Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
What If We Get It Right?
Occurred on Friday, October 25
We welcomed you to join SPACE Gallery, Sierra Club Maine, Print, Lead Locally, the Environmental Voter Project, and a coalition of environmental organizations, including The BTS Center, at Hannaford Hall for a special appearance by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, a marine biologist, policy expert, writer, and teacher working to help create the best possible climate future. Johnson was joined by special guest performers and discussed her provocative and joyous new book that asks the important question, “What If We Get It Right?”
This special evening was a homecoming celebration for the book, as Dr. Johnson currently serves as the Roux Distinguished Scholar at Bowdoin College, and culminates her 28 stop book tour across the country, including signature “climate variety show” events.
Through clear-eyed essays and 20 vibrant conversations, infused with data, poetry, and art, Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson guided us through solutions and possibilities at the nexus of science, policy, culture, and justice. Sugarcoating nothing, while imagining the myriad of opportunities we have to still get the future “right,” Johnson’s book invites musings from friends and contributors across the fields of culture and science. Visionary farmers and financiers, architects and advocates, help us conjure a flourishing future, one worth the effort it will take — from every one of us, with whatever we have to offer — to create.
Books were available for purchase through Print: A Bookstore, and local environmental orgs tabled in support of their work in the Hannaford Hall lobby.
Presented by SPACE Gallery at Hannaford Hall with support from Sierra Club Maine, Print: A Bookstore, Lead Locally, Environmental Voter Project, Citizens Climate Lobby, Maine Conservation Voters, Maine Youth for Climate Justice, The BTS Center, Maine Climate Action Now, Lead Locally, The Climate Initiative, Third Act Maine, the South Portland Land Trust, the First Parish Church in Portland’s Climate Action Team, and the Environmental Club at South Portland High School.
Made possible with support from Becky Bartovics, Roger Berle and Lesley MacVane.
Accessibility note: Hannaford Hall at USM is fully ADA compliant. The parking garage is located behind the Abromson Community Education Center. Navigate to 88 Bedford Street for parking. The building is accessible from the garage on all levels and the main lobby of Hannaford Hall is located on the first floor. If entering from the first floor of the garage, there is a small flight of steps that lead down to the lobby and an elevator available. There is also a street entrance from Bedford Street that leads directly into the Hannaford Hall lobby. There are no steps required to access this door. Accessibility requests for ASL interpretation or priority seating should be sent at least 1 week ahead of time to info@space538.org.
Praise for What If We Get It Right?
“With a thoughtfully curated series of essays, poetry, and conversations, the brilliant scientist and climate expert Ayana Elizabeth Johnson has assembled a group of dynamic people who are willing to imagine what seems impossible, and articulate those visions with enthusiastic clarity.”
—Roxane Gay
“An optimistic bent and eager embrace of solutions . . . these conversations are as much about ‘getting it right’ as they are about what we are currently getting wrong. Johnson is a top-notch interviewer, and her guests are insightful and candid on topics ranging from community farming to environment-focused litigation.”
—Scientific American
“An entirely credible (and entirely enchanting) voice . . . Ayana Johnson is no Pollyanna. She’s a hard-nosed and extremely competent scientist who has not shied for a minute from facing the hard truths. So if she thinks there remain ways we can use this crisis to build a better world, then rejoice, listen, and act!”
—Bill McKibben
Meet Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is a marine biologist, policy expert, writer, and teacher working to help create the best possible climate future. She is co-founder of Urban Ocean Lab, a think tank for the future of coastal cities, and is currently the Roux Distinguished Scholar at Bowdoin College. She authored the forthcoming book What If We Get it Right?: Visions of Climate Futures, co-edited the bestselling climate anthology All We Can Save, co-founded The All We Can Save Project, and co-created and co-hosted the Spotify / Gimlet climate solutions podcast How to Save a Planet.
Recently, she co-authored the Blue New Deal, a roadmap for including the ocean in climate policy. Previously, as executive director of the Waitt Institute, she co-founded the Blue Halo Initiative and led the Caribbean’s first successful island-wide ocean zoning effort. She also developed U.S. federal ocean policy at the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Ayana earned a BA from Harvard University in environmental science and public policy, and a Ph.D. from Scripps Institution of Oceanography in marine biology. She serves on the board of directors for Patagonia and GreenWave, on the advisory board of Environmental Voter Project, and on the steering committee for the Ocean Justice Forum. Recent recognitions include, the Schneider Award for climate communication and the Time 100 Next List.
She is the proud daughter of a teacher / farmer and an architect / potter. Above all: Ayana is in love with climate solutions.
Learn more: ayanaelizabeth.com
