The Desert Research Institute (DRI), a prominent environmental research organization, has announced the launch of a global initiative with its first summit set to take place at Encore Las Vegas from August 21-23, 2024. This event is part of the AWE+ initiative aimed at fostering resilient communities in response to climate change.
The theme for this year’s summit is “Wildfire Recovery and Resilience: Working Across Silos to Drive Solutions.” It calls for communities worldwide to adopt strategies that enhance resilience and adaptability in the face of increasing wildfire incidents. DRI President Kumud Acharya emphasized the need for diverse perspectives and collaboration among leaders from both public and private sectors to address these challenges.
The summit aims to bring together experts from various fields, including industry, government, and non-government organizations, to discuss solutions for community resilience against wildfires. DRI Vice President for Research Vic Etyemezian stated that participants will leave with actionable strategies addressing not only the immediate destruction caused by wildfires but also their long-term societal impacts.
Kristin McMillan Porter, Chair of the DRI Foundation, highlighted that “AWE+ 2024 transcends the traditional conference structure by unleashing the collective energy of participants who are serious about confronting the tough issues.”
The Desert Research Institute was founded in 1959 as Nevada’s non-profit research institute. It focuses on scientific inquiries important to communities locally and globally. In 2023 alone, DRI conducted over $47 million in sponsored research aimed at improving human and environmental health.
