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.
Meet Prakash Gautam
Prakash Gautam, Ph.D., is an Assistant Research Professor in the Division of Atmospheric Sciences and the Director of DRI’s Optics Lab: “Gautam Laboratory for Advanced Aerosol Dynamics and Light Scattering Research.” He has been with DRI since August 1, 2022, when he first joined as a Postdoctoral Researcher. Gautam also serves as Graduate Faculty in the Physics and Atmospheric Sciences departments at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), where he contributes graduate teaching, mentorship, and research collaboration. His work seeks to understand how atmospheric particles interact with light in order to better understand atmospheric components.
In the following interview, Gautam shares his dual passions for physics and tennis and offers insight on creating a successful career in science.
More Heatwaves and Vanishing Snow: The Lake Tahoe Basin’s Future on a Warming Planet
DRI scientists produced the most detailed projections yet for how the region’s landscape will be impacted by climate change. Lake Tahoe is known for its crystal-clear blue water, scenic mountain backdrop, and world-class recreation opportunities. Unfortunately, the lake and surrounding basin aren’t insulated from global climate change.
Meet Microplastics Research Students Angelique DePauw and Olivia Hines
Angelique DePauw and Olivia Hines are undergraduate student researchers in the Microplastics and Environmental Chemistry Lab. Together, they are conducting an experiment comparing the decomposition rates of plastic and plastic-alternative straws.
Meet Sayantan (Monty) Majumdar, Ph.D.
Sayantan Majumdar, Ph.D., joined DRI in June 2023 as an assistant research professor of hydrologic sciences and remote sensing. Majumdar, who also goes by the name “Monty,” also specializes in machine learning, geospatial data science, and scientific software development.
Cracking the Mysterious Case of Dying Desert Forests
DRI researchers are trying to solve the mystery of mass die-offs of screwbean mesquite trees, a critical part of their desert ecosystem.
Looking for Answers in a Warming World
DRI researchers are examining the potential for climate intervention techniques to help cool communities – and the planet
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Awarded to Microplastics Researcher Rachel Kozloski
Rachel Kozloski is a Ph.D. student in Dr. Monica Arienzo’s lab focused on the movement and characteristics of microplastics in ground and surface water.
Field Notes From DRI’s Ice Core Team in Greenland: A Story Map
A team of DRI scientists returned to Greenland in May 2023, where they are drilling a 150m long ice core to study interactions between ice chemistry and microbial life.
A Community-Centered Approach to Air Quality Assessment
Researchers from DRI and UNLV teamed up with a Las Vegas community concerned about a neighboring asphalt plant to measure their air quality.
Come Rain or Shine: Rainwater Harvesting for Food Production in the Face of Drought
Brianda Hernandez Rosales examined the use of rainwater harvesting to support food sovereignty for the Hualapai Indian Reservation.
DRI Student Interns Explore Northern Nevada’s Natural Hazards
In this story, we highlight the work of DRI interns Phillips Nguyen and Alexius Jessup-Raju, two students from Truckee Meadows Community College, as they explore natural hazards and their impacts on house ownership and aquatic environments.
DRI Student Interns Join Efforts to Improve Drinking Water Access in Ghanaian Communities
Braimah Apambire’s student interns studied water and sanitation improvement for Ghanaian communities during the fall 2022 semester.
Making it Snow: A Brief History and Review of the Science Behind Cloud-Seeding
The snow-inducing technique called cloud-seeding has been around for more than 60 years. Although not a panacea for drought-stricken regions, cloud-seeding can increase seasonal precipitation by about 10%. In the Reno area alone, winter cloud-seeding efforts are estimated to add enough water to supply about 40,000 households for a year.