DRI Awarded Grant to Advance AI and Computer Science Education for K-12 Preservice and Inservice Educators

By | Jan 27, 2026 | Announcements

The $2.7 million Department of Education award is a Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education grant. The four-year project will address the need to advance artificial intelligence (AI) and computer science classroom education in grades K-12. To accomplish this, training and resources will be provided to undergraduate preservice educators and those already in the classroom, with a focus on Nevada’s rural communities.

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An attendee looking at the items they 3D printed with a pen on an activities table.

New Robert Z. Hawkins Foundation STEM Co-Lab Opens in Northern Nevada

By | Oct 13, 2025 | Donor Stories

Earlier this fall, the new Robert Z. Hawkins Foundation STEM Co-Lab officially opened at the DRI Northern Nevada Science Center. The Robert Z. Hawkins Foundation generously provided funding to support the purchase of the necessary materials and equipment for the STEM Co-Lab. This space will serve educators and students, host professional development workshops, and education events for the community.

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Monica Arienzo in a river looking at a water sample with a overlay of a Green Box kit to educators.

DRI’s STEM Education Team Receives EPA Grant to Support Microplastics Education for Nevada Students and Communities

By | Jul 24, 2024 | Announcements

The $100,000 grant will fund the production of additional educational kits known as Greenboxes that raise awareness and understanding of the prevalence and role of microplastics in the environment. In addition to the Greenboxes, the grant will also support community partnerships with The Nature Conservancy, the Walker Basin Conservancy, Get Outdoors Nevada, Sierra Nevada Journeys, and Envirolution.

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