Behind the Science Blog
DRI’s “Behind the Science” blog featuring our people and projects
Read the stories below to learn more about the amazing people and projects happening at DRI.
What We Know About Wildfire Risk and Prevention
DRI scientists conduct a wide range of research on wildfire related topics to help policymakers, fire managers, and community members navigate challenges to public safety and health. In this Q&A, a selection of our scientists answer some of the most pressing questions about the environmental conditions that lead to the most devastating blazes and offer previews into some of their most relevant research.
Problem Plastic: Investigating Microplastic Pollution in Nevada’s Waterways
The extent of microplastic pollution is only just beginning to be understood, with researchers discovering the tiny plastic pieces everywhere from the air we breathe to the deep ocean.
Meet Graduate Researcher Dante Staten
Meet Dante Staten, a Ph.D. student in environmental science with an emphasis in environmental chemistry. Staten recently graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with a Master's Degree in environmental science. At DRI, Staten is working with...
Meet Kristin VanderMolen, Ph.D.
Kristin VanderMolen, Ph.D., is an assistant research professor and social scientist with the Division of Atmospheric Sciences at the Desert Research Institute.
Preserving Nevada’s Lost City using drones
Ruins of adobe houses, Lost City of Nevada. Credit: Special Collections, University of Nevada, Reno Libraries. Nevada’s “Lost City,” located northeast of Las Vegas on a terrace above the Muddy River, has been lost twice before – first abandoned by...
Meet Josh Sackett, Ph.D.
Josh Sackett, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral researcher with the Division of Hydrologic Sciences at the Desert Research Institute in Las Vegas.
Meet John Watson, Ph.D.
John Watson, Ph.D., is a research professor of air quality science with the Division of Atmospheric Sciences at the Desert Research Institute in Reno. John specializes in air quality measurements, source apportionment (tracing pollutants to their...
Meet Jim Hudson, Ph.D.
Jim Hudson, Ph.D., is a research professor of physics with the Division of Atmospheric Sciences at the Desert Research Institute in Reno. Jim specializes in cloud physics, and has worked throughout his career to gather and analyze field...
Putting the Knowledge Fund to Work
Created in 2013 by the Governor's Office of Economic Development, the Knowledge Fund spurs research, innovation, and commercialization in Nevada. Thanks to support from the Knowledge Fund, researchers across the Silver State have been busy...
DRI ice core research makes Discover magazine’s list of top breakthroughs in 2018
Reno, Nev. (Thurs. January 17th) - For the second time, research out of the Ultra-trace Ice Core Chemistry Laboratory at the Desert Research Institute (DRI) in Reno, Nevada, has been named one of the year’s biggest scientific discoveries by...
Meet Erick Bandala, Ph.D.
Erick Bandala, Ph.D., is an assistant research professor of environmental science with the Division of Hydrologic Sciences at the Desert Research Institute in Las Vegas. Erick specializes in research related to water quality and water treatment,...
Meet graduate researcher Meghan Rennie
Meet Meghan Rennie, a Master's student in atmospheric sciences. At DRI, Rennie is working with Dr. Hans Moosmüller from the Division of Atmospheric Science (DAS) to study aerosols and mineral dust for their optical properties that effect Earth's...
Q&A with AGU presenter Christine Albano
Christine Albano is a hydrologist and graduate student pursuing her Ph.D. She'll be attending AGU for the first time this year. DRI: In a couple of sentences, what is the ‘plain English’ summary of what you are presenting at AGU? Christine...