Garson, Mary J. (1953 - )

Summary

Mary Garson is recognised internationally for her research on the chemistry, biosynthesis and bioactivity of secondary metabolites in both terrestrial and marine environments. Her research has focused on terpene metabolites in marine sponges, as well as the chemistry and chemical ecology of marine algae and fungi, nudibranchs, and southeast Asian medicinal plants. Much of her research after she moved to Australia centred on the Great Barrier Reef. Garson retired in 2020 as Professor of Chemistry at the University of Queensland. During her time with the University, Garson participated in 25 research expeditions to the Reef's Heron Island Research Station. Throughout her career Garson has been a mentor for junior female chemists, for which she was awarded the inaugural Margaret Sheil Medal by the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI). She has taken leading roles in the RACI and the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. The flatworm species Maritigrella marygarsonae, first collected by Garson on Heron Island, was named in her honour.

Details

"Mary Garson is a world-leading organic chemist. She is an internationally recognised expert in chemistry, biosynthesis, and bioactivity of secondary metabolites from both the marine and terrestrial environments. Best known for her pioneering use of stable/radioactive isotopes to define unusual biosynthetic pathways, she probes complex stereochemistry, ecological interactions, and environmental aspects of marine and plant metabolites. A 2003 special issue of the Journal of Natural Products in honour of Garson celebrated the excellence of her scientific contributions. The marine flatworm Maritigrella marygarsonae is named in her honour." [from https://www.science.org.au/profile/mary-garson28/5/2024]

Chronology

1974

Education - BA(Hons), University of Cambridge

1977

Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Thesis The Biosynthesis of Polyketides, University Cambridge

1977 - 1978

Career position - Overseas Research Fellow, Royal Society in Rome, Italy

1978

Education - Master of Arts with Honours (MA(Hons)), University of Cambridge

1978 - 1981

Career position - Research Fellow at New Hall, Cambridge

1981 - 1983

Career position - Medicinal Chemist, Smith Kline and French Research. Ltd., Welwyn, United Kingdom

1983 - 1985

Career position - Queen Elizabeth II Research Fellow, James Cook University of North Queensland

1990

Career position - Senior Lecturer, Department of Chemistry, University of Wollongong

1990 - 1991

Career position - Lecturer, University of Queensland

1991

Career position - Committee Member, Queensland Branch, Royal Australian Chemical Institute

1992

Award - Fellow, Royal Australian Chemical Institute (FRACI)

1992 - 1997

Career position - Senior Lecturer, University of Queensland

1994 - 1995

Career position - Honorary Secretary, Queensland Branch, Royal Australian Chemical Institute

1995 - 2004

Career position - Member, National Committee for Chemistry, Royal Australian Chemical Institute

1996 - 1997

Career position - Member, National Council, Royal Australian Chemical Institute

1996 - 1997

Career position - President, Queensland Branch, Royal Australian Chemical Institute

1996 - 2001

Career position - Executive Secretary, World Chemistry Congress

1996 - 2004

Career position - Chair, International Relations Committee, Royal Australian Chemical Institute

1998 - 2005

Career position - Reader, University of Queensland

1999

Career event - Member, Australian Delegation to UNESCO World Conference on Science, Budapest

1999 - 2001

Career position - Executive Secretary, World Chemistry Congress

2002 - 2004

Career event - Chair, Rio Tinto Australian Science Olympiads

2005

Career event - Inaugural Chair, Australian Science Innovations (previously Rio Tinto Australian Science Olympiads)

2005

Career position - Deputy Head, School of Molecular and Microbial Sciences, University of Queensland

2006 - 2009

Career position - Titular Member, Division III (Organic) International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry

2006 - 2021

Career position - Professor of Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland

2008 - 2011

Career position - Secretary, Division of Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry

2011

Career position - Coordinator, Women's Networking Event, International Year of Chemistry

2011

Award - Leighton Memorial Medal, Royal Australian Chemical Institute

2013

Award - Distinguished Women of Chemistry Award, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry

2014 - 2015

Career position - President, Division of Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry

2017

Award - Margaret Sheil Leadership Award, Royal Australian Chemical Institute

2018

Award - Australasian Lecturer, Royal Society of Chemistry, United Kingdom

2018 - 2021

Career position - Bureau Member, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry

2019

Award - Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to education, particularly to organic chemistry, and as an advocate for women in science

2021

Life event - Retired

2024 -

Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science

Related entries

Published resources

Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Exhibitions

• McCarthy, Gavan; Morgan, Helen; Smith, Ailie; van den Bosch, Alan, Where are the Women in Australian Science?, Exhibition of the Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, First published 2003 with lists updated regulary edn, Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, 2003, https://eoas.info/exhibitions/wisa/wisa.html. Details

Book Sections

• Garson, M. J., 'Ecological perspectives on marine natural product biosynthesis' in Marine chemical ecology, McClintock, James B. and Baker, Bill J., eds (Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press, 2001), pp. 71-114. Details
• Garson, M. J., 'Biodiversity and bioprospecting' in Accessing biological resources : complying with the Convention on Biological Diversity, Stoianoff, Natalie P., ed. (New York: Kluwer Law International, 2004), pp. 17-31. Details

Journal Articles

• Blanchfield, Joanne T., Nonato, Maribel G. and Clark, Richard J., 'Special issue in honor of Professor Mary Garson AM', Journal of natural products, 86 (3) (2023), 473-4. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs,jnatprod.3c00088. Details
• Garson, Mary J., 'The biosynthesis of marine natural products', Chemical reviews, 93 (5) (1993), 1699-1733. Details

Resources

• Wikidata, http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q29033549. Details
• VIAF - Virtual International Authority File, OCLC, https://viaf.org/viaf/3505149068574665730003. Details
• 'Garson, Mary (1953-)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1491914. Details

Resource Sections

• 'Leighton Memorial Medal - Professor Mary Garson', in 2011 Award Winners, Royal Australian Chemical Institute, 2011, http://www.raci.org.au/events-awards/award-winners-2011/leighton-memorial-medal. Details
• 'Professor Mary Jean Garson: Mamber of the Order of Australia', in It's an Honour, Australian Awards and Honours Secxretariet, Australian Government, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, 2019. https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/2003395. Details

See also

• '2017 RACI national award winners', Chemistry in Australia, 2018 (March) (2018), 30-5. Details
• Anon, '2023 RACI national awards', Chemistry in Australia (2024), 24-31. Details
• Hooker, Claire, Irresistible Forces: Australian Women in Science (Carlton: Melbourne University Press, 2004), 215 pp. Details