International Circuit Rider Program
Center for International Water and Sustainability International Circuit Rider Program Globally, 2 billion people still lack access to safe water and 3.6 billion live without access to improved sanitation, with 122 million people...
DRI Nevada Medal
DRI Nevada Medal Recognizing outstanding scientific, engineering & technical achievement 2021 DRI Nevada Medal Online ViewingSea, Earth and Sky : Celebrating the Spirit of Scientific Exploration, Discovery and Innovation The...
History of the DRI Nevada Medal
History of the DRI Nevada Medal Recognizing outstanding scientific, engineering & technical achievement DRI Foundation Innovation Research Program DRI Nevada Medal Ways to Donate Nevada Medal of Science Recipients 1988 –...
Meet Tiffany Pereira, M.S.
BlogFeatured researchers
May 7, 2020
Tiffany Pereira, M.S., has been a member of the DRI community since July of 2019, and specializes in biology and scientific illustration.
Cultural Resource Management
Cultural Resource Management About Cultural Resource Management at DRI Since 1969, Desert Research Institute (DRI) anthropologists and archaeologists have worked to understand how culture and environmental conditions impact...
About CIWAS
Center for International Water and Sustainability About the Center for International Water and Sustainability DRI’s Center for International Water and Sustainability (CIWAS) was founded in 2013 to support and expand on DRI’s...
Annual Awards Presented to DRI Faculty and Staff at 2023 Celebration of Science
Awards and HonorsOn September 26 & 28, DRI held awards and recognition ceremonies at our Reno and Las Vegas campuses to honor eleven scientists and staff members for their achievements. Along with the below awardees, several faculty and staff were recognized for their long-term service to DRI for up to 25 years.
Services
Soil Characterization and Quaternary Pedology Laboratory Services Laboratory Services The DRI Soil Characterization and Quaternary Pedology Laboratory offers expertise in field and lab-based characterization of soils and...
HELP of Southern Nevada and DRI Recognize the 2022 STEM Force Graduates
AnnouncementsNews releases
May 25, 2022
HELP of Southern Nevada and DRI honored the graduates of its 2022 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) STEM Force Program.
Mary Cablk: Celebrating a Career in Canine Detection, Biology, and Remote Sensing
BlogFeatured researchers
February 15, 2023
Mary Cablk retired from DRI after 23 years. Her journey into science began with remote sensing and later pioneered new fields of science.
High Performance Computational Services (HPCS)
High Performance Computational Services (HPCS) High Performance Computational Services (HPCS) DRI’s High Performance Computational Services (HPCS) team offers cost effective, responsive, adaptable, and technologically...
Research Areas – Laboratories, Programs, Projects and Facilities
Research Areas – Laboratories, Programs, Projects and Facilities Air Quality Labs and Facilities Aerosol Physics Laboratory ASTER Laboratory Combustion Chamber Dust Entrainment and Characterization Facility Environmental...
DRI Leading $5 Million Regional Climate Adaptation Project
AnnouncementsNews releases
January 4, 2023
With $5 million from NOAA’s Climate Adaptation Partners initiative, CNAP will focus on preparing communities to address local climate hazards.
Analysis Services
Organic Analytical Laboratory Analysis Services Utilizing the skills, knowledge, and experience of the Laboratory’s scientific, technical, and engineering staff, custom research and quality assurance programs can be developed to...
Our Impact
Our Impact Working to Solve Our Most Challenging Environmental Problems DRI’s research calls on the expertise and methods of scientists from multiple scientific disciplines. More than 600 highly-skilled scientists,...
Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center Receives $4.5M for Continued Research
AnnouncementsNews releases
November 16, 2018
Reno, Nev. (Nov. 15, 2018) – The Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (SW CASC), a collaborative partnership between regional research institutions and the United States Geological Survey (USGS), recently received a...
Emissions from cannabis growing facilities may impact indoor and regional air quality, new research shows
News releasesResearch findings
September 16, 2019
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 much larger scale, according to new research from the Desert Research...
Western Regional Climate Center
Western Regional Climate Center Lab Description The Western Regional Climate Center (WRCC) in Reno, Nevada, delivers high-quality climate data services at national, regional and state levels working with NOAA partners in the...
