Vale Chris Marlin

MarlinNews of the death of Professor Chris Marlin, former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), has saddened the Flinders community.

Professor Marlin, who died in the UK on September 2, served on the University’s senior executive for more than a decade.

Professor Marlin came to Flinders in 1992 as Professor of Computer Science, before being appointed Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) in 1998, a role in which he continued from 2004 as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research).

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Barber, said Professor Marlin had played an influential role in raising the profile of Flinders research and encouraging greater external engagement and will be sorely missed.

“Professor Marlin brought a fine mind to research at Flinders and was acutely attuned to the opportunities and benefits that external collaborations offered both staff and students. Chris’s influential role in the establishment of Marine Innovation SA (MISA), a multi-partner research initiative founded to advance the State’s marine industries, and his chairing of the SA Government’s Information Economy Advisory Board, were but two examples,” Professor Barber said.

Professor John Roddick, Head of the School of Computer Science, Engineering and Mathematics, paid tribute to Professor Marlin’s professional and personal qualities.

“Many of us, including myself, owe a tremendous debt to Chris and he will be deeply missed. He was a tremendously kind man, incredibly patient and with a wry sense of humour,” Professor Roddick said.

Professor Marlin developed a track record of institutional engagement in the international arena while at Flinders, cultivating a range of strategic international links for the University. This included his leading role in establishing research collaborations within the International Network of Universities and his mentoring of groups of Chinese university Vice-Presidents.

In the area of research, he strongly advocated and supported the growth of collaborative links with external organisations and with industry.

Professor Marlin’s expertise also saw him appointed Chair of the State’s Information Economy Advisory Board from 2003 to 2009.

He was also prominent in shaping national research policy, through his work with, and subsequent role as Chair, of the Universities Australia Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research group.

Professor Marlin has left a lasting legacy at Flinders though his personal relationships and strong support for colleagues and students. His establishment of a School of Computer Science, Engineering and Mathematics prize to encourage postgraduate research students will ensure that his contribution to Flinders will endure.

Professor Marlin left Flinders to join the University of Sussex in late 2009, taking up the newly created senior post of Pro-Vice-Chancellor responsible for the University’s international agenda and recruitment.

Remembered at Sussex as a distinguished and much loved colleague, he is credited with a major influence in achieving a dramatic growth in international student numbers, overseas links, and staff and student exchanges.

 

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