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As a non-profit, we rely on your support to continue our legacy of environmental research. With a gift to DRI, you’ll provide the resources our scientists need to better understand and address the problems posed by our changing planet. Give today to support DRI scientists as they develop scientific knowledge and work to solve our most pressing environmental challenges.
Nevada Science, Global SolutionsFor nearly 60 years, the Desert Research Institute (DRI) has excelled in scientific research and the application of technologies to improve lives throughout Nevada and the world. With campuses in Reno and Las Vegas, DRI serves as the non-profit research arm of the Nevada System of Higher Education.
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SCIENCE SERVING SOCIETYSince 1959, DRI's research has advanced scientific knowledge, supported Nevada's diversifying economy, provided science-based educational opportunities, and informed policy makers, business leaders, and community members. Committed to scientific excellence and integrity, DRI faculty, students, and staff develop scientific knowledge and innovative technologies, improving lives within Nevada and around the globe.
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The Desert Research Institute (DRI) is a recognized world leader in investigating the effects of natural and human-induced environmental change and advancing technologies aimed at assessing a changing planet. For more than 60 years DRI research faculty, students, and staff have applied scientific understanding to support the effective management of natural resources while meeting Nevada's needs for economic diversification and science-based educational opportunities.
Click below to explore some of DRI's research capabilities and global impact
DRI News and Announcements
Wed, 19 Feb 2020
Warmer, Drier, Browner: Climate Scientists Connect Drought and Human-Caused Climate Change
New research outlining the impact of human-induced warming on temperature rise during the 2018 Four Corners Drought was recently published in the Bulletin of the...
Thu, 06 Feb 2020
Desert Research Institute to lead Nevada’s new Regional STEM Networks
Reno & Las Vegas, NV (Feb. 6, 2020): The Desert Research Institute (DRI) and the Nevada Governor’s Office of Science, Innovation, and Technology (OSIT) today...
Mon, 09 Dec 2019
DRI Foundation Appoints New Trustees, Welcomes New Officers for 2020
Las Vegas, NV (December 6, 2019): The Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents today approved the following appointments and election of officers to the...
Mon, 25 Nov 2019
2020 DRI Nevada Medal of Science to honor Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, first American woman to…
RENO, Nev. (Nov. 25, 2019) - The Desert Research Institute (DRI) is pleased to announce the selection of Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, a distinguished scientist, astronaut...
Mon, 30 Sep 2019
DRI Launches Two New Projects to Study Hydrology at The Nature Conservancy’s 7J Ranch…
Scientists will investigate water quality and flow in critical desert wetland habitat LAS VEGAS,NEV. (Sept. 30, 2019) —The Desert Research Institute (DRI) is pleased to announce the...
Mon, 16 Sep 2019
Emissions from cannabis growing facilities may impact indoor and regional air quality, new research shows
RENO, Nev. (Sept. 16, 2019) - The same chemicals responsible for the pungent smell of a cannabis plant may also contribute to air pollution on a...
Thu, 05 Sep 2019
NSHE Board of Regents Appoint Interim President of DRI
Dr. Kumud Acharya, an ecological engineer and long-time Desert Research Institute faculty member, was given a two-year contract. Media Contact: Francis McCabe, (702) 290-8971, fmccabe@nshe.nevada.edu CARSON CITY...
Wed, 03 Jul 2019
Lead pollution in Arctic ice shows economic impact of wars, plagues, famines from Middle Ages…
RENO, Nev. (July 8, 2019) – How did events like the Black Death plague impact the economy of Medieval Europe? Particles of lead trapped deep...
Mon, 24 Jun 2019
Alison Murray selected to co-lead NASA’s Network for Ocean Worlds
New initiative will guide search for life in ice-covered water worlds beyond Earth (Reno, Nevada – June 24, 2019) – Desert Research Institute microbial oceanographer and...
Sat, 22 Jun 2019
DRI President Kristen Averyt Resigns, Dr. Kumud Acharya Named Officer in Charge
Dr. Kristen Averyt announced her resignation for personal reasons on Monday. The search for a new president of the Desert Research Institute will begin with...
Tue, 04 Jun 2019
Researchers identify connection between more frequent, intense heat events and deaths in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nev. (June 4, 2019) - Over the last several decades, extreme heat events around the world—particularly in the North American Southwest—have gotten hotter...
