Scientific expeditions can be thought of as the first step in conservation—they are a way to gather baseline data on the plants and wildlife that exist in a specific area, which can then inform actions to protect it. Sierra de las Cacachilas is an extremely biodiverse and perhaps equally understudied area at the tip of the Baja California Peninsula, and our scientists visited this amazing place to learn all about it.
Most organizations in the Park are nonprofits struggling to balance their own budgets amid rising costs. We know and understand the City is struggling, but why make the nonprofits and local families struggle too?
The Nat is proud to work alongside many amazing LGBTQIA+ scientists, volunteers, staff, and community members, and we’re celebrating their contributions to science. November 18 is LGBTQIA+ in STEM day, which uplifts the work of LGBTQIA+ people in science, technology, engineering, and math, and highlights some of the barriers they may face in these fields.
Our region is one of the most biodiverse and well-studied places in North America. According to the newest edition of Checklist of the Vascular Plants of San Diego County, our county is home to 2,879 documented plants—a number that has increased by more than 250 since the last edition came out just over 10 years ago.
We urge careful consideration of how paid parking will create unintended consequences, including discouraging visitation, limiting equitable access, and introducing new safety concerns. The push to generate revenue must not come at the expense of those who can no longer afford to enjoy San Diego’s crown jewel.
Take a moment to celebrate Drew Stokes' life and contributions to our region's conservation, California biology, and learn about his passion for giving local bats a helping hand.
Did you know that as a living organism, you shed genetic material called DNA? Although you usually can’t see it stuck anywhere, you’ve probably left DNA on everything that you’ve touched! This is also true of every other living thing—from bats to birds to bumblebees, there’s lots of DNA floating around out there. But what if we told you local spiders are catching wildlife DNA in their webs?
We are—quite literally—raising the roof. The Museum is embarking on a major construction project that will replace its aging Atrium skylight panels with a new and improved solid roof design that allows for solar panels and better climate control.
Now that summer has arrived in sunny San Diego, everyone wants to come out to enjoy the heat. You might encounter one on a hike or walk, in a local park or canyon, or even your own backyard, so make sure to brush up on your snake ID skills! This guide will help you quickly recognize some of San Diego’s most common snakes.
Macrophotography, the art of taking close-up photos of small subjects, can help us see things from a different perspective. Dr. Shahan Derkarabetian's detailed photos are helping us learn and appreciate our mission region’s small invertebrates, are contributing to research, and are just plain cool!