
• {{cite book |last1=Morrison |first1=Rob |title=All about plants |date=1996 |publisher=Rigby Heinemann |location=Port Melbourne, Victoria |isbn=9780731220922}}
• {{cite book |last1=Morrison |first1=Rob |title=Splish, Splash, Splosh |date=1997 |publisher=Rigby Heinemann |location=Port Melbourne, Vic. |isbn=9780731220731}}
• Morrison, Rob (1997). It’s Alive, Port Melbourne: Rigby Heinemann. {{ISBN |0 7312 2262 8}}
• {{cite book |last1=Morrison |first1=Rob |title=Machines |date=1997 |publisher=Rigby Heinemann |location=Port Melbourne, Vic. |isbn=9780731223008}}
• Morrison, Rob (1997). Flows and Quakes and Spinning Winds, Melbourne: Rigby Heinemann. {{ISBN |0 7312 2274 1}}
• Morrison, Rob (1997). Inventions Then and Now, Melbourne: Rigby Heinemann. {{ ISBN |0 7312 2086 2}}
• Morrison, Rob (1997). How Does It Grow?, Melbourne: Rigby Heinemann. {{ISBN | 0 7312 2267 9}}
• Morrison, Rob (1997). Caring for our Trees, Melbourne: Rigby Heinemann. {{ISBN | 0 7312 2213 X}}
• {{cite book |editor-last=Grant |editor-first=Jim |first1=Hugo |last1=Phillips |first2=Tim |last2=Gunn |first3=Russell |last3=Trainor |first4=Rob |last4=Morrison |first5=Ellen |last5=McCulloch |title=The Nestbox Book |date=1997 |publisher=Gould League |location=Victoria |isbn=1-875687-34-3}}
• {{cite book |last1=Morrison |first1=Rob |title=What is Energy?. |date=2000 |publisher=Rigby Heinemann |location=Port Melbourne |isbn=9780731227600}} Also released as an audio book in 2008: [http://trove.nla.gov.au/version/164590233 Trove entry]
• {{cite book |last1=Morrison |first1=Rob |title=Natural Disasters |date=2001 |orig-year=First published 1994 |publisher=Heinemann Library |location=Port Melbourne |isbn=9781740700306}}
• Morrison, R.G.B. (2001). Clever and Quirky Creatures. Port Melbourne, Victoria: Rigby. {{ ISBN |0 7312 3328 X}}
• {{cite book |last1=Morrison |first1=Rob |title=Adelaide Zoo |date=2001 |publisher=Royal Zoological Society of South Australia |location=Adelaide |isbn=9780959604863}}
• Morrison, R.G.B. (2001). What's up There? Port Melbourne, Victoria: Rigby. {{ ISBN | 0 7016 2688 7 | 978-0731232772 | leadout=Reprinted and altered in 2000}}
• Morrison, Rob (2001). Our Earth, Our Future, Melbourne: Rigby Heinemann. {{ ISBN | 0 7312 3284 4 }}
• {{cite book |last1=Morrison |first1=Rob |title=The Language of Ships |date=2001 |publisher=Pearson Australia |isbn=9780731232581 |url=http://www.pearson.com.au/products/M-N-Morrison-Rob/Rigby-Literacy-Collections-Level-5-Phase-8-The-Language-of-Ships-Reading-Level-30-F-P-Level-V-Z/9780731232581?R=9780731232581}}
• {{cite book |last1=Morrison |first1=Rob |title=Energy: Series A Unit 3: Machines |date=2007 |publisher=Rigby |location=Port Melbourne, Vic. |isbn=9780731273669}}
• Morrison, Rob (2007), Energy (Topic Book); New Literacy Series, Melbourne: Rigby Heinemann. {{ ISBN |978 0 7312 7366 9}}
• Morrison, Rob (2007), Machines and Their Parts (Topic Book); New Literacy Series, Melbourne: Rigby Heinemann. {{ ISBN |978 0 7312 7365 2}}
• Morrison, Rob (2008), Fuel for Thought: Our Energy Sources, Melbourne: Rigby Blue Prints; Pearson Education Australia. {{ ISBN |978 1 7414 0143 1}}
• Morrison, Rob (2019), Curious Recollections; Life in The Curiosity Show, South Australia: Wakefield Press. {{ ISBN |978 1 7430 5670 7}}

