Young Tall Poppy Award finalists 2024: Dr Jacinta and Dr Brittany Johnson aim to help the world and are at the forefront of science
Two SA sisters hoping to change the world with their research have been named finalists for a prestigious science prize.
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Academic rigour and a desire to make the world a better place runs in the Johnson family, with sisters Jacinta and Brittany nominated for the same award recognising South Australia’s brightest young scientific minds
Dr Jacinta and Dr Brittany Johnson grew up together in the Riverland town of Glossop and spurred each other on to make strides in the health field.
They are among eight SA finalists for the 2024 Young Tall Poppy Awards by the Australian Institute of Policy and Science which recognises groundbreaking research for the benefit of society.
Jacinta, 37, is hoping her research at UniSA into a new electronic method of providing prescriptions, involving collaboration between pharmacists and doctors, will help save lives.
Jacinta’s electronic prescription system, which is in the trial phase, will involve collaboration between two health professionals to confirm every order “so it helps to make it safer”.
The trained pharmacist and researcher said she often works together with Brittany, 35, as they provide each other with feedback.
“It’s beneficial because we both understand how academia works,” Jacinta said.
Brittany, at Flinders University, has been conducting research into student nutrition and hopes a school-provided meal system will lead to better health outcomes for children and save families money.
“It has potential to have so many benefits in terms of nutrition and health and it could reduce the costs for families as well,” Brittany said.
She said it was “a cool thing” to be nominated with her older sister.
Their youngest sister, also with a PhD, Dr Michaela Johnson is researching neurodegenerative disorders.
The overall winner of the Young Tall Poppy Award will be announced on August 9 at a function hosted by the SA Museum.
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