Will Johnson – 2025 Wonderfest Science Envoy

Will Johnson is interested in how organisms and their environment come together to form patterns at an ecosystem level. His research is focused on the boundaries of kelp forests and how the communities change in these places. At Stanford, Will uses genetics to learn what organisms are in these environments and where they are distributed. Ideally, this work can help predict what will happen as kelp ecosystems become fragmented and encroached on by sea urchins. Will is passionate about ways to improve science communication, how best to get the context behind research across, and how to share science with different groups of people. Outside of science you will find Will devouring fantasy series, designing and maintaining aquariums, or diving!