Behind the Science Blog
DRI’s “Behind the Science” blog featuring our people and projects
Read the stories below to learn more about the amazing people and projects happening at DRI.
Meet Dennis Hallema, Ph.D.
Dennis Hallema, Ph.D., is an assistant research professor of hydrology with the Division of Hydrologic Sciences at DRI in Las Vegas. He specializes in data modeling and natural catastrophe research.
Inspiring solutions: DRI’s Community Environmental Monitoring Program tracks radioactivity in Nevada’s air and water
For more than 40 years, DRI’s Community Environmental Monitoring Program (CEMP) has worked to address fears about radiation exposure and provide answers to the concerned public in communities surrounding the NNSS through a simple but impactful solution: putting radioactivity data in the hands of the people.
Las Vegas student celebrates Bar Mitzvah by raising funds for Nevada Robotics program
Caleb, a Las Vegas middle schooler, chose to give back to celebrate his Bar Mitzvah. Caleb reached out to DRI’s Nevada Robotics program with a desire to help raise money to give greater access to robots for students at a Title 1 middle school in the Las Vegas area.
Seeking answers from the ashes
How did recent Sierra Nevada fires such as the Caldor, Tamarack, and Dixie impact soil properties in burned areas? An interdisciplinary team of DRI scientists has received funding from the National Science Foundation to find out.
DRI scientist Rishi Parashar receives NSF Mid-Career Advancement Award
Meet Rishi Parashar, Ph.D., who recently received a National Science Foundation (NSF) Mid-Career Advancement Award, and learn about his research in this Q&A with “DRI’s Behind the Science” Blog.
Meet Charlotte van der Nagel, Graduate Researcher
Charlotte van der Nagel is a graduate research assistant with the Division of Earth and Ecosystems Sciences at DRI in Las Vegas and a Ph.D. student in the Geoscience program at University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
DRI project contributes to an air quality win in Jakarta
This fall, DRI scientists received word that air quality monitoring guidelines and reports from a decade-old project in Indonesia had served a beneficial new purpose: providing key evidence in an important court decision that will require stricter air quality standards in the City of Jakarta.
Meet Anne Heggli, Graduate Researcher
Anne Heggli is a graduate research assistant with the Division of Atmospheric Science at DRI in Reno. She is a Ph.D. student studying atmospheric science at the University of Nevada, Reno. Learn more about Anne and her graduate research in this interview with DRI’s Behind the Science blog!
Meet Graduate Researcher Nicholas Kimutis
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.
WASH Capacity Building Program Alumni Share Career Impacts
Alumni from the Desert Research Institute’s WASH Capacity Building Program (WASHCap) recently gathered for an online Zoom panel to share some of the positive impacts that the program has had on their careers in the areas of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) across Africa and India.
Meet Alison Swallow, DRI’s 2021 Technical Employee of the Year
The recipient of DRI’s 2021 Technical Employee of the Year Award is Alison Swallow, the Project Coordinator for DRI’s Office of External Affairs and Communications. Get to know Alison in this Q&A!
From COVID-19 to Drought: Collaborating on Emerging Challenges Across Indian Country
The Native Waters on Arid Lands project’s COVID-19 Working Group is a network of partners working together to solve problems and share information across Indian Country.
DRI Honors Outstanding Contributions of Faculty and Staff at 2021 Celebration of Science
Each year, the Desert Research Institute (DRI) honors the incredible commitment and dedication of our faculty and staff through an award ceremony called the Celebration of Science. This year’s event was held virtually and recognized the winners of...