6 Ayana Elizabeth Johnson

Ayana Elizabeth Johnson

Time period:

20th century – present

Subject:

Marine Biology

Biography:

Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is a marine biologist, policy expert, writer and conservation strategist. Johnson completed her B.A at Harvard University and her PhD in marine biology as Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Currently Johnson works as a consultant for ocean conservation and climate policy issues. Johnson has also published several books which have been included in The New York Times, Washington Post, and Scientific American.

Summary of their contributions:

Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson won the first Rare/National Geographic Solution Search with her invention of a fish trap aimed at minimizing bycatch. She co-authored the Blue New Deal, a roadmap outlining the integration of the ocean into climate policy. Beyond this, she played a role in shaping U.S. federal ocean policy during her time at the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Dr. Johnson is the founder and president of Ocean Collectiv, a consulting firm committed to advancing socially just solutions for ocean sustainability and conservation. Additionally, she is the founder of Urban Ocean Lab, a think tank focused on shaping effective ocean policies.

Integration with the BC Secondary Science Curriculum:

Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson’s contributions align with the British Columbia secondary Science curriculum. Specifically, in Science 9, her efforts in sustainability and climate change can be woven into the Earth science unit. Students can delve into Johnson’s work by exploring her Urban Ocean Lab website and watching her TED Talk on Climat Action. Additionally, her work is relevant to Science 10 – particularly in the energy unit – and extends into Environmental Science 11 and 12.

References:

Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. (n.d.). https://www.ayanaelizabeth.com/

Wikimedia Foundation. (2023, November 28). Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayana_Elizabeth_Johnson