Steve Junak Oral History

Steve Junak is a preeminent expert on the flora of the islands of California and Baja California, Mexico. Beginning in 1976, Steve was employed by the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden as a Channel Island botanist and the Clifton Smith Herbarium curator. He has authored or co-authored dozens of research articles and four books on island flora. He is the author of A Flora of San Nicolas Island, California (2008) and the principal author of A Flora of Santa Cruz Island (1995). He is also co-author of A Revised Flora of Santa Barbara Island (1993) and Sensitive Plants of San Nicolas Island, California (2018). Although he retired in 2014, he continues his relationship with the Garden as research associate and botanist emeritus.

Steve was interviewed by Oral History Program Volunteer Randy Wright in 2021, and the illustrated transcript was published in 2024.