Desert

Over these last few months, I have learned to love the desert and its incomparable sense of silence, openness, soul, and space.

Dusty dusty and oh so lovely

This journey here, has for the most part been more or less a solitary endeavor. This painted red rock sanctuary has given my mind a greater sense of peace, my soul the necessary space to create, and my heart the willingness to seek answers to the questions I for so many months have continued to ask.

As I begin to dive deeper into my career as a scientist, and further refine my goals, aspirations, and interests, this time in the desert has given me a lot of clarity on where I am, and in the future where I hope to go.

Petroglyphs in the behind the rocks wilderness study area. Moab-UT

My time here in Moab working for the USGS has been monumental in helping solidify my intrigue in continuing to pursue education. This time has also given me the opportunity to see what it might be like working for a research-oriented sector of the government, as USGS is an organization I have thought about working for for some time now.

As far as research goes, I have had the opportunity to work on some pretty interesting projects regarding climate change in dryland ecosystems, biological soil crusts, and dryland ecosystem restoration.

Photo from (Left) CRC Restore Project in Canyonlands NP and EDGE (right) project in Needles district of Canyonlands NP

A bit more info, and links with descriptions to some of the projects we have been working on: EDGE: A study in the needles district of Canyonlands NP, looking at the effects of seasonal drought on dominant plants, functional types, and C3 versus C4 grasses.

For more information on EDGE go to: https://www.usgs.gov/centers/sbsc/science/colorado-plateau-extreme-drought-grassland-experiment-edge?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects