P007934 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

All key entry types: Awards; Concepts; Corporate Bodies (Organisations); Cultural Artefacts; People; etc

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 2026-01-06 human Helen Cohn updated 2026-04-09 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P007934b.htm person Johnston Emma Letitia AO FAA FTSE FRSN AACR2 11 June 1973 26 December 2025 Place of Birth Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Place of Death Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Marine ecologist Vice-Chancellor Emma Johnston was a leading authority on marine science. She combined expertise in ecology and ecotoxicology to better understand and manage human impact of marine systems. Her research involved novel field-based experiments with laboratory-based studies in environments from the tropics to Antarctica. Significant research findings include major drivers of marine bio-invasions and toxin contaminants that facilitate the invasion of coastal waterways by non-indigenous species. Johnston was Professor of Marine Ecology and Ecotoxicology at the University of New South Wales before becoming Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the University of Sydney and Vice-Chancellor at the University of Melbourne. She was actively involved in the wider scientific community, being of Director the Sydney Institute of Marine Science, a member of the CSIRO Board, and President of Science and Technology Australia. Awards received by Johnston included the Nancy Millis Medal for Women in Science from the Australian Academy of Science and the Royal Society of New South Wales Clarke Medal.

"Emma Johnston is a leader in the field of marine ecology, whose pioneering research has been widely adopted into policy by governments in Australia and overseas. She is also a highly influential leader, advocate and 'voice' for Australian science. Her leadership roles include President of Science and Technology Australia (STA) and Director of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Board. Combined with her extensive track record of science communication and outreach, Johnston is an exceptional role model and science champion". [from https://www.science.org.au/profile/emma-johnston 6/1/2026]

1997 2004 Career position - Editor, Australian marine science bulletin 1998 1998 Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc (hons)), University of Melbourne 2002 2002 Education - PhD, University of Melbourne 2007 2007 Award - N.S.W. Young Tall Poppy Award, Australian Institute of Policy and Science 2010 2012 Career position - Deputy Director (Research), Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, University of New South Wales 2010 2014 Career position - ARC Australian Research Fellow 2012 2012 Award - Award for Excellence in Biological Sciences (Plant, Agriculture and Environment) (shared with Angela Moles), New South Wales Science and Engineering Awards 2012 2016 Career position - Inaugural Director, Sydney Harbour Research Program, Sydney Institute of Marine Science 2013 2017 Career position - Member, Marine Estate Expert Knowledge Panel, Marine Estate Management Authority 2014 2014 Award - Nancy Millis Medal for Women in Science, Australian Academy of Science 2014 2017 Career position - Vice-President, Science and Technology Australia 2015 2015 Award - Australian Mid-career Medal, Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 2015 2015 Award - Eureka Prize for Promoting Understanding of Australian Scientific Research, Australian Museum 2016 2016 Award - Hynes Award, Canadian Rivers Institute 2016 2017 Career position - Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research), University of New South Wales 2016 2022? Career position - Member, Global Water Institute, University of New South Wales 2016 2025 Award - Fellow, Royal Society of New South Wales May 2016 May 2021 Career position - Board Member, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority 2017 2019 Career position - President, Science and Technology Australia 2017 June 2022 Career position - Dean, Faculty of Science, University of New South Wales 2017 2022 Career position - Director, Sydney Institute of Marine Science 2018 2018 Award - Clarke Medal, and delivered the Clarke Memorial Lecture, Royal Society of New South Wales 2018 2018 Award - Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to to higher education, particularly to marine ecology and ecotoxicology, as an academic, researcher and administrator, and to scientific institutes 2018 2021 Career position - Deputy Chair, Antarctic Science Foundation 2019 2025 Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering 2021 2025 Career position - Governor, Ian Potter Foundation 2022 2025 Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science July 2022 February 2025 Career position - Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), University of Sydney 2023 2025 Career position - Member of the Board, CSIRO 2024 2024 Award - Marie Claire Eco Warrior of the Year February 2025 December 2025 Career position - Vice-Chancellor, University of Melbourne Antarctic Science Foundation (2018 - )

Deputy Chair 2018 - 2021

 Sydney Institute of Marine Science (2005 - )

Director 2017 - 2022

 Australian Institute of Policy and Science (1932 - )

New South Wales Tall Poppy Award 2007

 The University of Sydney (1850 - )

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) 2022 - 2025

 The University of Melbourne (1853 - )

Vice-Chancellor February - December 2025

 Australian Academy of Science (1954 - )

Fellow 2022 - 2025

 The University of New South Wales (1958 - )

Professor of Marine Ecology and Ecotoxicology ? - 2022; Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) 2016 - 2017; Dean of Science 2017 - 2022

 Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies (FASTS) (1985 - )

President, Science and technology Australia 2017 - 2019

 New South Wales Science and Engineering Awards (2008 - 2014)

Received the Award for Excellence in Biological Sciences (Plant, Agriculture and Environment) (shared) 2012

 Nancy Millis Medal for Women in Science, Australian Academy of Science (2014 - )

Awrded the Medal 2014

 Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Commonwealth of Australia (1949 - )

Member of the Board 2023 - 2025

 Royal Society of New South Wales (1866 - )

Fellow 2017 - 2025; Clarke Memorial Lecturer 2018

 Clarke Medal, Royal Society of New South Wales (1878 - )

Awarded the Medal 2018

 Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (1987 - )

Fellow 2019 - 2025

 'Johnston, Emma Letitia', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Johnston, Emma Letitia Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Journal Article: Why are scientists so quiet? Cultural and philosophical constraints on the public voice of the scientist Johnston, Emma L. Why are scientists so quiet? Cultural and philosophical constraints on the public voice of the scientist 2018 Journal and Proceedings of The Royal Society of New South Wales 151 1 50-8 Journal Article: Assessment tools for microplastics and natural fibres ingested by fish by fish in an urbanised estuary Halstead, Jennifer E., Smith, James A., Carter, Elizabeth A., Lay, Peter A. and Johnston, Emma L. Assessment tools for microplastics and natural fibres ingested by fish by fish in an urbanised estuary 2018 Environmental pollution 234 552-61 Journal Article: After decades of stressor research in urban estuarine ecosystems the focus is still on single stressors: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis O'Brien, A. L., Daffrorn, K. A., Chariton, A. A., Johnston, Emma L. and Mayer-Pinto, M. After decades of stressor research in urban estuarine ecosystems the focus is still on single stressors: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis 2019 Science of the total environment 684 753-64 Journal Article: Know thy anenome: a review of threats to octocorals and anenomes and opportunities for their restoration Steinberg, Rosemary Kate, Dafforn, Katherine A., Ainsworth, Tracy and Johnston, Emma L. Know thy anenome: a review of threats to octocorals and anenomes and opportunities for their restoration 2020 Frontiers in marine science 7 18 Journal Article: Continental patterns in marine debris revealed by a decade of citizen science Gacutan, Jordan, Johnston, Emma L., Tait, Heide, Smith, Wally and Clark, Graeme F. Continental patterns in marine debris revealed by a decade of citizen science 2022 Science of the total environment 807 2 12 Journal Article: Plastic debris as a vector for bacteial disease: an interdisciplinary review Beloe, Chatlotte J., Browne, Mark Anthony and Johnston, Emma L. Plastic debris as a vector for bacteial disease: an interdisciplinary review 2022 Environmental science & technology 56 5 2950-8 Resource: Nancy Millis Medal Australian Academy of Science Nancy Millis Medal Australian Academy of Science 2022 Resource: Officer (AO) in the General Division of the Order of Australia [Queen's Birthday 2018] Officer (AO) in the General Division of the Order of Australia [Queen's Birthday 2018] Canberra Governor General's Office 2018 Edited Book: Who's who in Australia 2019 Robson, Alexandra K.; Production Manager and Editor Who's who in Australia 2019 55th Southbank, Vic. AAP Directories 2018