Mission

The California Desert Studies Consortium was originally established "to encourage the understanding of, and appreciation for, the California deserts by developing student academic skills and public awareness through a desert studies program that includes instruction, research, and special programs." Desert studies includes aspects of biology, ecology, meteorology, geology, archaeology, anthropology, geography, history, and other disciplines as they relate to the study of California’s three deserts. As currently envisioned, the Consortium's mission is to facilitate education, research, and creative activities related to the desert environment and promote use of the Desert Studies Center. 

The purpose of the CSU Desert Studies Center is to provide the infrastructure, resources, and spaces that are essential to support the Consortium’s mission, i.e., to facilitate immersive, experiential learning and research that improve understanding, appreciation, and conservation of California's deserts and their natural and cultural resources. Our vision is to be the premier alliance for desert education and research in the state.