Inaugural global initiative to address wildfires
Updated on June 20, 2024
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Today, DRI, one of our nation’s leading applied environmental research institutes, together with its Foundation, announced a new global initiative with the first in a series of summits. The event will be held at Encore Las Vegas from August 21-22, 2024.
The AWE+ initiative will promote an Adaptable World Environment of strong, resilient communities in a climate shifting world. AWE+ 2024 – Wildfire Recovery and Resilience: Working Across Silos to Drive Solutions – is a global call-to-action for communities to implement measures that support resilience and human adaptability to devastating wildfire events.
“For more than six decades, DRI has tackled global climate challenges. But fortifying communities against future environmental devastation requires more than science — it demands the diversity of thought and collective resolve of leaders and subject matter experts across the full spectrum of public and private sectors,” said DRI President Kumud Acharya.
As the intensity of wildfire events continues to escalate, the summit will bring together a cross-section of industry, government, and non-government leaders to grapple with difficult questions, share ideas, and form collaborative relationships that enable them to identify and address areas of need in their communities.
“Participants will come away with actionable strategies for cultivating measures of resilience in their communities – not only to address the sheer destruction of wildfire and its lasting effects on devastated communities but also the societal costs that are felt over a wide spectrum from the human toll in lives to firefighter safety to financial impacts and disruptions in livelihoods to air pollution exposure.” said DRI Vice President for Research Vic Etyemezian.
“AWE+ 2024 transcends the traditional conference structure by unleashing the collective energy of participants who are serious about confronting the tough issues that are necessary to drive change in policies, practices, technologies, and behaviors,” said DRI Foundation Chair Kristin McMillan Porter.
Details
Dates: August 21-22, 2024
Location: Encore Las Vegas — 3121 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Program: Agenda details
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About Desert Research Institute (DRI)
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 most pressing scientific questions. We’re proud that our scientists continuously produce solutions that better human and environmental health.
Scientists at DRI are encouraged to follow their research interests across the traditional boundaries of scientific fields, collaborating across DRI and with scientists worldwide. All faculty support their own research through grants, bringing in nearly $5 to the Nevada economy for every $1 of state funds received. With more than 600 scientists, engineers, students, and staff across our Reno and Las Vegas campuses, we conducted more than $47 million in sponsored research focused on improving peoples’ lives in 2023 alone.
At DRI, science isn’t merely academic — it’s the key to future-proofing our communities and building a better world. For more information, please visit www.dri.edu.
About DRI Foundation:
Established in 1982, the DRI Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that is led by a committed and passionate Board of Trustees. The trustees of the DRI Foundation build trustworthy relationships and create innovative programs to showcase the impact of DRI, attract followers, supporters and donors, and expand the fundraising capacity of DRI.
