Last updated: January 27, 2022
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Dare to Imagine: Ashley Pipkin
Women Lifting Other Women
Her enthusiasm and intelligence inspired me to start a career with the park service! She is among the most charismatic and knowledgeable people I have ever met.
Ashley is a soundscape and night sky ecologist. She examines how human noise and light pollution impact ecology, and helps develop mitigation measures.
- Rachel Sheppard
Ashley, what project would you like to highlight?
I would like to focus on the Basin and Range Dark Sky Cooperative (BRDSC). The BRDSC is a group of regional dark sky advocates all working towards protection and the celebration of night skies in the Basin and Range located in the western United States.
Will you tell us a little about that project?
The Basin and Range Dark Sky Cooperative hopes to lead the way in protecting natural nighttime environments in some of the most pristine landscapes in the west. The goal of this network is to coordinate efforts, communicate effectively, share resources and information, and provide mutual support to keep the natural night skies in the area free from light pollution and encourage communities to protect their night skies from artificial light.
The Dark Sky Cooperative does not have a legal boundary, but is instead a geographic region where public lands, tribes, communities, businesses, schools, clubs, nonprofits and citizens join to support a set of principles resulting in mutual benefits and the long-term conservation of our starry night heritage.
What was your path like? How did you get to where you are now?
Early in college I was not sure what I wanted to do, but by my second year I knew I wanted to be outside. I was not sure what that meant for my career. I started an internship early on working for the Department of Transportation doing National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) projects. In college a professor asked if I could assist with a research project in Congaree National Park. After two years in Congaree I was sure I wanted to spend my time knowing and protecting natural places. Working outdoors measuring detailed aspects of a landscape makes you appreciate a place more intimately. The harder the work the closer the connection grows. I know there are thousands of things to discover in every new place I visit and it makes it all so exciting. I get to share measurements and data that will improve understanding of both natural sounds and night skies in these precious landscapes.
What was the hardest part about getting to where you are now? How did you overcome it?
The hardest part about getting where I am arose from the challenges of the great recession and finding a career in a highly sought after field during that time. I, like so many, applied for many positions in my field with National Park Service. I overcame the challenge by determination, focus and flexibility. I didn't let other opportunities outside the agency or convenience deter me from my goal of working for the park service. As soon as any opportunities were offered, I accepted them and worked hard to become a part of the teams I was invited to work with. I worked seasonal jobs, internships, contract positions until I landed my first term position and then a permanent position with the park service. In my current position I have been able to do work that has been exciting and rewarding. My current challenges are with my workload, I find this work so important it can be hard to not do as much as I can to protect resources.
What are you most proud of?
I am most proud that I have a career that I love and that I work for an agency with such an amazing mission.I work best when the work is inspiring and I cannot think of an organization that is more inspiring than the National Park Service. Working to protect, promote, and steward night skies in the western USA and within the Basin and Range Dark Sky Cooperative, one of the last vestiges of natural night sky in the west, makes me proud every time I look at the night sky. Looking at the cosmos surrounded by the nocturnal landscape and making every effort to preserve this experience for future generations makes me prouder than any career I could have imagined for myself.
Favorite quote?
The Dare to Imagine Project is funded by an Innovation and Impact Grant provided by the National Park Foundation. This grant supports projects and programs that help the National Park Service share a more comprehensive American narrative that includes the voices of women whose vision, tenacity, and resilience moved them to climb mountains, take down barriers, shape history, protect the environment, and lead social movements. Read more of these women's stories on the Dare to Imagine page.