We’re excited to share that our EAGLE MSc student, Farimah, is currently spending her internship at the renowned Gobabeb Namib Research Institute, nestled in the heart of the Namib Desert—one of the oldest and most unique desert ecosystems in the world.
Farimah’s research focuses on a fascinating topic:
“Fog penetration, seasonality, and its effects on soil moisture and the surrounding environment.”
In a desert where rainfall is scarce, fog plays a crucial role as a source of moisture, sustaining not only soil health but also the survival strategies of rare plant species and desert fauna.
But her experience goes far beyond just data analysis. Farimah’s day-to-day at Gobabeb is a dynamic mix of scientific fieldwork, environmental education, and hands-on monitoring. She regularly leads guided tours, offering visitors insights into Gobabeb’s long-standing legacy of desert research, followed by immersive nature walks to explore the surrounding terrain and its adaptive biodiversity.
In the field, Farimah is engaged in:
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Monitoring weather stations such as BSRN (Baseline Surface Radiation Network) and APS, which are essential for tracking climatic and atmospheric patterns.
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Maintaining FogNet, a specialized system designed to capture and analyze fog events across the desert landscape.
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Sampling and monitoring of the !Nara plant, a culturally and ecologically significant species endemic to the region.
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Locating and sampling rare desert plants, often requiring keen observation and ecological expertise.
To reach the more remote study sites—such as pitfall traps for insect surveys, NOAA air sampling stations, and air pollution monitoring setups—Farimah and her colleagues traverse the vast desert terrain on quad bikes, making the fieldwork both adventurous and challenging.
Her internship is not only enhancing her practical skills in environmental monitoring and ecological research, but also offering her a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live and work in one of the planet’s most striking desert ecosystems..
Stay tuned—we’re looking forward to hearing more from Farimah as she continues her journey at Gobabeb!
