Desert Research Institute
Recent News About Desert Research Institute
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DRI honors faculty and staff achievements at annual awards ceremony
The Desert Research Institute (DRI) recently held its annual awards and recognition ceremonies at the Reno and Las Vegas campuses to honor faculty and staff for their achievements. The event celebrated individuals for their contributions to science, service, and public engagement.
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Grant supports clean energy education program in Nevada
The Desert Research Institute's (DRI) STEM Education Program has secured a grant from the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Environmental Management to support Nevada’s clean energy workforce pipeline. The funding, amounting to nearly $2 million, aims to equip the next generation with essential knowledge and technical skills for employment in sectors such as clean energy, waste management, and environmental remediation.
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Catherine Ivanovich wins Peter B. Wagner Memorial Award for Women in Atmospheric Sciences
DRI has announced that Catherine (Casey) Ivanovich from Columbia University is the recipient of the 26th annual Peter B. Wagner Memorial Award for Women in Atmospheric Sciences. The award ceremony took place at the DRI campus in Reno on September 23, 2024.
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USGS funds study on wildfire impacts on flood risks led by Guo Yu
Reno, Nev. (September 10, 2024) – Guo Yu, an assistant research professor of hydrometeorology, along with collaborator Luke McGuire from the University of Arizona, has been awarded a three-year grant from the USGS Water Resources Research Act Program. The funding will be used to expand Yu's research on how repeated wildfires impact flooding risk in communities.
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Study finds satellites can accurately monitor groundwater use
Reno, Nev. (September 5, 2024) – Drought remains a significant concern in the Western U.S., prompting water managers to develop groundwater management plans to conserve this essential resource. Groundwater is often pumped to the surface for crop irrigation, with meters traditionally measuring the flow of pumped water. However, these meters are scarce. Scientists at the Desert Research Institute (DRI) investigated whether OpenET, a platform that measures evapotranspiration using satellite data, could bridge this information gap.
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Guidance helps emergency planners prepare for future weather hazards
Reno, Nev. (September 4, 2024) – Climate change is intensifying storms, floods, droughts, and fires, presenting new challenges for communities worldwide. To aid emergency managers in preparing for these future weather extremes, DRI scientists have collaborated with the U.S. Geological Survey to produce a guidance document. This report leverages publicly available data on historical and projected extreme weather events to enhance emergency planning exercises.
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DRI holds inaugural AWE+ Summit on wildfire recovery
The Desert Research Institute (DRI), in collaboration with the DRI Foundation, held its inaugural AWE+ Summit this week in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event, titled "Wildfire Recovery and Resilience: Working Across Silos to Drive Solutions," aimed to encourage communities to adopt measures that enhance resilience and adaptability to wildfires.
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EPA funds $1 million grant for stem education program at Desert Research Institute
The Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) has announced that the Desert Research Institute (DRI) has secured $1 million in grant funding through the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Program. This funding aims to support DRI’s STEM Education Program in strengthening Nevada’s workforce in the drinking water and wastewater sectors.
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Reno-Sparks Heat Mapping Project seeks volunteers amid summer heat
Reno, Nev. (August 2, 2024) – A consortium of organizations led by the Nevada State Climate Office is seeking volunteers for the Reno-Sparks Heat Mapping Project on August 10. The initiative aims to study urban heat islands and their effects on the region. Volunteers will drive or navigate predetermined routes with GPS-equipped temperature and humidity sensors attached to their vehicles.
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EPA awards $100K grant to support Nevada's microplastics education initiative
Reno, Nev. (July 24, 2024) – The Desert Research Institute’s (DRI) STEM Education Team has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to enhance environmental education in Nevada schools. The funding will be used to produce additional educational kits known as Greenboxes, aimed at raising awareness about microplastics in the environment.
