BAMOS February 2026
16 Vale
Emma Johnston was a visionary scientist, environmentalist and leader, with an abiding hope for humanity
Prof Kylie Walker, Australian National University Prof Rob Brooks, University of New South Wales( rob. brooks @ unsw. edu. au)
Emma Johnston, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne who has died aged 52, was a marine ecologist, a visionary leader in science and research, a passionate champion of the environment, a brilliant and engaging communicator, and a caring mentor. Emma was also our friend.
Born in 1973 and raised in Melbourne, Emma’ s star rose swiftly. Her success was driven by a deep love of science, problemsolving and teamwork. Dux of University High School in Melbourne( where there is now a house named after her), she ran the student newspaper and launched an environment group and recycling program.
After completing a PhD in marine ecology at the University of Melbourne, Emma became an associate lecturer at UNSW in 2001, where she built a thriving research group studying the impacts of pollution and climate change on marine and coastal ecosystems. In 2005 she established the Sydney Harbour Research Program, to understand and remediate that city’ s great natural asset.
These themes of complexity, interdependence and ecosystem resilience would become guiding metaphors for her subsequent career as a research leader and a fierce advocate for science.
Emma believed research should be about teamwork rather than personal accolades. She supervised a remarkable 33 PhD students, as well as honours students and postdoctoral researchers, and she mentored countless colleagues throughout her career. Busy but never hurried, Emma was generous with her time and attention, and she loved meeting bright and curious people.
As a newly promoted professor, she was chosen to attend the 64th Lindau meeting of Nobel Laureates where she delivered the after-dinner speech.
Her research and science communication earned awards including the NSW Premier’ s Award for Biological Sciences, the Australian Academy of Science’ s inaugural Nancy Millis Medal for Women in Science and the Eureka Prize for Promoting Understanding of Science Research.
In 2018, she was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for her services to higher education and scientific research. She became a fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering in 2019 and of the Australian Academy of Science in 2022.
Emma holding a weather balloon. Credit: Emma Johnston / UNSW Sydney