Wellbore Logging Services
Wellbore Logging Services Hydrologic conditions vary as a function of depth in wells. DRI has developed several wellbore logging tools that can be used to identify zones where water may be flowing into or out of wells, and to...
The First Assessment of Toxic Heavy Metal Pollution in the Southern Hemisphere Over the Last 2,000 Years
News releasesResearch findings
January 11, 2024
An international team of scientists led by DRI found evidence of Southern Hemisphere heavy metal pollution preserved in Antarctic ice cores from early Andean cultures and Spanish Colonial mining that predates the Industrial Revolution by centuries.
Can Scientific Ingenuity Turn the Clock Back on Climate Change?
Featured researchersAn interview with atmospheric scientist David Mitchell, Ph.D., who first proposed research into the climate intervention research of cirrus cloud-thinning.
About DRI
About DRI Science That Matters Now We are Nevada’s non-profit research institute, founded in 1959 to empower experts to focus on science that matters. We work with communities across the state –and the world– to address their...
Home Page
Working to solve our most challenging environmental problems. Since 1959, the faculty, students, and staff at the Desert Research Institute (DRI) have advanced scientific knowledge to help solve pressing environmental challenges and improve human health.
DRI Opens Doors to Careers in Scientific Research with Student Internship Program
BlogFeatured researchers
January 19, 2023
Erick Bandala’s student interns studied ways to filter excess fluorides from drinking water during the fall 2022 semester.
DRI’s History
DRI’s History A 60-year history of impact and innovation across Nevada and around the world. In 1959, the Nevada State Legislature passed NRS396.7951, creating a division of the University of Nevada specifically devoted to...
Libraries
DRI RESEARCH LIBRARIES Welcome to the DRI Libraries The libraries are research libraries whose collections and services are developed and maintained for the support of the DRI scientific community. The libraries are open to...
New DRI Internship Program Focuses on Mentorship for Inclusion in STEM
AnnouncementsNews releases
October 26, 2021
Fourteen students from Nevada’s two-year colleges are building career skills in exciting new directions. The students are conducting hands-on research alongside DRI scientists in Reno and Las Vegas through DRI’s Research Immersion Internship Program.
Study Launches on Extreme Heat Risk in Coastal Communities
AnnouncementsNews releases
June 29, 2021
The Desert Research Institute (DRI) and the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) announce the launch of a comprehensive extreme heat risk modeling project funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to study and predict the risk of extreme heat within coastal communities.
Scientists Discover Fire Records Embedded Within Sand Dunes
AnnouncementsNews releases
May 11, 2023
A new study shows that sand dunes can serve as repositories of fire history and aid in expanding scientific understanding of fire regimes around the world.
Hundreds Around the Globe Gather Online to Hear Earth Week Message from Dr. Kathryn D. Sullivan
AnnouncementsNews releases
April 22, 2021
Hundreds Around the Globe Gather Online to Hear Earth Week Message from Scientist, Explorer Dr. Kathryn D. Sullivan During World Premiere of the Desert Research Institute Foundation’s Special Presentation The program will...
Christine Albano Receives Board of Regents 2023 Rising Researcher Award
AnnouncementsNews releases
March 10, 2023
DRI scientist Christine Albano, Ph.D., is the recipient of the 2023 Rising Researcher Award from the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) Board of Regents, in recognition of her outstanding early-career accomplishments and potential for advancing scientific knowledge in the field of earth and environmental sciences.
DRI, UNLV to Partner on Regional Climate Innovation Consortium
AnnouncementsNews releases
January 29, 2024
The National Science Foundation (NSF) today announced a multi-institutional consortium – which includes UNLV and DRI – to confront the climate challenges facing the desert Southwest and spur economic development in the region.
New USDA Grant Will Fund COVID-19 Rapid Response Toolkit for Tribal Extension Agents
AnnouncementsNews releases
July 23, 2020
Reno, Nev. (July 23, 2020) – Several members of the Native Waters on Arid Lands (NWAL) project team, led by Maureen McCarthy, Ph.D., of the Desert Research Institute (DRI) in Reno, have been awarded a $300k grant from the US...
