Emma Johnston

Emma Johnston

Emma Johnston at the 2016 NRM Science Conference, University of Adelaide
Born 1973
Fields Marine ecologist
Institutions University of New South Wales
Alma mater University of Melbourne
Notable awards 2012 NSW Science and Engineering Awards;
2014 Nancy Willis Medal for Women in Science

Emma Johnston (born 1973) is an Australian marine ecologist and ecotoxicologist. She is a professor at the University of New South Wales, where she heads the Subtidal Ecology and Ecotoxicology Research Group. Johnston is the inaugural Director of the Sydney Harbour Research Program[1] at the Sydney Institute of Marine Science.[2] She is also a research fellow of the Australian Research Council.

Johnston's research focuses on the impact of human activities and the effects of pollutants on marine life. She performs most of her research in the field, often in Sydney Harbour. As of 2016, Johnston has published over 90 peer-reviewed works.[3]

Early life

Born in 1973, to parents who were both scientists at that time, Johnston studied physics and chemistry in high school, not biology. Early career advice to Johnston was to do law or medicine. However, being a keen sailor from a very young age and interested in all things to do with the water, she decided to focus on biology in her undergraduate degree (Bachelor of Science) at the University of Melbourne, which she completed in 1998 with first class Honours. She completed her PhD in marine ecology in 2002 at the University of Melbourne under the supervision of Mick Keough.

She joined UNSW as an associate lecturer in 2001 and is now a professor in the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences.[4]

Career

Research

Amongst Johnston's significant research findings is the discovery that toxic contaminants facilitate the invasion of coastal waterways by non-indigenous species. Some of her research topics include: determining the major drivers of marine bio-invasions,the vulnerability of Antarctic marine communities, and developing new biomonitoring techniques and informing the development of effective management of biodiversity in Australian estuarine systems.[5]

Other activities

Johnston is co-presenter of the Foxtel/BBC television series Coast Australia.[6] She also launched a Sydney Harbour cruise called Underwater Secrets' – Sydney Harbour Revealed,[7] which focuses on scientific research into the waterway.

Awards

Johnston's research has led to her being a category winner in the 2012 NSW Science and Engineering Awards and in 2014 she won the inaugural Australian Academy of Science Nancy Willis Medal for Women in Science.[4] This medal was presented to Johnston at Science at the Shine Dome on 28 May 2014.[8] Johnston was a 2007 winner of the Australian Institute of Policy and Science's Tall Poppy Award for her research into the effects of introduced species and contaminants on existing Australian marine species.[9]

References

  1. ↑ The Creative Company. "Sydney Institute of Marine Science » The Sydney Harbour Research Program". Harbourprogram.sims.org.au. Retrieved 2014-08-14.
  2. ↑ "The Sydney Institute of Marine Science". Sims. Retrieved 2014-08-14.
  3. ↑ https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/professor-emma-johnston/publications
  4. 1 2 Ross, John (7 March 2014). "Marine ecologist takes out new award". The Australian. Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia: News Corp Australia. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  5. ↑ "Emma L Johnston - Google Scholar Citations". Scholar.google.com.au. Retrieved 2014-08-14.
  6. ↑ Mercer, Cassie (2 December 2013). "A cup of tea with… Neil Oliver: Host of Foxtel's new Coast Australia". Inside History. Sydney, Australia. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  7. ↑ The Creative Company (2013-04-10). "Sydney Institute of Marine Science » Underwater Secrets - Sydney Harbour Revealed. The Harbour cruise with a difference | Blog". Harbourprogram.sims.org.au. Retrieved 2014-08-14.
  8. ↑ Starts:  8:30am (2014-05-29). "Science at the Shine Dome 2014 - Australian Academy of Science". Science.org.au. Retrieved 2014-08-14.
  9. ↑ "UNSW takes hat-trick of Young Tall Poppies". UNSW. 23 October 2007. Retrieved 19 June 2016.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 12/4/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.