Throughout his professional career Dr Coombs has had a direct influence in the development of science by encouraging activities to foster education and research in scientific disciplines and by aiding the rapid application of results of scientific research into primary and secondary industry and in commerce. He was intimately associated, when Director-General of the Department of Post-war Reconstruction, with the long term programme of biological and agricultural research for the development of the north of the continent, and when Governor of the Commonwealth Bank with the Rural Credits Development Fund which has stimulated and assisted research projects within the universities. He has maintained a continuing interest in developing innovations in secondary industry through the application of modern science and he has been an active member of the Science and Industry Forum.