Mary Garson is a world-leading organic chemist. She is an internationally recognised expert in chemistry, biosynthesis, and bioactivity of secondary metabolites from both the marine and terrestrial environments. Best known for her pioneering use of stable/radioactive isotopes to define unusual biosynthetic pathways, she probes complex stereochemistry, ecological interactions, and environmental aspects of marine and plant metabolites. A 2003 special issue of the Journal of Natural Products in honour of Garson celebrated the excellence of her scientific contributions. The marine flatworm Maritigrella marygarsonae is named in her honour.