3 Feb 2024

Koala conservationist Rebecca Johnson

From Saturday Morning, 8:10 am on 3 February 2024
Mother and baby koala on a tree in natural atmosphere.

Photo: 123RF

Chief Scientist at the world's biggest museum, wildlife forensic scientist and conservation geneticist Rebecca Johnson is a leading researcher in koala conservation.

The iconic Aussie marsupial is hostage to climate change and chlamydia.

Dr Johnson came to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History from Australia, where she was chief investigator of the Koala Genome Consortium.  

As Director of the Australian Museum Research Institute, Rebecca helped put the Australian Museum on the map as a global leader in wildlife forensic science and applied conservation genomics.

Rebecca is passionate about protecting threatened species, reducing the illegal trade of wildlife and the importance of STEM. She's been recognised as one of the 30 inaugural "SuperStars of STEM" by Science and Technology Australia.