The Story of Resilience
2024-04-11 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | DRI, Reno Campus, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV, 89512, United States
This installment in the Science Distilled series will explore the critical topic of climate resiliency and local solutions. Gain valuable insights into emerging research on cooling the climate and how we can manage forests into the future.
Get your tickets online through The Discovery
Featured Presenters:
David Mitchell
Dr. David Mitchell received his Ph.D. from the University of Nevada, USA, in 1995 and has contributed to the peer-reviewed literature in the atmospheric science sub-disciplines of cloud physics, radiation, remote sensing and climate dynamics. He and his students developed a theory describing the evolution of the North American monsoon that is now widely accepted, and he developed a treatment of ice cloud radiative properties that is currently used in the NCAR climate models. He and Dr. Anne Garnier developed and published (in 2016) the first satellite remote sensing retrieval for ice particle concentrations and later developed a method providing global percentages of cirrus clouds strongly affected by homogeneous ice nucleation. He published the first paper on the climate intervention method known as “cirrus cloud thinning” which may produce significant surface cooling at high latitudes. He has given 40 invited talks at universities and research institutes in the USA, the U.K., Germany, Mexico, Norway, France, and Sweden.
Anna Higgins
Anna Higgins is a forester with over twenty years of experience in forestry and wildfire throughout the West. She has a B.S. Forestry from the University of Montana, and a M.S. Forestry from Northern Arizona University. She has worked for the Oregon Department of Forestry, the US Forest Service, and currently the Nevada Division of Forestry. As the Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program Forester, Anna oversees the management of the forests in all NV State Parks inside the Lake Tahoe Basin. She is also a qualified prescribed fire Burn Boss and is very passionate about reintroducing good fire back into our forests.
Anna will present how the forests of Lake Tahoe have changed since Euro-American settlement, what risks the forests are facing in a changing climate, and how land managers and the Washoe tribe of Nevada and California are working to make the forests more resilient.

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Sponsored by:

Books + Bots Training: Spring Creek
2024-04-12 10:00 - 13:00 | Liberty Peak Elementary School, 250 Parkchester Drive, Spring Creek, 89815, United States
PreK – 5th grade educators are invited to join the Nevada Robotics team this month for a Books & Bots training. Refresh your VEX 123 skills, get paid, receive free resources, and enjoy a meal with fellow educators.
Register now by filling out our Google Form.
Books & Bots is a curriculum developed by Nevada Robotics staff that partners high-quality picture books with robotics lessons to promote literacy and teach computer science. All lessons meet state computer science, math, and ELA standards. Lessons may also meet art standards. Each lesson provides the opportunity for teachers to incorporate Social Emotional Learning competencies and art standards.
Training Perks:
STIPEND – $150
FREE MEAL
TRAINING CERTIFICATE FOR HOURS
FREE RESOURCES

The Story of Resilience
2024-04-18 18:00 | Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd., Las Vegas, NV, 89107, United States
This science lecture will explore the critical topic of climate resiliency and community solutions. Discover how climate intervention research offers potential strategies to counter a warming climate, learn about the impact of urban forestry in mitigating urban heat, and explore the collaborative efforts of science and nonprofits to ensure water accessibility. We’ll also delve into grassroots initiatives aimed at fostering climate-resilient communities. Gain valuable insights into the science-backed approaches and community-driven actions that contribute to a sustainable, resilient future in the face of climate change.
Doors open at 6 p.m. Presentation begins at 6:30 p.m.
Beer, wine, and small bites will be available for purchase from Aspire Coffee House.
Visit the Springs Preserve website to purchase tickets: springspreserve.org/events
Featured Presenters:
David Mitchell
Dr. David Mitchell received his Ph.D. from the University of Nevada, USA, in 1995 and has contributed to the peer-reviewed literature in the atmospheric science sub-disciplines of cloud physics, radiation, remote sensing and climate dynamics. He and his students developed a theory describing the evolution of the North American monsoon that is now widely accepted, and he developed a treatment of ice cloud radiative properties that is currently used in the NCAR climate models. He and Dr. Anne Garnier developed and published (in 2016) the first satellite remote sensing retrieval for ice particle concentrations and later developed a method providing global percentages of cirrus clouds strongly affected by homogeneous ice nucleation. He published the first paper on the climate intervention method known as “cirrus cloud thinning” which may produce significant surface cooling at high latitudes. He has given 40 invited talks at universities and research institutes in the USA, the U.K., Germany, Mexico, Norway, France, and Sweden.
Marco Velotta
Marco Velotta, MS, AICP, LEED Green Assoc. is a Planning Project Manager and Chief Sustainability Officer of the City of Las Vegas. Marco leads the management and implementation of the City’s Strategy for Community Resilience, Net-Zero Energy, and Sustainability to conserve and reduce the City’s consumption of energy, water, and waste by overseeing renewable energy, energy efficiency, green building, water conservation, recycling, and alternative transportation efforts.
In partnership with:

Fire Ecology of Nevada Green Box
2024-04-27 10:00 - 13:00 | DRI, Reno Campus, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV, 89512, United States
DRI Science Alive invites educators to explore our newest middle school Green Box. Dive info hands-on investigations and game-ified simulations on fire, fuel, soil, and ecology. Although this professional development training will cover middle school standards, all interested educators are welcome to attend!
Participants are eligible for three continuing education hours and lunch will be provided.
Space is limited so be sure to register today using our Google Form!

