Lisa Schonberg

Conservation Assistant

lisa@xerces.org

I was drawn to the Xerces Society because I am fascinated by insects and am excited about the direct conservation work that Xerces engages in. I love that Xerces gets information about invertebrates out to the public in a very useable and engaging format – and influences land use decisions and policy by translating scientific information into a form that is accessible to a diversity of audiences. I think that if more people knew about invertebrates, they would inevitably have a greater respect for them and a heightened sense of mystery and wonder with the world in general. I am working for the Xerces Society on a number of projects, including a CD-ROM guide to monitoring Pacific Northwest wetlands macroinvertebrate and several projects on native pollinators.

I grew up in Staten Island, New York, and my outdoor adventures were mostly limited to sidewalks, pavement and my grandparent’s stoop rather than in natural areas. However, I still remember being fascinated by insects as a kid - watching the ants gather around my spilled ice cream on the pavement and trying to catch lightning “bugs.”

I first became interested in studying insects as an undergraduate at the State University of New York at Binghamton. On a trip with a tropical ecology class to Costa Rica, I couldn’t keep my eyes off the ground and leaf surfaces, constantly searching for insects. This led me to study towards my Masters in Environmental Studies at the Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA with Jack Longino. I focused on ants for several years – I spent a great deal of time collecting, sorting and identifying these beautiful critters. I did most of my graduate work in the cloud forests and lowland forests of Costa Rica. Upon receiving my masters, I worked several field jobs – in New York City, Hawaii (Volcanoes National Park) and at the Fort Lewis Military Installation in WA.

In addition to my passion for insects, I am equally involved in my music. I have played the drums for over 20 years, and have been touring and playing shows locally with my bands Kickball and Thunder!Thunder!Thunder! for several years. I have taught drum lessons for a decade, and wrote a book called “The DIY Guide to Drums”. Kickball has recently released our fourth album and toured Europe. The photo above is me with my bandmates Adam and Jake in Paris. I have a sizeable collection of ants from gas stations all along our tour routes.  

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