Rediscovering the night sky after the pandemic
Nature is one thing that never ceases to amaze me. Prior to the onset of the pandemic, I often camped. So, after a year of staring at my computer screen and not being able to see more than a handful of stars each night, venturing into the vast natural beauty that is Mojave Trails National Monument and gazing up at the ink black skies and the awe-inspiring beauty of the Milky Way on our field excursions, I couldn’t help but feel the way so many of us do.… incredibly lucky and also very, very small.
Deep in the Mojave, researching the night sky
Research by WISDOM interns help us understand the quality and the importance of the Mojave Desert’s dark night skies. Last fall a cohort of three college women began monitoring the night sky quality in the western portion of Mojave Trails National Monument. Their research will help the Bureau of Land Management in its effort to work toward International Dark Sky support for the National Monument.
Dark sky data revealed for Mojave Trails National Monument
In February 2021, MDLT’s Dark Night Sky Measurement Project finished a six-month long survey of night sky quality in Mojave Trails National Monument. Women In Science Discovering Our Mojave (WISDOM) interns were able to contribute vital scientific research in the monument.
Why we’re tracking beetles in the Mojave Desert
The Women in Science Discovering Our Mojave internship program has provided new insights into the movement of bighorn sheep in the Mojave Desert, with game cameras collecting data and images of the elusive species. In addition to tracking data on the comings-and-going of those lovable caprines, we’re also doing data collection on a slightly less cuddly species that are shaking things up in Afton Canyon.
“Having more women in science gives us a voice”
The Women in Science Discovering our Mojave (WISDOM) program provides hands-on experience for women studying STEM fields. Having more women in this field and in science gives us a voice and representation for future women. Women, especially women of minority backgrounds bring new ideas and different perspectives because of our diversity and unique upbringing.
Wildlife cameras pinpoint movement of protected bighorn sheep
MDLT’s Women in Science Discovering our Mojave (WISDOM) project has been analyzing data from seven cameras to better understand the movement of bighorn in one area of Mojave Trails National Monument. The results are now in.
Wildlife cameras provide close-ups of bighorn sheep
Afton Canyon is known locally as the “Grand Canyon of the Mojave”. It not only has impressive geological formations, but it is one of the few places where the Mojave River flows above ground all year. Bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) are one of the wildlife species that use this area. MDLT’s Women in Science Discovering Our Mojave (WISDOM) program is helping the Bureau of Land Management provide a range of recreational access in Mojave Trails National Monument, while also ensuring the well-being and protection of wildlife and other sensitive resources.