Protecting local ecosystems and inspiring future STEM leaders are key priorities for Avnet Cares. Through a recent grant to the Desert Botanical Garden (DBG) in Phoenix, Arizona, Avnet Cares is helping advance innovative monarch butterfly research that could play an important role in conservation efforts across Arizona and the Southwest.
The grant supports DBG's work to better understand monarch butterfly migration patterns using a new generation of lightweight, solar-powered radio tags. Unlike traditional wing tags, the technology enables researchers and community scientists to collect real-time data on monarch movement, helping answer important questions about how butterflies travel through Arizona and where they spend the winter.
To learn more about the project firsthand, a group of 15 Avnet employees visited the Desert Botanical Garden in October. During the visit, employees heard directly from researchers about the monarch study, explored the innovative tracking technology being used in the field and toured the Garden's butterfly pavilion, where they observed monarchs up close and gained a deeper appreciation for the species' unique journey through Arizona.
The project reflects two important Avnet Cares focus areas: environmental sustainability and STEM education. In addition to supporting research that will help guide future conservation efforts, the program provides hands-on learning opportunities for interns pursuing careers in science, conservation and horticulture.
By investing in technology-driven research and engaging employees with organizations making a difference in our communities, Avnet Cares is helping create a stronger connection between innovation, education and environmental stewardship. Avnet is proud to support the Desert Botanical Garden's efforts to protect monarch butterflies and advance scientific understanding of one of nature's most remarkable migrations.