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Emily Nicholson (born 1975) is an Australian scientist and senior lecturer at Deakin University in Victoria, Australia

Nicholson’s work in quantitive ecology focusing on global biodiversity issues has proved instrumental and become a cornerstone of conservation efforts worldwide. Her work on modelling and ecosystem risk assessment has been adopted and adapted by state and federal governments alike and become a standard used by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (ICUN). Her passion of biological diversity conservation has driven research in the necessary planning, analysis and decision making required to change.

In 2007, Nicholson and an international research team developed a new capacity for addressing ecosystem risk called the Red List of Ecosystems, which analysis requirements and sets conservation priorities. She has authored and contributed to more than 50 research items, peer reviewing over 29 publications in journals including Ecology Letter, Journal of Applied Ecology and Conservation Biology. She is a former Centenary Research Fellow at The University of Melbourne and became a Senior Lectured in Quantitive Ecology at Deakin University in 2015. In addition to her environment based research, Nicholson works to address gender equity within the field of science to address the gender issue and empower women to pursue STEM disciplines.

Early life
Emily Nicholson was born in 1975 in North Melbourne, Victoria. As a child, she enjoyed spending time in the bushes and at the beach. She vividly remembers stories of when she took her friends and family to the nearby rockpools. This consequentially fueled her passion for pursuing a career in the field of ecology.

Education
Emily attended University High School located in Parkville, Melbourne. Once completing school Emily studied Bachelor of Arts/Science at the University of Melbourne from 1995 - 2002. After graduating from Melbourne University Emily decided to continue her studies by doing a PhD in Ecology at the University of Queensland. This ranged from 2002 - 2006.

Role as an Empowering Woman
Dr Emily Nicholson strongly believes that gender equality is essential in Science. As she states, ‘Women make up at least 50 per cent of science graduates and postgraduates in most areas of science, but those levels drop when you look at lectureships and professorships. There are also divides in applications for grants, and even grant success.’ Being one of the top emerging female scientists in Australia, Emily is aware of the barriers that exist. However, her extraordinary achievements have not been impacted by the limitations imposed by gender inequality in science. In 2015, she was a member of the team that received a coveted Eureka Award for their work on the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems. She was also recognised as one of the first Inspiring fellows by the Victorian Government in 2015. Being mentored by both female and male scientists, who looked “beyond the standard stereotypes of scientists”, during the early periods of her career, she is committed to do similarly, “to give young scientists the kind of start” that is denied to many.

Hobbies
Emily loves spending her free time bird watching, walking her dog and spending time with her kids.