What We Do

What We Do

WHAT WE DO CALIFORNIA NEVADA ADAPTATION PROGRAMOur mission is to improve resilience in California and Nevada by providing decision makers usable information through integrating cutting-edge physical and social science.CNAP, California Nevada Applications Program, has...

DRI Internships Offer TMCC Students Insight Into Science Careers 

DRI Internships Offer TMCC Students Insight Into Science Careers 

This summer, DRI brought eighteen students from Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) to our Reno campus for a paid, immersive research experience. Over the course of the ten week program, students worked under the mentorship of DRI faculty members to learn about the process of using scientific research to solve real-world problems. This unique internship program welcomes all students, not only those pursuing majors in science.  

Meet Ben Hatchett

Meet Ben Hatchett

Benjamin Hatchett, Ph.D., is an assistant research professor in the Division of Atmospheric Sciences at the Desert Research Institute in Reno. Ben has been a member of the DRI community since 2005 when he began as an undergraduate lab assistant. He holds a Bachelor’s...

History of the DRI Nevada Medal

History of the DRI Nevada Medal

Nevada Medal of Science Recipients 1988 - 2021 Dr. Kathryn Sullivan is a distinguished scientist, astronaut, explorer and author of Handprints on Hubble: An Astronaut’s Story of Invention. “The scale, the immensity, and power of our planet and its systems are very...

Volunteer Scientists Validate Rain and Snow Estimates

Volunteer Scientists Validate Rain and Snow Estimates

DRI scientists Guo Yu, Meghan Collins, Monica Arienzo, and Anne Heggli co-authored a new study that examines how Mountain Rain or Snow is helping improve weather forecasting models. The citizen science project collects observations of precipitation from community volunteers across the country to further scientific understanding of the environmental variables impacting where precipitation falls as either rain or snow. This information is critical for informing avalanche forecasting, road safety, and water resources management.

Meet Prakash Gautam 

Meet Prakash Gautam 

Prakash Gautam, Ph.D., is an Assistant Research Professor in the Division of Atmospheric Sciences and the Director of DRI’s Optics Lab: “Gautam Laboratory for Advanced Aerosol Dynamics and Light Scattering Research.” He has been with DRI since August 1, 2022, when he first joined as a Postdoctoral Researcher. Gautam also serves as Graduate Faculty in the Physics and Atmospheric Sciences departments at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), where he contributes graduate teaching, mentorship, and research collaboration. His work seeks to understand how atmospheric particles interact with light in order to better understand atmospheric components. 

In the following interview, Gautam shares his dual passions for physics and tennis and offers insight on creating a successful career in science.

Meet Trey Flowers

Meet Trey Flowers

Trey Flowers, Ph.D., P.E., joined DRI in March as the new Executive Director of the Division of Hydrologic Sciences. He brings a wealth of expertise in hydrology research and water resources management, having previously worked at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and Exponent. Immediately before joining DRI, he was leading the Analysis and Prediction Division at the National Weather Service’s Office of Water Prediction in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Science Alive Welcomes New Team Members

Science Alive Welcomes New Team Members

Science Alive is happy to announce this year's group of AmeriCorps members serving as our STEM Education Outreach Coordinators! Our programs and various projects are only made possible by the hard work, innovative ideas and range of expertise brought to us by our...