Governor Sandoval, President Averyt meet with Ghanaian President Akufo-Addo during Trade Mission
AnnouncementsNews releases
July 30, 2018
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 Africa wrapped up in Ghana on Sunday. Coordinated by the Governor’s...
New USDA Grant to Support Climate Resilience Planning in Indian Country
AnnouncementsNews releases
January 13, 2022
A new USDA grant will fund the “Native Climate” project, which will build relationships and narrow the climate justice gap in Native American communities of the Intermountain West.
New research shows impact of using shared language and building public trust in weather forecasts
News releasesResearch findings
January 22, 2019
Reno, Nev. (January 22, 2019): For meteorologists, effectively communicating weather forecasts and their related dangers is essential in maintaining the health, safety, and resilience of communities. A new study published by a...
Soil Characterization and Quaternary Pedology Laboratory
Soil Characterization and Quaternary Pedology Laboratory Lab Description The Soil Characterization and Quaternary Pedology Laboratory is a non-profit analytical laboratory that conducts a wide range of physical and chemical...
SMART Laboratory
The Statistical data analysis and Modeling of Atmosphere for Research and AI Technology (SMART) Lab studies Earth’s atmosphere and climate.
Meet Graduate Researcher Nicholas Kimutis
BlogFeatured researchers
September 29, 2021
Meet graduate researcher Nicholas Kimutis and learn about his work in DRI’s Division of Atmospheric Sciences in this interview with DRI’s Behind the Science Blog.
Contact Human Resources
Contact Human Resources Current Openings Our Hiring Process Benefits and Relocation Our Communities Diversity and Inclusion Information Title IX Contact HR Our Human Resources Team Jennifer Schultz Director of Human Resources...
DRI and the Springs Preserve Launch Adult Science Education Series
AnnouncementsNews releases
April 4, 2023
DRI, in partnership with the Springs Preserve, announces the launch of DRI Science at the Springs. In the series, which launches on April 20, DRI scientists and other guests address some of the world’s most urgent concerns while also telling the tale of what it means to live in Nevada on the front lines of a changing climate.
Projects
Soil Characterization and Quaternary Pedology Laboratory Lab Projects Desert soils are characterized by unique spatial and vertical distribution of properties (e.g. texture, soluble salts, organic matter, surface cover) that are...
Research team develops first lidar-based method for measuring snowpack in mountain forests
News releasesResearch findings
January 22, 2019
Reno, Nev. (Jan. 22, 2018): Many Western communities rely on snow from mountain forests as a source of drinking water – but for scientists and water managers, accurately measuring mountain snowpack has long been problematic....
Free citizen-science app lets users assist in research, report findings, and help Keep Tahoe Blue
AnnouncementsNews releases
May 20, 2019
South Lake Tahoe, CA (May 20, 2019) – With apps like iNaturalist and Instagram hashtags like #trashtag trending, there are increasingly more ways for budding citizen-scientists to contribute data, report concerns and get...
New study shows robust increases in atmospheric thirst across much of U.S. during past 40 years
AnnouncementsNews releases
April 6, 2022
A new study showed substantial increases in atmospheric thirst across much of the Western U.S. during the past 40 years, with the largest and most robust increases in an area centered around the Rio Grande and Lower Colorado rivers.
Visitors and residents help protect Tahoe’s environment with their smartphones
AnnouncementsNews releases
June 29, 2021
The app update will engage thousands of visitors in protecting Tahoe’s environment by quickly and easily reporting observations of aquatic invasive species, litter, water quality, algae, and more.
NWRRI Funded Projects
Nevada Water Resources Research Institute NWRRI Funded Projects The following ventures are the most recently funded projects by NWRRI. This work is supported by the U.S. Geological Survey under Grant/Cooperative Agreement No....
Local Scientists Discuss Research During First “Conversations with DRI Innovators” Event
AnnouncementsNews releases
November 13, 2020
Researchers debriefed global participants on microplastics in the environment, a new online snow tracker tool for water resource management, and the role of dogs in body recovery. Link to Event Video Presentation Available at...
Data from DRI ice core lab shows rapid melting of Greenland ice sheet
News releasesResearch findings
December 5, 2018
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 new research from an international team of...