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.
“DRI is committed to exposing students to careers in STEM,” said DRI President Kumud Acharya. “We are honored to receive this funding from the EPA’s Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Programs to inspire the next generation to pursue water workforce careers.”
Over the next three years, DRI will collaborate with the Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA) and the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) to develop new curriculum resources for students in grades 6 through 12. The project also includes public outreach efforts and professional development training for educators across the state. These resources will be available online, allowing other water authorities to use and adapt them, thereby extending the impact beyond Nevada.
“The EPA grant is a significant step forward in enhancing our state’s educational resources and preparing our students for essential careers in water management,” said Interim Chancellor Patricia Charlton. “We are proud to support DRI’s efforts in collaboration with TMWA and SNWA, knowing that the work being done here in Nevada can serve as a model for the rest of the country.”
Key components of the project include providing both physical and digital versions of the curriculum, which will be updated every three years to align with educational standards. DRI will offer free shipping of materials to and from schools within Nevada. The digital resources will be accessible nationwide, enabling educators and water authorities across the country to benefit from and replicate the curriculum.
“Nevada has a unique water infrastructure thanks to our desert climate. By providing digital access to the curriculum, students nationwide have the opportunity to learn from our innovative water management strategies and apply these lessons to their own local water challenges,” said Shawna Witt, DRI STEM Education Coordinator. “This accessibility ensures that we are not only preparing Nevada’s future workforce but also empowering students across the country to address critical water issues in their communities.”
Nevada educators are encouraged to participate in professional development training on the new curriculum. Once trained, they will receive free curriculum kits designed to inspire students toward careers in water management.
“The professional development sessions will provide educators with a unique opportunity to learn about the water industry in Nevada,” said Monica Gehrig, DRI STEM Education Training and Outreach Administrator. “By partnering with TMWA and SNWA, we will ensure that the curriculum reflects genuine industry topics and careers. Additionally, our goal is to create a template that other water industry stakeholders can replicate for their own professional development needs, ultimately increasing the water workforce pipeline in Nevada and beyond.”
For more information about this project, contact Monica Gehrig at monica.gehrig@dri.edu. For details about DRI’s STEM Education Program visit its webpage or sign up for DRI’s STEM Education Newsletter. Media inquiries can be directed to Elizabeth Callahan at ecallahan@nshe.nevada.edu or 702-522-7021.
About NSHE:
The Nevada System of Higher Education comprises two doctoral-granting universities, a state university, four comprehensive community colleges, and one environmental research institute serving over 106,000 students under governance by its Board of Regents.
About DRI:
Founded in 1959 as a non-profit research institute focused on impactful science, DRI collaborates globally while supporting its researchers through grants that significantly contribute economically—bringing nearly $5 into Nevada's economy for every $1 received from state funds.