Article by Justin Mattson
In 2017, Idaho led the nation by having the first ever gold-tier dark sky reserve. Since then, the members of the reserve had two goals: conserve the dark sky for future generations and educate the community about the resource we have here in our backyard.
One of the requirements of being a dark sky reserve is to actively work and promote the dark sky alliance through events like star parties, seminars, and various other programming that can be done at each group’s discretion.
The grant in question falls under the Science Activation Program, and in the proposal put together by Dr. Brian Jackson the core of it was centered around the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve, and to help underserved communities.
“What Dr. Jackson and his team have been able to do is really take to heart one of our core values…And so what he’s done is he’s built a network there in the community that’s kind of a foundation by which he can let them know what they’re doing, when they’re doing seminars, when they’re doing their summer camps,” Kristen Erickson, Director of the Science Engagement & Partnerships of the NASA Science Mission Directorate, said when explaining what has made the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve STEM Network successful to them.
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View the full article on KMVT 11’s website.