News & Announcements
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 400 highly-skilled scientists, engineers, technicians, students, and staff work collaboratively within and across four research divisions, focused on understanding and answering critical science questions about global climate change, water quality and availability, air quality, the sustainability of desert lands, life in extreme environments, education, and more.
Consortium Launches New Online Water Data Platform to Transform Water Management in the Western United States as Droughts Intensify
Desert Research Institute scientists led by Dr. Justin Huntington have been working in collaboration with NASA, EDF, Google, HabitatSeven, and others to launch a new online water data platform, OpenET, to help 17 western states develop more resilient water supplies amid record drought.
Early Human Activities Impacted Earth’s Atmosphere More Than Previously Known
An international team of researchers led by Desert Research Institute analyzed ice core samples from Antarctica’s James Ross Island and found early human activity caused significant changes to the earth’s atmosphere. Their findings were just released in a new Nature journal article.
Fire tornado prediction tools to be developed for public safety during extreme wildfires
University of Nevada, Reno and DRI researchers are building the predictive and diagnostic tools that will transform the understanding of fire-generated extreme weather and pave the way for future life-saving warnings to firefighters and the general public.
Yi Zhang of Princeton University Receives DRI’s 23rd Annual Wagner Award for Women in Atmospheric Science
DRI is pleased to announce that the 23rd annual Peter B. Wagner Memorial Award for Women in Atmospheric Sciences has been awarded to Yi Zhang, Ph.D., of Princeton University.
DRI Research Professor Dr. Michael Dettinger Awarded 2021 Tyndall Lecture
DRI announced that research professor Michael Dettinger, Ph.D., has been selected by the American Geophysical Union (AGU) to give this year’s Tyndall Lecture at the Fall 2021 AGU meeting.
Study shows a recent reversal in the response of western Greenland’s ice caps to climate change
Although a warming climate is leading to rapid melting of the ice caps and glaciers along Greenland’s coastline, ice caps in this region sometimes grew during past periods of warming, according to new research published today in Nature Geoscience.
DRI Taps Seasoned Development Executive to Lead Nationwide Environmental Fundraising Efforts
DRI is proud to welcome long-time education fundraising professional Kristin Ghiggeri Burgarello, who will serve as Director of Advancement.
Philippe Vidon, Ph.D. Appointed to Lead DRI’s Division of Earth and Ecosystem Sciences
DRI announced that Philippe Vidon, Ph.D., has been selected to lead the Institute’s Division of Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, which conducts high-quality basic and applied research in the life and Earth sciences, particularly those dealing with the complex interactions of geological processes, organisms, biological communities, and human societies on the Earth’s surface.
New Study Points to Increase in High-risk Bushfire Days in Australia
Victoria, Australia is already one of the most bushfire-prone areas in the world, and the number of high-risk days may triple by the end of the century, according to a new study in the International Journal of Wildland Fire that features work by DRI climatologist Tim Brown, Ph.D.
Nevada receives $550,000 to enhance wildfire smoke air quality monitoring technologies, public messaging in rural communities
Carson City, NV – The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) and Desert Research Institute (DRI) are excited to announce a new partnership program that will expand wildfire smoke air quality monitoring infrastructure and public information resources for...