Science Moab

Potholes on the Colorado Plateau are depressions primarily in the sandstone, unassociated with any drainage, that are home to ephemeral pools of water. These potholes provide shelter for life in a hostile environment and many species have survived to the modern day only because these rain filled pools are available. We speak with biologist/ecologist Tim Graham about the types of organisms that have adapted to live in these ephemeral pools and why humans should try to avoid these fragile ecosystems.

Science and conservation in the United States is made up of primarily white scientists and Western ways of thinking. This is something that Sergio Avila saw clearly when he first came to the US from Mexico to study mountain lions and jaguars along the border. Here, we speak with Sergio about his experiences in conservation and the need to incorporate diverse ways of thinking into science that includes, respects, and learns from Indigenous communities and people of color. Sergio challenges conservationists to expand their role models away from authors like Ed Abbey and John Muir and look towards the written, spoken, and on the ground knowledge that is held within Indigenous communities and within communities of color.

The Bears Ears region is a place held sacred to Native people across the Colorado Plateau. It’s also a place that has a complicated history with Western archaeologists, who at times harmed cultural sites that hold tremendous significance to Native communities. Here, we speak with Ralph Burrillo, whose pen name is R.E. Burrillo, about the scientific and natural history of the Bears Ears region and what he sees as the role of Western scientists today in supporting Indigenous-led efforts in Bears Ears.

Arches are always vibrating. The unique size and shape of each arch produces a unique wave frequency that it vibrates at. We talk with Jeff Moore and Paul Geimer from the University of Utah Geohazards Research Group who study the seismology or movement of natural rock spans.

In Moab, climate change has greatly reduced the size of the wetlands and many of the mosquitoes’ natural predators that used to live there have also disappeared. Now when the floodwaters do come and fill up the wetlands, mosquitoes reproduce relentlessly. We speak with Shannon Amsberry, manager of Moab Mosquito Abatement, about how he and his team are keeping the mosquito population under control.

The Colorado River Basin provides water for communities across the West, from the Front Range of Colorado to the coast of California. Increase in use, along with climate change, have resulted in extremely low water levels for the Colorado River Basin and its reservoirs. We speak with Brian Richter about the hazards of such low water levels and what is being done to mitigate the risks.

Biological soil crusts—mosses, lichens, and bacteria that live on the surface of dryland soils—perform crucial functions in desert ecosystems. Some species make nitrogen available for nearby plants. Others are huge carbon sinks. In this episode, Michala Phillips, a postdoctoral researcher at the Southwest Biological Science Center, explains how drought, temperature increases, and physical disturbances threaten the survival of these organisms.

When it comes to arid climates, junipers are some of the toughest trees around. But in the past two years, southeastern Utah has seen huge swathes of them die off. In this episode, Steven Kannenberg, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Utah, explains why so many junipers are struggling to survive.

A unique combination of events came together at the end of Permian time (250 million years ago)that resulted in the extinction of more the 90% of living species. We talk with Dr. Benjamin Burger about what earth looked like during this period and what led to such a drastic change in environment and life.

Join scientists Chris Benson and Terry Dial on a geology tour of Moab, Utah! This 50-mile scenic driving loop includes information on the spectacular geology surrounding Moab. This 50-mile scenic driving loop includes six stops with audio by local geologist - 4-wheel drive recommended - 2-wheel drive option - Plan 3-4 hours - Join caravan Friday, 18 September 2-6p Download map at www.moab-scifest.org

Extreme heat can be dangerous and is often called the "silent killer". We talk with Kirsten Goldstein, a grad student at Utah State University in Climate Adaptation Science, who studies how people perceive the risk of heat to their health. A person’s perception can influence their behavior and the we discuss the methods Kirsten uses to try and understand perceptions relating to how hot people feel.

Sixty years after its creation, Lake Powell faces an uncertain future with increasing drought and limited runoff into the Colorado River Basin. Here we speak with Jack Schmidt and Eric Kuhn about the policies and politics of reservoirs along the Colorado River. Jack Schmidt is a professor at Utah State University’s Center for Colorado River studies and Eric Kuhn is an engineer and was general manager for the Colorado River Water Conservation District for 37 years. We discuss the role Lake Powell plays in the Colorado River Basin and how climate change, politics, and water-use policies affect the reservoir’s future.

There is a lot of Western science happening here on the Colorado Plateau but there is also long-held Indigenous knowledge that is centered on knowing this place. Here, we speak with Jim Enote about these two different knowledge systems. Jim is a Zuni writer, farmer and CEO of the Colorado Plateau Foundation. Jim is also a trained scientist and we talk with him about the different ways that Western scientists and Indigenous communities both understand the world and maintain knowledge. Jim explains how we can begin to speak across those understandings to make the world better for both people and the natural environment.

Wildfires often result in increased flooding of an area. We talk with Natalie Gillard, a graduate student in watershed sciences at Utah State University, who is studying how wildfires affect fish and other aquatic wildlife downstream of burnt areas.

Outcrops of Cretaceous Cedar Mountain Formation in Grand County, Utah contain dinosaur fauna found nowhere else in the world. We talk with Dr. James Kirkland, state paleontologist for the Utah Geological Survey about his discoveries of these unique dinosaur species and how the salt tectonics of the area is key to preserving these rare fauna from the Cretaceous time.

The Colorado Plateau has a long history of uranium mining. That history is especially apparent within the Navajo Nation, which has hundreds of abandoned uranium mines. Tailings and raw material from these mines can still be found in the open air within the Navajo Nation. Tribal communities have unique exposure pathways to uranium and other heavy metals. Here, we speak with Dr. Tommy Rock about his work to uncover these exposure pathways and the work he does to engage and empower his community.

The Colorado River Basin has experienced incredibly large flood events in the past. Present-day river deposits can be used to understand the size and timing of floods that have happened within the region. Here, we speak with Dr. Vic Baker who studies what he calls Paleoflood Hydrology. We talk about the ways he and his team determine how big flood events were and how we can understand the possibility of floods into the future.

Traditional ecological knowledge(s) are knowledge systems held by Indigenous peoples. They are long-held sets of knowledge and awarenesses about the world that are passed from one generation to the next. The knowledge is based on observations and information accumulated through time, similar to western science. Here we speak with scholar and activist Daisy Purdy about traditional ecological knowledge and its relationship with western science.

Birds rely on riparian areas of SE Utah and the Colorado Plateau and as the ecosystems change along the banks of these rivers, there is real impact on bird populations and species. Sean Mahoney, PhD candidate at Northern Arizona University, speaks with us about his work with birds that inhabit and migrate through the rivers of the Colorado Plateau. We talk about how they are being affected as climate, water levels, and invasive species make their mark on the banks of these rivers.

Natural shifts in light and dark are critical to all forms of life. We talk with naturalist and dark skies advocate Crystal White about what darkness means to ecosystems and people. We also talk about the different ways that dark skies are being threatened and what is being done to protect them.