About me.
As of January 2016, I have started a faculty position in Biology at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, CO.
I grew up in Salt Lake City near the Wasatch Mountains. Following my love of science, I spent 5 years at MIT earning a BS and MEng . After a few years of traveling, farming in New Zealand, and managing a local bakery, I returned to graduate school in Ecology, combining my passions for nature and the mountains with my love of science and communication.
I am delighted to announce that I was recently selected as a AAAS IF/THEN Ambassador, an initiative to support female STEM role models in the media. Read more about the initiative here!
Here, you’ll find a summary of my research, education and outreach as well as contact information. I look forward to hearing from you!
I grew up in Salt Lake City near the Wasatch Mountains. Following my love of science, I spent 5 years at MIT earning a BS and MEng . After a few years of traveling, farming in New Zealand, and managing a local bakery, I returned to graduate school in Ecology, combining my passions for nature and the mountains with my love of science and communication.
I am delighted to announce that I was recently selected as a AAAS IF/THEN Ambassador, an initiative to support female STEM role models in the media. Read more about the initiative here!
Here, you’ll find a summary of my research, education and outreach as well as contact information. I look forward to hearing from you!
News.
April 2019: #MySciComm: Johanna Varner on the Personal Interactions That Make a Big Difference. I was excited to contribute a piece to the ESA Communication & Engagement Section Blog. https://www.esa.org/communication-engagement/2019/04/03/myscicomm-johanna-varner-on-the-personal-interactions-that-make-a-big-difference/
June 2018: What can the world's cutest animal teach us about saving ourselves | Hot Mess. PBS Digital Studios' new YouTube show Hot Mess covered some of my research on pikas and moss! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IF8ym4g2SCU
April 2018: “Pikas: Cute Animal, Serious Science.” Tumble Podcast episode about pikas and climate change.
http://www.sciencepodcastforkids.com/single-post/2018/04/19/Pikas-Cute-Animal-Serious-Science
February 2018: Tracking Pikas in Hostile Territory. https://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/5967828-151/tracking-pikas-in-hostile-territory
February 2018: Early Career Award for Public Engagement in Science. I was honored and humbled to receive this prestigious award from AAAS! https://www.aaas.org/page/early-career-award-public-engagement-science-recipients
January 2018: Disasters are destroying places we hold dear. What we do next will make all the difference. Ensia Magazine covered the Eagle Creek Fire in this special feature article.
https://ensia.com/features/disasters/
November 2017: What A Scientist Lost In The Eagle Creek Fire. A radio reporter accompanied me on my attempt to find out whether my field sites were burned in the eagle creek fire in the Columbia Gorge last fall.
https://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-columbia-river-gorge-eagle-creek-fire-pika-research/
February 2016: Whoops! 12 Tales of Accidental Brilliance in Science. My surprise study on pika survival after a wildfire made the short list for NPR Science's Golden Mole Award for Accidental Brilliance!
http://www.npr.org/2016/02/24/467805055/whoops-twelve-tales-of-accidental-brilliance-in-science
http://skunkbear.tumblr.com/post/139936785619/read-more-about-the-nominees-for-the-golden-mole
February 2016: Pikas in the Columbia River Gorge were featured on Oregon Field Guides!
http://www.opb.org/television/programs/ofg/episodes/2710/
July 2015: Climate-vulnerable pikas may be surprisingly resilient to wildfire
Pikas and wildfire profiled in High Country News
https://www.hcn.org/articles/after-wildfire-whither-pika-climate-wildlife
June 2018: What can the world's cutest animal teach us about saving ourselves | Hot Mess. PBS Digital Studios' new YouTube show Hot Mess covered some of my research on pikas and moss! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IF8ym4g2SCU
April 2018: “Pikas: Cute Animal, Serious Science.” Tumble Podcast episode about pikas and climate change.
http://www.sciencepodcastforkids.com/single-post/2018/04/19/Pikas-Cute-Animal-Serious-Science
February 2018: Tracking Pikas in Hostile Territory. https://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/5967828-151/tracking-pikas-in-hostile-territory
February 2018: Early Career Award for Public Engagement in Science. I was honored and humbled to receive this prestigious award from AAAS! https://www.aaas.org/page/early-career-award-public-engagement-science-recipients
January 2018: Disasters are destroying places we hold dear. What we do next will make all the difference. Ensia Magazine covered the Eagle Creek Fire in this special feature article.
https://ensia.com/features/disasters/
November 2017: What A Scientist Lost In The Eagle Creek Fire. A radio reporter accompanied me on my attempt to find out whether my field sites were burned in the eagle creek fire in the Columbia Gorge last fall.
https://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-columbia-river-gorge-eagle-creek-fire-pika-research/
February 2016: Whoops! 12 Tales of Accidental Brilliance in Science. My surprise study on pika survival after a wildfire made the short list for NPR Science's Golden Mole Award for Accidental Brilliance!
http://www.npr.org/2016/02/24/467805055/whoops-twelve-tales-of-accidental-brilliance-in-science
http://skunkbear.tumblr.com/post/139936785619/read-more-about-the-nominees-for-the-golden-mole
February 2016: Pikas in the Columbia River Gorge were featured on Oregon Field Guides!
http://www.opb.org/television/programs/ofg/episodes/2710/
July 2015: Climate-vulnerable pikas may be surprisingly resilient to wildfire
Pikas and wildfire profiled in High Country News
https://www.hcn.org/articles/after-wildfire-whither-pika-climate-wildlife
