Meet Graduate Researcher Nic Beres

Meet Graduate Researcher Nic Beres

Meet Nic Beres, a Ph.D. student in atmospheric sciences. At DRI, Beres is working with Dr. Hans Moosmüller from the Division of Atmospheric Science (DAS) in Reno to study the mechanisms by which light-absorbing impurities such as dust reduce surface reflectance of...

Preparing for the Floods That Follow the Fires

Preparing for the Floods That Follow the Fires

A conversation with Guo Yu and Jeremy Giovando about their new research examining post-fire flood frequency. The study expands on previous frameworks to account for the compounding impacts of repeated wildfires on flood risk, using a southern California watershed as a case study.

Community vulnerability is influenced by various determinants beyond socioeconomic status and plays a crucial role in COVID-19 disparities. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a novel community vulnerability index (CVI) related to temporal variations in COVID-19 incidence to provide insights into spatial disparities and inform targeted public health interventions in Clark County, Nevada. Utilizing data from the American Community Survey and other sources, 23 community measures were identified at the census tract level. The CVI was constructed using a lagged weighted quantile sum (LWQS) regression linking these measures to the monthly COVID-19 incidence from March 2020 to November 2021. The Besag–York–Mollié model subsequently evaluated the spatial association between the CVI and COVID-19 incidence, controlling for temporal and spatial autocorrelations. This study identified minority status, housing inadequacy, and inactive commuting as primary contributors to the CVI that consistently influenced COVID-19 vulnerability over time. The CVI demonstrated significant spatial disparities, with higher values found in northern Clark County and the northeastern Las Vegas metropolitan area. Spatial analyses revealed varying associations between COVID-19 incidence and the CVI across census tracts, with significant associations clustered in the northern and eastern regions of the Las Vegas metropolitan area. These findings advance our understanding of the complex interplay between community conditions and COVID-19. The CVI framework may be applied to other COVID-19 outcomes such as testing, vaccination, and hospitalization, offering a valuable tool for assessing and addressing community vulnerability.

Community vulnerability is influenced by various determinants beyond socioeconomic status and plays a crucial role in COVID-19 disparities. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a novel community vulnerability index (CVI) related to temporal variations in COVID-19...

Tim Minor

Tim Minor

Timothy Minor Tim.Minor@dri.edu 775-673-7477 Hourly Research Scientist GIS/Remote Sensing Emeritus Scholar Division of Earth and Ecosystem Sciences Hourly Temporary Faculty (LOA)

Tiffany Pereira Blends Art and Science in New Mojave Seedling Guide

Tiffany Pereira Blends Art and Science in New Mojave Seedling Guide

The ecologist and illustrator created a first-of-its-kind seedling guide to help land managers and community members identify native plant seeds and aid with restoration work. DRI sat down with Pereira for more information about her goals and inspiration for the project, the benefits of fusing art with science, and the miracles contained in the tiniest seeds.

Long Science in the Nevada Bristlecone Preserve

Long Science in the Nevada Bristlecone Preserve

Ancient bristlecone pines have been collecting data for us for millennia. Anne Heggli’s research aims to provide a nearly microscopic look at how the climate in the Great Basin is changing, from hour to hour and season to season. With scientific monitoring equipment positioned from the floor of the Great Basin’s Spring Valley up to the peak of Mount Washington, her project examines temperature fluctuations, atmospheric information, and snowpack insights across the region’s ecosystems.

Timothy Wallace

Timothy Wallace UAS Operator/Pilot Division of Atmospheric Sciences Hourly Temporary Faculty (LOA)