Fri, 31 May 2019
Statement on the passing of Robert and Robin Holman
On behalf of the faculty and staff of the Desert Research Institute and the Board of Trustees of the DRI Foundation, we were deeply saddened...
Mon, 20 May 2019
Free citizen-science app lets users assist in research, report findings, and help Keep Tahoe Blue
South Lake Tahoe, CA (May 20, 2019) - With apps like iNaturalist and Instagram hashtags like #trashtag trending, there are increasingly more ways for budding...
Thu, 09 May 2019
Population health study "Healthy Nevada Project" goes statewide, adding 25,000 participants
The study could expand to a quarter million people, making Nevada the only state in the U.S. to offer such a program Las Vegas, Nev. (May...
Wed, 08 May 2019
Traces of Roman-era pollution stored in the ice of Mont Blanc
RENO, Nev. (May 8, 2019) – Last spring, an international team of researchers led by Joe McConnell, PhD, Director of the Ultra Trace Ice Core...
Tue, 07 May 2019
North Atlantic Ocean productivity has dropped 10 percent during Industrial era
RENO, Nev. (May 7, 2019) - This week, new research outlining the steady decline of phytoplankton productivity in the North Atlantic since the Industrial Revolution...
Thu, 02 May 2019
Forest fires accelerating snowmelt across western U.S., new study finds
RENO, Nev. (May 2, 2019) - Forest fires are causing snow to melt earlier in the season, a trend occurring across the western U.S. that...
Wed, 01 May 2019
Upcoming Festival to Highlight Science and Technology in Local Schools
RENO, Nev. (May 1, 2019) – From May 13th to 17th, the Desert Research Institute (DRI) and the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum (The...
Wed, 24 Apr 2019
DRI and The Discovery Launch First-Ever Northern Nevada Science & Technology Festival
Week-long celebration of science set for May 13-17th RENO, Nev. (April 24, 2019) – From May 13th to 17th, the Desert Research Institute (DRI) and the...
Tue, 23 Apr 2019
MWA Welcomes Desert Research Institute as Newest MWA Member
Washington, DC (April 23, 2019) – The Millennium Water Alliance is pleased to announce that the Desert Research Institute, part of the Nevada System of...
Tue, 16 Apr 2019
Nevada Higher Education Institutions Partner with Tesla in New Robotics Academy For Teachers
Program to offer K-12 teacher trainings developed by DRI, UNR and UNLV Reno, Nev. (April 16, 2019) - The Desert Research Institute (DRI), University of Nevada...
Mon, 08 Apr 2019
DRI researchers successfully remove harmful hormones from Las Vegas wastewater using green algae
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (April 8, 2019) – A common species of freshwater green algae is capable of removing certain endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) from wastewater, according...
Wed, 27 Mar 2019
U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto to join Desert Research Institute at "Science Behind Smarter Communities"…
April 25th event in Las Vegas to celebrate Institute's 60th AnniversaryLas Vegas, NV (March 27, 2019): The Desert Research Institute (DRI) is proud to announce that...
Wed, 20 Mar 2019
Floating evaporation stations deployed at Lake Powell
RENO, Nev. (March 20, 2019) - In the western United States, reservoirs are critical for storing water that can later be used by cities and...
Fri, 01 Mar 2019
Monica Arienzo receives Board of Regents 2019 Rising Researcher Award
Reno, Nev. (March 1, 2019): This week, the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) Board of Regents awarded Monica Arienzo, Ph.D. of the Desert Research...
Tue, 26 Feb 2019
Dandini Research Park Board reappoints two Trustees and names new and continuing officers
RENO, Nev. (February 26, 2019) - The Dandini Research Park, governed by DRI Research Parks, Ltd, a 501(c)3 corporation organized by the Nevada System of Higher...
Tue, 26 Feb 2019
DRI Research Foundation names new chair, officers and fellows
RENO, Nev. (Feb. 26, 2019) – The Board of Trustees of the Desert Research Institute (DRI) Research Foundation are pleased to announce the unanimous approval of...
Thu, 21 Feb 2019
DRI scientist honored with California's premier air quality award
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (February 21, 2019) – The California Air Resources Board today honored recipients of the 2018 Haagen-Smit Clean Air Awards, California’s premier award recognizing individuals who...
