Everyone who works in a national park enjoys a unique experience, but for Jackson “Jax” Maldonado, his summer 2023 internship put all his educational and research interests to work at some of the highest elevations in Rocky Mountain National Park. Jax’s work in community science was represented in a poster presentation at the March 6-7, 2024, Rocky Mountain National Park Biennial Research Conference in Estes Park.
Jax, a senior at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, majoring in biology and psychology, was assigned to work at the Alpine Visitor Center and tasked with developing a new Community Science Project. With recent experience doing plant and pollinator work at Yosemite National Park, Jax designed a research project that will engage visitors in identifying and cataloging alpine wildflowers.
The Community Science project will have both learning and hands-on components, Maldonado said. Visitors first will learn about the tundra and wildflowers, as well as the effects of climate change. From there, with the assistance and supervision of park staff and volunteers, visitors will analyze and document plant species, growth, and distribution.
“Jackson was the perfect person to help launch the Alpine Community Science Program at Rocky. He brought enthusiasm, skill, and focus to the project,” said Interpretive Ranger Cynthia Langguth, supervisor of the Alpine Visitor Center. “He set us up to pilot the program in 2024.”
“This will add to the park’s understanding of the alpine tundra while engaging visitors in meaningful science in their national park,” Langguth continued.
In some ways, Jax is following in the footsteps of Rocky’s pioneer alpine botanist, Dr. Bettie Willard. He worked in the very plot of tundra where Willard conducted her ground-breaking research which increased understanding of the fragility of the alpine tundra and led to government policy to increase protections of these unique landscapes.
The plot Willard marked off in 1959 and used for her research is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the oldest alpine environment study plots in the world. The original plot is just 10’x10’, but protective fencing has been expanded to protect an area of 50’x40’.
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