Life, Science, and the Island: A Conversation with Luanne Johnson
Life, Science, and the Island: A Conversation with Luanne Johnson
Join us at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum for a conversation with Luanne Johnson, where you’ll not only discover the groundbreaking work she’s doing to protect the Island’s wildlife, but also get to know the person behind the science… her curiosity, humor, and the passions that shape her life on Martha’s Vineyard.
Luanne, Director, wildlife biologist, board member, and founder of BiodiversityWorks, wears many hats, from tracking migratory bats and protecting beach-nesting birds to mentoring students of all ages and leading efforts to manage invasive plants. She’ll share stories from the field, explain the impact of BiodiversityWorks, and offer a glimpse into the heart and humor that guide their every project.
Learn about some of her exciting initiatives:
- MAPS in the State Forest (2025) – Monitoring avian productivity and survivorship to better understand local songbirds.
- Bat Monitoring – Tiny tags reveal migratory patterns and help reduce wind turbine collisions.
- Bat Hibernacula Project – Protecting bats where they hibernate.
- Beach-Nesting Bird Protection – Banding Black Skimmer chicks with colorful markers to track their journeys and nesting patterns.
- Snapshot USA with Middle School Students – Engaging young scientists in mammal monitoring each fall across multiple Vineyard schools.
- Invasive Plant Brigade – Tackling the Island’s most troublesome invasive plants in April and May.
This isn’t just a talk about conservation… it’s a chance to meet someone who lives and breathes the natural world, and to be inspired by the curiosity, joy, and dedication that make Luanne’s work…and her life…so extraordinary.
MVM Members: $15; Non-Members: $25
DETAILS
| Date | April 22, 2026 |
|---|---|
| From | 5:00 pm |
| To | 6:00 pm |
| Type | Talk |
| Venue | Martha’s Vineyard Museum |