The Desert Research Institute, as a member of the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE), is committed to Nevada's K-12 education system and the professional development of its teachers. DRI emphasizes "teaching the teachers," so they can bring real world knowledge back into their classrooms. The Institute sponsors or co-sponsors many activities that directly benefit Nevada teachers and their students. See the list below to learn more about our K12 educational outreach activities.
DRI places a statewide emphasis on K-12 partnership. Our goal is to achieve maximum impact on key K-12 science education problems through strategically selected initiatives.
DRI's Science Box Program provides portable suitcases containing scientific specimens or multicultural artifacts as well as curriculum material supports professional development of Nevada teachers while directly impacting all of Nevada’s K-12 teachers and students who use the boxes in their classrooms. In 2006 about 260 teachers used the boxes, reaching an estimated 8000 students.
GreenPower supports non-fossil fuel energy demonstration projects and education at schools in both northern and southern Nevada. This eight-year-old program, administered by DRI, involves partnerships in both northern and southern Nevada with the local power companies, their customers, and school districts. The program’s classroom component is designed to make students more aware of renewable energy potential.
The Shadow Ridge/Tule Springs Geoscience Education Project is an NSF-funded collaboration among UNLV, DRI, Nevada Power, and the Shadow Ridge High School in Las Vegas. Its purpose is to design an innovative earth system science curriculum. The project incorporates authentic research at the Tule Springs archaeological and paleontological site into the curricula (the site is less than 300 feet from the school). The program resulted in initiation of the first earth science honors class in the Clark County School District and involves about 165 students per semester. This course will be a permanent offering for 9th grade students at Shadow Ridge High School.