• "Edwardian Spin-offs" In All Us Apes, and Other Scientific Wisdom from Ockham's Razor. ABC Books, Sydney, 1997, pp 152–9.

Morrison has published extensively in scientific journals. The following are, perhaps, of most interest to the general reader or led to prizes such as the Eureka:

• {{cite journal |title=Centripetal and centrifugal olfactory connections in the guinea-pig |journal=Aust. J. Exp. Biol. Med. Sci. |date=1969 |issue=47 |page=23}}
• {{cite journal |title=Emergence of the pygmy Antechinus |journal=Australian Natural History |date=1975 |volume=18 |issue=5 |pages=164–167}}
• {{cite journal |title=An observation of ground-nesting in sugar gliders |journal=South Australian Naturalist |date=1978 |volume=52 |issue=4 |page=64}}
• {{cite journal |title=The Nestbox Project |journal=Nature Australia |date=Winter 1996 |pages=56–63}}
• {{cite journal |title=Will the real Easter Bilby please stand up? |journal=Australasian Science (Incorporating Search) |date=April 1998 |volume=19 |issue=3 |page=33}}
• {{cite journal |title=Publish and Perish |journal=Australasian Science (Incorporating Search) |date=August 1998 |volume=19 |issue=7 |page=15}}
• {{cite journal |title=New Woomera Telescope |journal=Sky and Space |date=June–July 2000 |page=12}}
• {{cite journal |title=Lights put Astronomers in the Dark |journal=Sky and Space |date=August–September 2000 |page=12}}
• {{cite journal |title=Cutting the Noise out of Heartbeats |journal=Australasian Science |date=March 2001 |pages=41–42}}
• {{cite journal |title=Australian Innovation Analyses World's Weather |journal=Australasian Science |date=September 2001 |pages=8–9}}
• {{cite journal |title=Universities Combine to Provide New Tissue-imaging Facility |journal=Australasian Science |date=September 2001}}
• {{cite journal |title=Trust me, I'm a science communicator |journal=Australasian Science |date=October 2001 |pages=17–21}}
• {{cite journal |title=Straightening out Blinky Bill |journal=Australasian Science |date=October 2001 |page=10}}
• {{cite journal |title=Tunnel Forms Geological Test Tube |journal=Australasian Science |date=October 2001 |pages=8–9}}
• {{cite journal |title=Tree-Bound Kangaroo Saved by Pidgin |journal=Australasian Science |date=September 2002 |page=11}}
• {{cite journal |title=Communities Watch Outback Waterways |journal=Australasian Science |date=October 2002 |pages=36–37}}
• {{cite journal |title=Trust Me, I'm a Science Communicator |journal=The Skeptic |date=Spring 2002 |volume=22 |issue=3 |pages=14–17}}
• Regular column "Science <-> Society" in Chemistry in Australia.{{cite web |title=Science <-> Society – Details |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/39385241 |website=Trove |access-date=5 January 2017}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{official website|http://www.curiosityshow.com.au|The Curiosity Show}} official website
• {{YouTube |user=curiosityshow |title=The Curiosity Show}}
• [http://sciworld.org.au/ SciWorld]
• [https://www.zoossa.com.au/ Zoos SA] (Royal Zoological Society of South Australia)
• [http://www.scienceinmedicine.org.au Friends of Science in Medicine]
• {{IMDb name|nm0992282|name=Rob Morrison}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morrison, Rob}}

Category:Living people

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