Bandelier National Monument’s Natural Resource Management interns, Vanessa Luviano and Mykah Gallher. Photo by Kristen O’Hara

PEEC News:

Discover what it’s like to work behind the scenes in one of New Mexico’s most iconic landscapes at a special event hosted by the Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) at the Los Alamos Nature Center. At 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 1, Bandelier National Monument’s Natural Resource Management interns, Vanessa Luviano and Mykah Gallher, will present an engaging talk about their experiences as emerging conservation scientists.

This unique hybrid program (available both in person and live via Zoom, advance registration required) invites the public to hear firsthand about the interns’ journey into natural resource work, their daily tasks supporting wildlife and ecological research, and how their efforts contribute to the broader mission of public lands conservation.

Attendees will also gain insight into the personal highlights, challenges, and career-defining moments that have shaped their time at Bandelier.

Vanessa Luviano, a Wildlife Conservation Science major at East Texas A&M University and McNair Scholar, is currently completing a thesis on ectoparasite presence in San Clemente Island foxes. At Bandelier, she has contributed to a range of wildlife monitoring and habitat management efforts.

Mykah Gallher, also a student at East Texas A&M University, is researching elk migration in the Valles Caldera for her honors thesis. She has spent the last eight weeks working under the supervision of Bandelier biologist Sarah Milligan.

Both interns bring passion, curiosity, and a commitment to conservation science—and this is a rare opportunity to hear from the next generation of stewards working to protect Northern New Mexico’s natural treasures.

For more information and to register for this talk, visit PEEC’s website at peecnature.org/events. Stay connected on social media for updates on each week’s activities.

PEEC was founded in 2000 to serve the community of Los Alamos. It offers people of all ages a way to enrich their lives by strengthening their connections to our canyons, mesas, mountains, and skies. PEEC operates the Los Alamos Nature Center at 2600 Canyon Road, holds regular programs and events, and hosts several interest groups, from birding to hiking to butterfly watching. PEEC activities are open to everyone; however, members receive exclusive benefits such as discounts on programs and gift shop merchandise. Annual memberships start at $35. To learn more, visit peecnature.org/support/membership/.