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Native Climate Team Holds Indigenous Education Workshop
The Desert Research Institute’s Native Climate education team, Ileah Kirchoff and Crystal Miller, hosted a collaborative workshop between the Walker River Paiute Tribe and the Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe on May 4, 2024. The session focused on Indigenous curriculum development and the incorporation of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), particularly in lessons about the climate crisis.
River ‘Plastisphere’ Serves as Home to Ecosystem-Draining Organisms
New research explores the microbial communities that live on plastic waste and how they impact the 2nd most biodiverse river in the world. DRI researchers Monica Arienzo and Rachel Kozloski are co-authors on this new study that examines the ecological impacts of plastic waste in Cambodia’s Mekong River.
Western Agricultural Communities Need Water Conservation Strategies to Adapt to Future Shortages
Relying on water storage won’t be enough to make up for declines in future water availability under a changing climate, new study shows. Beatrice Gordon, lead author of the study and sociohydrologist and postdoctoral researcher at DRI, says the research is needed to inform water management at the local level, where most decisions are made.
2026 Season Tickets Now Available!
For the 2026 season of Curiosity Lab by DRI, satisfy your curiosity by exploring the wonders of environmental science! Dive into fascinating topics like earth, water, and air research, and discover how science sparks creativity. Join us as we help answer your questions on the most pressing scientific issues and showcase Science That Matters Now.
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Since 1959, the faculty, students, and staff at DRI have advanced scientific knowledge to help solve pressing environmental challenges and improve human health. With more than 600 employees, over 300 projects on all seven continents, and two world-class research campuses in Reno and Las Vegas, DRI serves as one of the eight institutions in the Nevada System of Higher Education.
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