DRI

On Friday, April 17th, 17 graduate students presented their research at DRI’s Reno campus for the annual poster presentation session. Organized by Kathleen Rodrigues, PhD, Assistant Research Professor of Luminescence, the event offers an opportunity for DRI-affiliated graduate students to network with each other and with DRI faculty, hone their presentation skills, and showcase the research they’…

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 B…

This April, we are celebrating STEAM - science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics - at DRI. Both the STEM Education Program and Nevada Robotics are dedicated to ensuring that Nevada educators are empowered to bring high-quality, hands-on STEM learning to their classrooms and that every Nevada student has the confidence and skills to thrive in our technology driven world. Community sup…

Last month at the Nevada Museum of Art, a few hundred K-12 teachers from across Nevada gathered on a Saturday morning to contemplate STEAM—the idea that students’ understanding of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) can be complemented and strengthened by incorporating the arts. The 2026 NV STEAM Conference, cohosted by the Desert Research Institute (DRI), also included a Frid…

Ziming Ke is an atmospheric scientist who joined DRI in March 2025. He has extensive expertise in earth system modeling and is producing groundbreaking research that integrates wildfire science into global and regional models, including a recent publication that is the first to successfully replicate wildfire-induced thunderstorms in earth system models. He joined DRI as a postdoctoral researcher…

Although sunlight is one of the cleanest forms of renewable energy available, clearing large swathes of desert habitat to build solar arrays has consequences for the plants and animals it displaces. Researchers are trying to find better ways to preserve desert landscapes without impeding solar energy development. Now, a new study demonstrates that with careful planning and consideration for the e…

The DRI Foundation, the non-profit arm of DRI, is pleased to announce new members to its Board of Trustees. The DRI Foundation Board of Trustees work in close collaboration with DRI President Kumud Acharya and the Office of Advancement to engage and build relationships with new and existing supporters to further DRI’s work across Nevada and around the world. The post The DRI Foundation Welcomes N…

Christine Albano is an Associate Research Professor of Ecohydrology at DRI. In this interview, Dr. Albano answers frequently asked questions about the relationship between a warming atmosphere and extreme weather, including wildfires, droughts, and flooding. This is the third in a new series of FAQ videos with DRI researchers. The post Science for Human Resiliency in a Time of Droughts, Floods, a…

A year-end donation, no matter the amount, provides immediate support for our scientists’ work and DRI’s strategic priorities. Here are five simple ways that you can help support DRI this giving season: Donate to mission support, gift curiosity lab season tickets to a loved one (or yourself!), donate appreciated stocks, make a qualified charitable distribution, and leave your legacy through a pla…

DRI’s Sayantan (Monty) Majumdar, Assistant Research Professor of Hydrologic Science and Remote Sensing, is joining forces with an international team of researchers to create a digital twin of the entire river basin that will support decision-makers as they work to protect this critical resource. Originally hailing from the river’s fertile lands, Majumdar is now based on DRI’s Reno campus, where h…