SWSC Southwest Stormwater Center logo of a river with stormwater run off going into a filtering system.

Southwest Stormwater Center to Provide Regional Best-Practices Solutions for Stormwater Management, Financing 

Stormwater management professionals and stakeholders across the U.S. Southwest region will be able to learn about the latest, best-practices solutions for stormwater management and financing through the newly established Southwest Stormwater Center (SWSC), a regional knowledge center for new and emerging stormwater control technologies. 

DRI Awarded Grant to Advance AI and Computer Science Education for K-12 Preservice and Inservice Educators

The $2.7 million Department of Education award is a Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education grant. The four-year project will address the need to advance artificial intelligence (AI) and computer science classroom education in grades K-12. To accomplish this, training and resources will be provided to undergraduate preservice educators and those already in the classroom, with a focus on Nevada’s rural communities.

An aerial view of a green valley with mountains in the distance.

New Tool Will Help Manage One of Nevada’s Most Critical Freshwater Sources 

The Nature Conservancy in Nevada (TNC in Nevada), DRI, and the University of Wisconsin – Madison (UW-Madison) have developed the Nevada GDE Water Needs Explorer Tool. This new online resource helps land and water managers understand how groundwater supports groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) and how changes in water levels can affect them. 

Map of the contiguous United States with colors indicating 2021 Total Annual Evapotranspiration (mm) with the OpenET logo.

NASA and Partners Expand Crucial Water Tracking Program

DRI’s Charles Morton, Associate Research Scientist of Geography, who had a key role in the expansion of OpenET said, "Delivering wall-to-wall evapotranspiration data across the contiguous United States at the field scale is a major milestone for OpenET, and it’s exciting for us to imagine the future research and practical applications this expanded coverage will unlock."

Image of Beth Campbell sitting in a chair with a book in her lap.

The DRI Foundation Welcomes New Chair and Trustees for 2026

The DRI Foundation, the non-profit arm of DRI, is pleased to announce new members to its Board of Trustees. The DRI Foundation Board of Trustees work in close collaboration with DRI President Kumud Acharya and the Office of Advancement to engage and build relationships with new and existing supporters to further DRI’s work across Nevada and around the world.

View of the inside of a cave with large stalactites and stalagmites

NSHE Secures $750,000 NASA EPSCoR Grant for Research into Underground Ecosystems That Could Inform the Search for Life Beyond Earth

The Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) has secured a $750,000 grant from NASA’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) to study unique underground ecosystems powered by radiation instead of sunlight. The findings could help guide NASA’s search for life beneath the surfaces of Mars and icy worlds elsewhere in the solar system.

A museum exhibit featuring solar radiation.

DRI, Atomic Museum Launch Free Field Trip Program Titled “Exploring the Invisible” for Grades 6-12

DRI, in partnership with the Atomic Museum, announces an innovative and accessible field trip program titled “Exploring the Invisible: A Hands-On Journey into Radiation Science.” Designed to ignite curiosity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) as well as connect students to Nevada’s rich history, the field trip includes free admission and transportation for participants.

Student researchers sorting through microplastics on the beach.

DRI Internships Offer TMCC Students Insight Into Science Careers 

This summer, DRI brought eighteen students from Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) to our Reno campus for a paid, immersive research experience. Over the course of the ten week program, students worked under the mentorship of DRI faculty members to learn about the process of using scientific research to solve real-world problems. This unique internship program welcomes all students, not only those pursuing majors in science.