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Global study maps critical groundwater-dependent ecosystems amid growing threats
Reno, Nev. (July 17, 2024) – Groundwater-dependent ecosystems provide crucial support to life in arid regions by acting as water reserves during droughts. As climate change and human activities deplete groundwater levels globally, there is an urgent need for better data on these ecosystems' locations. A new study published in Nature on July 17 addresses this gap by mapping groundwater-dependent ecosystems in dryland regions worldwide, assessing their protection status, and examining their overlap with human communities.
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New study suggests Mars had a cold subarctic climate
Reno, Nev. (July 10, 2024) – The question of whether Mars ever supported life has captivated scientists and the public for decades. Central to this inquiry is understanding the planet's past climate: was it warm and wet with seas and rivers, or frigid and icy? A new study supports the latter hypothesis by identifying similarities between soils found on Mars and those in Newfoundland, Canada, a region with a cold subarctic climate.
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EPA selects Desert Research Institute for funding on microplastics mitigation project
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the selection of Nevada’s System of Higher Education (NSHE) Board of Regents at the Desert Research Institute (DRI) to receive a competitive grant for environmental education in Nevada. This organization was chosen for its work in promoting youth ecological stewardship and environmental education, with the grant supporting a project to mitigate microplastics in Nevada waterways.
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Reno-Sparks heat mapping project seeks volunteers
Reno, Nev. (July 2, 2024) – Scientists from the Desert Research Institute (DRI) and the University of Nevada, Reno are recruiting volunteers for a one-day campaign to map extreme heat across Washoe County. On July 27th, community volunteers will collect thousands of temperature and humidity measurements during three one-hour periods from early morning through evening. Sensors will be distributed at a central meeting location, which volunteers will attach to their vehicles before driving along predetermined routes. Volunteers can serve as drivers or navigators.
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Native Climate Team holds collaborative workshop on Indigenous education
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. In attendance were Indigenous knowledge holders from Walker River Paiute Tribe, Kutzadika’a Tribe of Mono Lake, and Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe; elected Tribal leaders from Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe and Kutzadika’a Tribe of Mono Lake; and educators from Mineral County and Churchill County School Districts.
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Study reveals ecological impacts caused by plastisphere in Mekong River
DRI researchers Monica Arienzo and Rachel Kozloski are co-authors of a new study examining the ecological impacts of plastic waste in Cambodia’s Mekong River. The Mekong River, which supports the livelihoods of more than 60 million people, faces significant plastic pollution challenges. Published in the August 2024 issue of Water Research, the study found that bacteria thriving on plastic waste significantly alter water quality and impact ecosystem services, particularly in areas with mismanaged waste. Researchers also observed potentially pathogenic organisms that could...
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Western US must adopt new strategies amid changing snowpack patterns
The Western United States, heavily dependent on mountain snowpacks for water storage and supply, faces significant challenges due to climate change. A recent study led by scientists at the Desert Research Institute (DRI) suggests that expanding reservoir capacity alone will not suffice to prevent future water crises in agricultural communities.
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Study finds varying natural lithium levels across US groundwater
Researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) have published a study estimating lithium levels in groundwater across the United States, with implications for drinking water safety. The research, which involves DRI scientists Monica Arienzo and Daniel Saftner as coauthors, explores lithium concentrations in aquifers supplying both public and private wells.
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Texas researchers develop algorithm for tracking daily reservoir evaporation
Scientists from Texas A&M University, led by Dr. Huilin Gao and Dr. Bingjie Zhao, have developed a new method for estimating daily reservoir evaporation rates. This research, detailed in the journal Water Resources Research, highlights the importance of accurate evaporation estimates for managing water resources, especially in Texas where summer temperatures can exceed 100 degrees.
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Study shows rising temperatures threaten Upper Colorado River Basin's streamflows
The Colorado River, a vital water source for many Western cities and agricultural areas in the United States, is facing significant challenges due to climate change. A new study by researchers from the Desert Research Institute (DRI), USGS, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory reveals that rising temperatures will drastically reduce streamflows in the Upper Colorado River Basin as groundwater levels decline.