Wed, 20 Feb 2019
Study provides new insight into how microbes process nitrogen
Reno, Nev. (February 20, 2019): Microbes play a key role in Earth’s nitrogen cycle, helping to transform nitrogen gas from the atmosphere back and forth...
Tue, 22 Jan 2019
New research shows impact of using shared language and building public trust in weather forecasts
Reno, Nev. (Tuesday, January 22nd) – For meteorologists, effectively communicating weather forecasts and their related dangers is essential in maintaining the health, safety, and resilience...
Tue, 22 Jan 2019
Research team develops first lidar-based method for measuring snowpack in mountain forests
Reno, Nev. (Jan. 22, 2018): Many Western communities rely on snow from mountain forests as a source of drinking water – but for scientists and...
Thu, 03 Jan 2019
New study identifies atmospheric conditions that precede wildfires in the Southwest
Reno, Nev. (January 3, 2018): To protect communities in arid landscapes from devastating wildfires, preparation is key. New research from the Desert Research Institute (DRI)...
Mon, 03 Dec 2018
Data from DRI ice core lab shows rapid melting of Greenland ice sheet
Reno, Nev. (Dec. 5, 2018): The melting of the Greenland ice sheet has increased rapidly in response to Arctic warming, and is likely to continue to do so into the future, according to...
Tue, 27 Nov 2018
DRI ice core data illustrates climate “teleconnection” between Earth’s poles during climate changes in the…
Reno, Nev. (Nov. 28, 2018): This week, new research on historical climate changes in the Earth’s polar regions by an international team of scientists was...
Fri, 16 Nov 2018
Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center Receives $4.5M for Continued Research
Collaborative climate research center has received renewed funding from USGS to continue climate studies and outreach throughout the U.S. Southwest. November 15, 2018 (Reno, NV) -...
Thu, 15 Nov 2018
In Memoriam – Dr. John Hallett
Please join us for the Celebration of Life for Dr. John Hallett on Monday, December 17th from 3pm-5pm in the DRI Stout Conference Center, located at...
Tue, 13 Nov 2018
First non-polar historical iodine record shows impact of fossil fuel emissions
Reno, Nev. (Nov. 13, 2018): A new ice core record from the French Alps shows impacts of fossil fuel emissions in the form of a...
Thu, 01 Nov 2018
DRI and Collaborators Awarded $6 Million Grant for Innovative Genetic Research
Project to create jobs and develop new technologies in Nevada, Maine, New Hampshire Las Vegas, NV (November 1, 2018): The Desert Research Institute, in partnership with...
Thu, 18 Oct 2018
DRI Welcomes Sheldon Flom as New Vice President for Finance and Business
Reno, NV: The Desert Research Institute proudly announced today that Sheldon Flom, CPA has been named the Institute’s new Vice President for Finance and Business. Flom has...
Thu, 18 Oct 2018
DRI Welcomes Tracy Bower as New Director of External Affairs
Las Vegas, NV: The Desert Research Institute proudly announced today that Tracy Bower has been named the Institute’s new Director of External Affairs. Bower will lead DRI’s...
Mon, 24 Sep 2018
Renown Health Appoints DRI's Joseph Grzymski, Ph.D., as Chief Scientific Officer
RENO, Nev. (Sept. 25, 2018) – Taking the next step toward expanding its landmark population health and genetics research initiative to a statewide and national level, Renown Healthtoday...
Fri, 21 Sep 2018
Interdisciplinary research team to investigate impact of changing mountain snowpack on agriculture in western US
Reno, NV (Friday, September 21) - Mountain snowpack and rainfall are the primary sources of water for the arid western United States, and water allocation...
Thu, 20 Sep 2018
DRI ice core data provides insight into how dust and precipitation reach Earth's poles
Reno, NV (September 20, 2018): In September, new research by a team from the University of California, Santa Barbara, the University of Washington, Columbia University...
Mon, 10 Sep 2018
Updated California Climate Tracker tool provides more than 120 years of climate data
Reno, NV (Sept 10, 2018): Scientists from the Western Regional Climate Center (WRCC) at the Desert Research Institute (DRI) in Reno, NV are pleased to...
