Staff Champion category

Dr Darryl Johnson is transforming laboratory culture by embedding sustainability into the everyday practices of scientific research. As an Academic Specialist and Sustainability Champion for the Materials Characterisation and Fabrication Platform (MCFP), Darryl has led grassroots behavioural change, established strategic programs, and co-founded national initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of labs. His commitment to “stubbornly optimistic science” is influencing researchers, institutions and policy alike—demonstrating that sustainability is integral to research excellence.

Darryl Johnson

Impacts and Benefits

  • Led MCFP’s journey toward becoming the first My Green Lab-certified research platform at the University of Melbourne.
  • Embedded sustainable practices into lab operations, training over 300 researchers annually.
  • Designed Sustainability Research Seed Grants, awarding $12,500 to support environmentally focused research.
  • Supported the University’s decision to subsidise My Green Lab certification across faculties.

Leadership and Engagement

  • Co-founded the national Labs Who Care network, now spanning five countries.
  • Regular presenter at national and international science conferences, championing lab sustainability.
  • Recognised with multiple institutional awards including Staff Changemaker (Highly Commended) and Green Impact Ambassador.
  • Promotes inclusive, positive leadership—building momentum and confidence for others to act.

Wider Societal Impact

  • Influences science culture to adopt sustainability as standard, not optional.
  • Trains emerging researchers whose early behaviours shape future norms.
  • Sparks global conversations on sustainable research through international speaking and network building.
  • Empowers grassroots change with scalable, practical actions across the research sector.
  • Demonstrates that collective, incremental action can significantly reduce science’s environmental footprint.
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Staff Champion category

Dr Darryl Johnson is transforming laboratory culture by embedding sustainability into the everyday practices of scientific research. As an Academic Specialist and Sustainability Champion for the Materials Characterisation and Fabrication Platform (MCFP), Darryl has led grassroots behavioural change, established strategic programs, and co-founded national initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of labs. His commitment to “stubbornly optimistic science” is influencing researchers, institutions and policy alike—demonstrating that sustainability is integral to research excellence.

Darryl Johnson

Impacts and Benefits

  • Led MCFP’s journey toward becoming the first My Green Lab-certified research platform at the University of Melbourne.
  • Embedded sustainable practices into lab operations, training over 300 researchers annually.
  • Designed Sustainability Research Seed Grants, awarding $12,500 to support environmentally focused research.
  • Supported the University’s decision to subsidise My Green Lab certification across faculties.

Leadership and Engagement

  • Co-founded the national Labs Who Care network, now spanning five countries.
  • Regular presenter at national and international science conferences, championing lab sustainability.
  • Recognised with multiple institutional awards including Staff Changemaker (Highly Commended) and Green Impact Ambassador.
  • Promotes inclusive, positive leadership—building momentum and confidence for others to act.

Wider Societal Impact

  • Influences science culture to adopt sustainability as standard, not optional.
  • Trains emerging researchers whose early behaviours shape future norms.
  • Sparks global conversations on sustainable research through international speaking and network building.
  • Empowers grassroots change with scalable, practical actions across the research sector.
  • Demonstrates that collective, incremental action can significantly reduce science’s environmental footprint.

Supported by

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Related finalists

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