Professor John Long has been made an Honorary Associate of the Australian Museum.
Only nine of these lifetime honorary appointments have ever been awarded in the museum’s 190 year history, with seven still alive today (see list below), so “this is quite an unexpected accolade,” says Flinders University Strategic Professor Long.
Confirming the appointment, the Australian Museum made special mention of Professor Long’s globally recognised position as one of the most distinguished evolutionary biologists in Australia. It further praised Professor Long’s “contributions to palaeontology in Australia, which are too numerous to recount”.
Museum staff will collaborate with Professor Long in the future and draw on his expertise to prepare new ways of publicising Australia’s extraordinary fossil history.
The Australian Museum (AM) Honorary Associates are:
His Imperial Majesty Emperor Emeritus Akihito of Japan
His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince Akishino of Japan
Dr Desmond Griffin AM, (former director of the Australian Museum 1976-1998)
Gerard Krefft, Memorial Fellow (first director of the Australian Museum 1861-1874)
Dr Hal Cogger, John Evans Memorial Fellow (former deputy director of the Australian Museum 1976-1995)
Professor Tim Flannery
Professor Frank Talbot AM (former director of the Australian Museum 1966-75)
Mr Frank Howarth PSM (former director of the Australian Museum 2004-2014)
Dr Warren Somerville AM
Ms Kim McKay AO (Director and CEO of the museum) and Professor Kristofer Helgen (Chief Scientist and Director of Australian Museum Research Institute) informed Professor Long that the Australian Museum Trust has voted unanimously to formally recognise his 40-year association with the museum with the honorary position.
Professor Long’s appointment comes at a major turning point in the history of the museum, as it is finalising the extensive Project Discover renovations. The museum believes these improvements will “revolutionise” the Sydney building’s capacity to host exhibitions and host new and exciting visitor experiences.