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 David Almanza
David Almanza, Ph.D., joined DRI this summer as a postdoctoral researcher in urban climate adaptation. He is working with Ariel Choinard in the Southern Nevada Heat Resilience Lab to examine how heat is impacting communities in and around Las Vegas. Born in Bogota, Colombia, Almanza grew up in Las Vegas and completed his Ph.D. at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in 2023. In this interview, Almanza discusses his social science training, what it means to center research on your own community, and his love for Las Vegas eateries.
Meet Alison Swallow, DRI’s 2021 Technical Employee of the Year
The recipient of DRI’s 2021 Technical Employee of the Year Award is Alison Swallow, the Project Coordinator for DRI’s Office of External Affairs and Communications. Get to know Alison in this Q&A!
From COVID-19 to Drought: Collaborating on Emerging Challenges Across Indian Country
The Native Waters on Arid Lands project’s COVID-19 Working Group is a network of partners working together to solve problems and share information across Indian Country.
Student Opportunity at The Knowledge Society (TKS)
FIRST Nevada shared an awesome opportunity for Nevada's students, age 13 - 17. Read on to learn about the opportunity with The Knowledge Society and how FIRST Nevada can support FIRST team members through scholarships and tuition coverage. The...
Robotics Academy of Nevada 2021 – Event Recap
We had a successful week at the Robotics Academy of Nevada - with engaged and dedicated educators from across the state. Participants were trained on four robotics platforms (FLL, VEX IQ, FIRST WeDo, & VEX GO), both virtually and in-person at...
DRI Honors Outstanding Contributions of Faculty and Staff at 2021 Celebration of Science
Each year, the Desert Research Institute (DRI) honors the incredible commitment and dedication of our faculty and staff through an award ceremony called the Celebration of Science. This year’s event was held virtually and recognized the winners of...
Become a Volunteer at the Live Remote VEX Worlds Competition
Sign up today to become an online volunteer for the VEX Robotics World Championship!The REC Foundation invites you to become a volunteer at this year's Live Remote VEX Robotics World Championships presented by Northrop Grumman Foundation, held May...
Meet Graduate Researcher Natasha Sushenko
Meet graduate researcher Natasha Sushenko and learn about her work in DRI’s Environmental Microbiology Laboratory in this interview with DRI’s Behind the Science Blog.
Restoration by Drone: DRI and Partners Test New Method for Reseeding Native Forests after Wildfire
Scientists from the Desert Research Institute (DRI) partnered with the Sugar Pine Foundation, Flying Forests, and the Carson Ranger District of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest to test a new method for reseeding burned slopes by drone.
Meet Graduate Researcher Dylan Person
Meet DRI graduate researcher Dylan Person and learn about his work with the Cultural Resource Management Program in this interview with DRI’s Behind the Science Blog.
FIRST Nevada Announces Grant Funding for Schools!
FIRST Nevada has announce new, multi-year grant funding available to schools in Nevada interested in starting a new FIRST robotics team! The school must have principal support and two coaches commited to starting the new team to qualify. ...
Congratulations VEX Robotics for Winning EdTech Award!
Congratulations to REC Foundation's VEX GO program for winning the 2021 EdTech Awards Cool Tool Award for robotics education and learning solutions. The EdTech Awards is one of the largest recognition programs for outstanding contributions to STEM...
National Robotics Week – Jobs and Degrees in Engineering and Technology
Happy National Robotics Week!In celebration of National Robotics Week (April 3rd - 11th) we would like to share some awesome resources for students who are interested in entering a STEM job field. We know if can be overwhelming to navigate the...