Meet Nicholas Beres, a second year student of the Atmospheric Sciences graduate program, working in the Laboratory for Aerosol Science, Spectroscopy, and Optics (LASSO) at DRI.

What brought you to DRI?

My interest in DRI began when I moved to Reno to pursue my undergraduate degree in 2004. Although I was studying mathematics, growing up in the Reno/Tahoe area had given me an intrinsic appreciation for the conservation of the environment and Earth’s natural beauty. After discovering that DRI conducted cutting-edge research of the environment I became very interested in finding out more information about the institute and researchers here. Two years after receiving my bachelor’s degree and after a multi-month road trip exploring the national parks across the United States, I decided to find out more about DRI and the life of graduate students working here. I have to give credit to former DAS Graduate Program Director, Dr. Michael Kaplan, for helping me find a place here. He was instrumental in making sure that I would thrive here at DRI and that DRI would benefit from my presence.

What are you studying? What research projects are you working on? And who at DRI are you working with?

Nicholas Beres in the Maldives Climate Observatory in Hanimaadhoo, Republic of Maldives, during the CARDEX campaign.I am in my second year of the Atmospheric Sciences graduate program, working in the Laboratory for Aerosol Science, Spectroscopy, and Optics (LASSO) here at DRI. I work closely with Dr. Hans Moosmüller and Dr. Rajan Chakrabarty in the Department of Atmospheric Science. Current projects for me include exploring the radiative properties of carbonaceous aerosols and building novel instrumentation to help characterize those properties. I recently returned from a field experiment in the Maldives with Dr. Eric Wilcox where I was part of an international team to help understand how air pollution affects cloud dynamics on the local and regional scale. I feel very fortunate to be a part of such exciting science here at DRI.

What are your short-term and long-term goals while at DRI?

Through both research and education, my short term goals are to contribute to the scientific research that my colleagues conduct, while simultaneously expanding my knowledge base on the key fundamentals of atmospheric science. In the end, I hope to receive my graduate degree and to have made a contribution to Earth system scientific research for the betterment of DRI and the greater scientific community.

Tell us about yourself. What do you do for fun?

Nicholas Beres enjoying hiking.When I’m not at DRI or the University of Nevada, you can find me in the Sierra Nevada skiing, rock climbing, or backpacking, constantly searching for the next awe-inspiring scene. I also enjoy photography, playing the guitar, and spending time with family, friends, and others that want to explore with me.

What problem in the world troubles you most? And if given the chance and unlimited resources, how would you solve it?

Edward Abbey wrote in his book, Desert Solitaire, “Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread.” I’m a firm believer in what Abbey is stating, and I’d like to work towards curbing the human impact on our natural world as much as possible, so we can preserve its wonder and beauty for future generations to enjoy, just as I am fortunate to do.