What Lies Beneath: Stories of Obscured Truths and Quiet Dangers

What Lies Beneath: Stories of Obscured Truths and Quiet Dangers

Curiosity Lab by DRI sunburst logo over an image of a blurry overlay obscuring multicolored bottles underneath.

Join us for an evening that uncovers the dangers, truths, and meanings that often remain just out of sight. Through science, art, history, and personal reflection, this program invites you to look beneath the surface—at the hidden risks, overlooked details, and subtle forces that shape how we move through the world.

You’ll hear about efforts to detect threats earlier and more precisely, alongside stories that explore how a simple shift in perspective can alter our understanding of safety, meaning, and connection. Whether buried in the ground, embedded in memory, or woven into the fabric of daily life, the unseen has a profound impact on what we believe and how we act.

Come discover how looking closer—and looking differently—can transform what we think we know about the world and our place within it.

Refreshments & cocktails from 10 Torr Distillery and Brewery will be provided.

$15 – General Admission
$10 – Discounted Tickets for Students and Educators

Purchase Tickets!

Storytellers:

Photo of Justin smiling and standing outside with arms on hips in front of a river bank. Justin Toller is a geophysicist at the Desert Research Institute, where he leads and collaborates with multidisciplinary teams on Department of Defense projects focused on detecting landmines and characterizing environments that challenge mobility and communication. Their work applies advanced geophysical techniques to address complex, real-world problems.

Justin holds a Masters of Science in Geophysics, a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and Astronomy from Northern Arizona University, with minors in Philosophy and Mathematics. During his studies, he worked at Lowell Observatory as both an educator and research assistant, balancing research with delivering engaging science lectures to diverse audiences. This experience sparked a lasting passion for science communication, which he hoped to continue alongside his research. At the core of his work is a drive to learn, grow, and create positive change through science, education, and meaningful collaboration.

 

Headshot of Kendra wearing glasses against a neutral background. Dr. Kendra Isable is a recent graduate from the University of Nevada, Reno’s department of Anthropology. Her research investigates how socially constructed labels impact the distribution and quality of care and the ways in which that manifests in the human skeletal remains of African and African American individuals. As a first generation college student, Kendra has traversed academia for nearly a decade and a half, earning four degrees from three other academic institutions in southern California prior to her doctorate. As of late, Kendra works as the Assistant Academic Director at a local non-profit where she teaches English as a second language and assists with various administrative tasks to support the director and the institution as a whole. She remains committed to educating and supporting people in reaching their academic and professional goals while continuing her own learning journey in life.

Thank you to our community partners Nevada Humanities
and our beverage sponsor 10 Torr Distillery and Brewery.

Nevada Humanities Logo            10 Torr Distillery and Brewery Logo

 

Map showing DRI's Reno Campus where Curiosity Lab will be held on Raggio Pkwy.

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