Documenting the desert’s dark skies
Participating in the dark night sky survey through the WISDOM internship was more than just a chance to collect data—it was a formative step in my journey as an aspiring conservationist.
What I learned in studying the night sky
Many women I know have wanted a career in environmental science, but the opportunities to gain experience in the field were few and far between. I am a current student at Unity Environmental University working towards a B.S. in Environmental Studies and being a part of the Mojave Desert Land Trust’s Women In Science Discovering Our Mojave internship over the last six months has been such a phenomenal experience for me.
Our favorite Mojave Desert wildlife sightings
The desert is not a wasteland! Check out some of our favorite wildlife sightings gathered from staff in the field and wildlife cameras on Mojave Desert Land Trust preserves.
Plant-soil relationships of the Mojave Desert’s iconic Joshua tree: Developing a fungi(de) to restoration
UC Davis ecologist Mayra Hernández describes research on root-soil interactions of Joshua tree roots and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the Mojave Desert.
Spend a day in the field with MDLT’s WISDOM interns
Experience a day in the life of a Mojave Desert Land Trust WISDOM intern as they head into the field to gather data on bumblebees and tamarisk beetles within Mojave Trails National Monument.
Surveys show biodiversity in Mojave springs
In 2023 and 2024, interns with the Mojave Desert Land Trust’s Women In Science Discovering Our Mojave program (WISDOM) conducted a biological survey of four springs in Mojave Trails National Monument. Their findings help demonstrate the importance of protecting these natural water sources for the future.
The future is bright: let’s turn the lights down
Miles away from the light pollution from Las Vegas and Los Angeles, Amboy Crater – with its clean restrooms, shade structures, and paved walkways – is one of the most accessible places in the Mojave to experience epic darkness. For the second consecutive year, the Mojave Desert Land Trust partnered with 29 Palms Astronomy Club to bring the wonder of the cosmos to students of Yucca Valley High School. The excitement was palpable from the moment students stepped off the bus into the Amboy Crater parking lot in Mojave Trails National Monument.