Person

Johnston, Emma Letitia (1973 - 2025)

AO FAA FTSE FRSN

Born
11 June 1973
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Died
26 December 2025
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Occupation
Marine ecologist and Vice-Chancellor

Summary

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.

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Details

"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]

Chronology

1997 - 2004
Career position - Editor, Australian marine science bulletin
1998
Education - BSc (hons), University of Melbourne
2002
Education - PhD, University of Melbourne
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
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
Award - Nancy Millis Medal for Women in Science, Australian Academy of Science
2014 - 2017
Career position - Vice-President, Science and Technology Australia
2015
Award - Australian Mid-career Medal, Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
2015
Award - Eureka Prize for Promoting Understanding of Australian Scientific Research, Australian Museum
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
Award - Clarke Medal, and delivered the Clarke Memorial Lecture, Royal Society of New South Wales
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 - 2024?
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
Award - Marie Claire Eco Warrior of the Year
February 2025 - December 2025
Career position - Vice-Chancellor, University of Melbourne

Related Awards

Related Corporate Bodies

Published resources

Journal Articles

  • Beloe, Chatlotte J., Browne, Mark Anthony and Johnston, Emma L., 'Plastic debris as a vector for bacteial disease: an interdisciplinary review', Environmental science & technology, 56 (5) (2022), 2950-8, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c05405. Details
  • 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', Science of the total environment, 807 (2) (2022), 12, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150742. Details
  • 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', Environmental pollution, 234 (2018), 552-61, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2017.11.085. Details
  • Johnston, Emma L., 'Why are scientists so quiet? Cultural and philosophical constraints on the public voice of the scientist', Journal and Proceedings of The Royal Society of New South Wales, 151 (1) (2018), 50-8, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/275651#page/52/mode/1up. Details
  • 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', Science of the total environment, 684 (2019), 753-64, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.131. Details
  • 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', Frontiers in marine science, 7 (2020), 18, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.00590. Details

Resources

See also

Helen Cohn

Created: 6 January 2026

EOAS ID: biogs/P007934b.htm

This Edition: 2026 February - 1926 Centenaries
Kooyang - Gariwerd calendar - Late summer: late January to late March - season of eels
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