Tue, 28 Aug 2018
Low-severity wildfires impact soils more than previously believed
New research shows negative effects of fire on soil structure and organic matter Las Vegas, NV (August 28, 2018): Low-severity wildland fires and prescribed burns have...
Wed, 15 Aug 2018
Significant amount of cancer-causing chemicals stays in lungs during e-cigarette use, Nevada-based researchers find
Reno, NV(August 15, 2018) – E-cigarettes have become increasingly popular as a smoke-free alternative to conventional tobacco cigarettes, but the health effects of “vaping” on humans...
Tue, 31 Jul 2018
Governor Sandoval, President Averyt meet with Ghanaian President Akufo-Addo during Trade Mission
ACCRA, GHANA (July 30, 2018) – Highlighted by a meeting with President Nana Akufo-Addo, the successful first leg of Governor Brian Sandoval’s trade mission to...
Fri, 20 Jul 2018
Gault site research pushes back date of earliest North Americans
Luminescence dating confirms human presence in North America prior to 16 thousand years ago, earlier than previously thought July 20, 2018 (Reno, NV) - For decades, researchers believed the Western Hemisphere was settled...
Thu, 19 Jul 2018
Tesla selects DRI’s Science Alive program to develop statewide teacher training infrastructure focused on robotics…
Reno, NV (July 19, 2018): The Desert Research Institute is proud to announce that the DRI Science Alive K-12 Outreach Program has been selected as one...
Wed, 06 Jun 2018
DRI's Ben Hatchett wins Nature Geostory competition
Reno, NV (June 6, 2018): Benjamin Hatchett, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow with the Desert Research Institute (DRI) in Reno, has been selected as one of...
Fri, 01 Jun 2018
Craig Rosen Recognized as Nevada Sustainability Leader
NV GREEN Alliance Names DRI Science Alive Administrator 2018 Environmental Hero at Awards Gala May 22, 2018 (Las Vegas, NV) - Craig Rosen, Community Relations...
Wed, 09 May 2018
Lead pollution in Greenland ice shows rise and fall of ancient European civilizations
Reno, NV (May 14, 2018): To learn about the rise and fall of ancient European civilizations, researchers sometimes find clues in unlikely places: deep inside...
Tue, 24 Apr 2018
Ancient ‘quids’ reveal genetic information, clues into migration patterns of early Great Basin inhabitants
Las Vegas, NV (Tuesday, April 24, 2018): If you want to know about your ancestors today, you can send a little saliva to a company where –...
Tue, 24 Apr 2018
DRI launches cybersecurity internship program in collaboration with SANS Institute
Program now accepting applications for 2018 Reno, NV (Tuesday, April 24, 2018): From malware infections to attacks on critical infrastructure like electricity grids, cybercrime is a...
Tue, 20 Mar 2018
New research improves prospects for imperiled Devils Hole Pupfish in captivity
DRI study finds key differences between artificial habitat and the real Devils Hole Las Vegas, NV (Tuesday, March 20, 2018): In a first-of-its kind study of...
Thu, 15 Mar 2018
Healthy Nevada Project announces pilot study insights and phase two enrollment
Population Health Study Begins Clinical Care Integration and Opens Genomic Testing to 40,000 Nevadans Reno, Nev. (March 15, 2018) – Eighteen months ago, northern Nevada made...
Wed, 14 Mar 2018
DRI Stories in the Snow Project collects over 400 images from local citizen scientists
Detailed photographs help local scientists understand regional storms, collect weather data Reno, NV (Wednesday, March 14, 2018): No two snow crystals are alike, an old saying...
Thu, 01 Mar 2018
Board of Regents award DRI air pollution expert 2018 Rising Researcher Award
Dr. Vera Samburova Winner of 2018 Rising Researcher AwardReno, Nev. (Thursday, March 1, 2018) - The Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) Board of Regents...
Thu, 01 Feb 2018
Saving the Desert’s Upper Crust
NEXUS researchers investigate the preservation of a vital component of desert ecosystems To a casual observer, desert lands may appear a barren vista of sand and soil...
Wed, 17 Jan 2018
Scientists investigate northern Sierra Nevada snow droughts
New research from DRI explores root causes of declining snowpack levels Reno, NV (Wednesday, January 17, 2018): The Lake Tahoe Basin and northern Sierra Nevada are currently...