Educator Professional Development

 

Educator Professional Development trainings provide formal and informal educators with opportunities to bridge gaps in STEM education and elevate learning. Trainings explore content, provide hands-on learning opportunities, and identify curriculum for educators to utilize in their classrooms. Trainings are hosted throughout the year in Northern, Southern, and rural Nevada. All of DRI’s trainings are free and educators who attend are eligible for continuing education hours offered through the Nevada Department of Education.

We pride ourselves on offering a diverse set of topics and experiences at each training. Past training topics include: Astrobiology, Agriculture, Robotics, Microscopes, Engineering, Water Conservation, Energy Conservation and Efficiency, and STEM Engagement Techniques. In addition, we collaborate with community partners to increase access to classroom resources. Some of our past partnerships include: 3D Printers co-hosted with the Discovery Children’s Museum, Hydroponics co-hosted with Green Our Planet, and our annual NV STEAM Conference co-hosted with the Nevada Museum of Art. If you are a community partner interested in collaborating on an educator professional development training, contact us today at STEMeducation@www-dev.dri.edu!

To stay up-to-date on future trainings, please sign up for our STEM Education newsletter.

Upcoming Opportunities

STEM Education Program by DRI with an illustration of chromosomes.

STEM Professional Development Training: Radiation and Mutations

Date September 27, 2025Time 8:00 AM - 11:00 AMVenue DRI, Las Vegas Campus
Green Box Session Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025
Time: 8:00am - 11:00am
Location:  Desert Research Institute
755 E Flamingo Rd Las Vegas, NV 89119

Nevada National Security Site Tour: Date ...
DRI STEM Education Program Logo with image of a researcher collecting a water sample in a water source.

STEM Professional Development Training: Watersheds and Water Quality

Date September 27, 2025Time 10:00 AM - 1:00 PMVenue DRI, Reno Campus
In partnership with the Truckee Meadows Water Authority, the Desert Research Institute STEM Education Program has created two new middle school Green Boxes to help students learn about water in their community! This professional development will lead educators through h...

October 2025

STEM Education Program by DRI with an illustration of DNA.

STEM Professional Development Training: Genetics and Your Environment

Date October 11, 2025Time 8:00 AM - 11:00 AMVenue DRI, Las Vegas Campus
Green Box Session Date: Saturday, October 11, 2025
Time: 8:00am - 11:00am
Location:  Desert Research Institute
755 E Flamingo Rd Las Vegas, NV 89119

Nevada National Security Site Tour: Date to...
STEM Education Program by DRI with an illustration of a property indicating precipitation, runoff, and infiltration.

STEM Professional Development Training: Truckee Watershed STEM Curriculum

Date October 15, 2025Time 4:30 PM - 6:00 PMVenue DRI, Reno Campus
In partnership with the Truckee Meadows Water Authority, the Desert Research Institute STEM Education Program has created two new middle/high school lessons! These two lessons will use computational simulations to illustrate how water management within the Truckee River...

November 2025

STEM Education Program logo with an image of a house with solar panels.

STEM Professional Development Training: Solar Homes

Date November 8, 2025Time 8:00 AM - 11:00 AMVenue DRI, Las Vegas Campus
Join us for a FREE professional development session on our middle school Green Box unit, Solar Homes! This Green Box provides three weeks of curriculum and all necessary supplies to teach students about solar energ...
STEM Education Program logo with an image of a house with solar panels.

STEM Professional Development Training: Solar Homes

Date November 8, 2025Time 10:00 AM - 1:00 PMVenue DRI, Reno Campus
Join us for a FREE professional development session on our middle school Green Box unit, Solar Homes! This Green Box provides three weeks of curriculum and all necessary supplies to teach students about solar energy and sustainable home design. You'll explore solar radi...