Desert Data Jam
The Desert Data Jam is an annual competition hosted by the Asombro Institute for Science Education in partnership with the USDA’s Jornada Experimental Range. It challenges middle school students to find creative ways to present scientific data collected in our region to non-scientist audiences. We encourage students to get creative and find inspiration in their own interests. Past creative projects have included children’s books, songs, videos, physical models, infographics, games, and more.
Asombro educators work with students four times in their classrooms. They are also available throughout the project to answer questions.
Click the tabs above to see last year’s winning projects.
To learn more about the Desert Data Jam and other Data Jams across the country, check out some of the publications on the topic:
“Data Jams” on the LTER Network
Contact us to learn more and find out how to participate.
Monday, April 14, 2025 – Teachers will submit to Asombro a list of their top projects for entry into the final competition.
Tuesday April 22, 2025 – Final competition projects will be dropped off at New Mexico State University.
Thursday April 24, 2025 (evening) – Open house and award ceremony at NMSU
Congratulations to the 2024 Desert Data Jam winners! Their creative projects are shown below.
1st Place 2024: “Leaf Litter Decomposition ” by Salome S.
2nd Place 2024: “Home Sweet Habitat” by Ava S. and Emily C.
Tied for 3rd Place 2024:
“Playing in the Dirt” by Danica W.
AND
“Let’s Rap this Beef Up” by Demetryous G.
 | “Cow Vs. Vaca” Reality TV Show with puppets Lauren P., Emma S, Sophia G., and Lila S. |
 | “What the Cow?” Collage Jaeliene R., A’ja C. and Logan C. |
 | “Don’t Leaf the Leaf Litter” Bead Model Lyla B. |
 | “Boyz in the Dust” Lego Model Cameron A., Izaiah O., and Elias G. |
 | “Take Me Out To the Shrublands” Infographic Daytona W. and Paige A. |
 | “Smile Animals, You’re on Camera” Song Ava M. and Sara M. |
 | “Graze Cows, Graze!” Crochet cows Emma C. and Matthew M. |
 | “Season Stitches” Crochet Model Kayla B. and Khloee L. |
 | “Bump, Set, Graze” Volleyball model Briannah O. and Alexa C. |
 | “New Mexico Wildlife Merit Badges” Merit Badge Inforgraphic Tyler F. |
 | “Kick Off to the Wild” Soccer Model Rayanna R. and Jules D. |
 | “Moo-sical Cow” Music Composition Riley R. and Sofia B. |
 | “Leaf Litter Mass Collected in Three Years” Bead Model Eva L., Iliya L. and Adrian F. |
 | “Angus vs. Raramuri” Infographic Bailey W. and Iliya O.
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 | “Turning the Other Leaf” Candle Model Ryan W., Jakob, G., Augustine B.
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Dr. Kris Havstad addresses students and parents at one of the earliest Desert Data Jam award ceremonies.
First place project “Shrub Shenanigans”, 2018.
Honorable Mention “Moo-sical Cow”, 2024.