The Story of Extremes
2024-05-09 19:00 - 21:00 | DRI, Reno Campus, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV, 89512, United States
Join us for a thought-provoking conversation delving into the realm of extremes. We’ll explore the impacts and dynamics of extreme heat, flash flooding, atmospheric rivers, and even delve into the complexities of extreme human behavior. Through an analytical lens, we’ll decipher the mechanisms driving these phenomena and their far-reaching consequences on our environment and society. Discover the science behind these extreme occurrences and gain a deeper understanding of how they shape our world.
Tickets are available now through The Discovery!

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Featured panelists:
Dan McEvoy, Ph.D. is a researcher with the Western Regional Climate Center at DRI. His research interests are interdisciplinary and span the fields of climate, hydrology, and meteorology.
Guo Yu, Ph.D. is an assistant research professor of Hydrometeorology. His research explores hydroclimate extremes, process-based hydrologic modeling, rainfall and flood frequency analyses, and climate change impact studies.
Wendy Baroli operates a small Personal Farmer Program™ and manages a land and water resource bordering Northern Nevada and Northern California.

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In partnership with:

Sponsored by:

New World Luminescence Dating Workshop 2024
2024-06-11 - 2024-06-14 | DRI, Reno Campus, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV, 89512, United States
We are excited to host the New World Luminescence Dating Workshop (NWLDW) June 11-14, 2024 at the Desert Research Institute (DRI) in Reno, NV!
Luminescence dating includes a group of established and rapidly emerging trapped charge dating techniques that are routinely used to constrain the timing of climate change, tectonics, sea level change, topographic change, natural hazards, human history and evolution, and human-environment interactions. NWDLW is a biannual workshop that features posters and presentations from students and researchers that develop and apply luminescence dating techniques in the Earth Sciences and Archaeology. This workshop serves as a forum for luminescence practitioners to share their findings with the broader scientific community, and provides a friendly, inclusive venue for students to meet and interact with experts in the field.
Stay tuned for updates on the DRI Luminescence Research Lab (DRILL) webpage as well as on our twitter @DRILuminescence.

The Story of Extremes
2024-06-13 18:00 | Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd., Las Vegas, NV, 89107, United States
Join us for a thought-provoking science lecture delving into extreme heat. We’ll explore the impacts and dynamics of its far-reaching consequences on vulnerable populations, our environment, and society. Discover how extreme heat shapes our communities.
Doors open at 6 p.m. Presentation begins at 6:30 p.m.
Beer, wine, and small bites will be available for purchase from Aspire Coffee House.
Visit the Springs Preserve website to purchase tickets: springspreserve.org/events
Featured Panelists:
Ariel Choinard – DRI, CNAP
Ariel Choinard, M.A. started at DRI in February 2023 as the project coordinator for the California-Nevada Adaptation Program (CNAP) and the new Southern Nevada Heat Resiliency Lab. She is working to build connections between scientists, community members, and community organizations to co-produce solutions, adaptations, and resilience to climate hazards. Choinardcame to DRI after working as the Urban Heat Resilience Fellow for Clark County and is based at DRI’s Las Vegas campus.
Lisa Ortega – City of Henderson, Urban Forestry Program
Lisa Ortega created the City of Henderson Urban Forestry Program through active inventory, writing the UF Program Plan, and contract accountability. She has been a consultant in her own business, Great Basin Sage Consulting, LLC since 2018, consulting on tree health, risk assessments and tree appraisals. She also started a tree planting nonprofit, Nevada Plants (2021).
Nancy Beecher – Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA), Water Resources Department
Nancy Beecher is a Senior Environmental Biologist at SNWA. She has a Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology, an M.S. in natural resource sciences, and is working on an M.S.L. in water and environmental law. She conducted her Ph.D. research in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Costa Rica, where she studied how climate‐induced changes in pond water levels can influence amphibian development and immunity. She has been with SNWA for the past 17 years, where she brings together biological, hydrologic, geospatial, and legal information to inform land and water resource management. She and her colleagues recently completed a study on balancing heat resilience and water conservation in the Las Vegas Valley Metropolitan Area.

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Sponsored by:

Solar Days at the Boulder City Library
2024-06-17 15:30 - 16:30 | Boulder City Library, 701 Adams Boulevard, Boulder City, NV, 89005, United States
Join us at Boulder City Library in the Community Room for this FREE event where kids ages 6-12 can learn about energy resources, electricity, and solar power through our Solar Days Program sponsored by DRI’s EnergySmart Education and Southwest Gas!

Reno Sparks Heat Mapping Project - Call for Volunteers!
2024-07-27 | NV
Did you know that Reno is the fastest-warming city in the United States? The data collected from this campaign can help allocate resources like tree planting, shade structure installation, and cooling centers. Volunteer to help us with this one-day heat mapping campaign in Reno and Sparks on July 27. Visit bit.ly/driheatmap for more information and to fill out the volunteer form.
Sign up by July 12 to volunteer!

Reno Aces Fundraising Game for STEM Education
2024-07-28 13:05 | Greater Nevada Field, 250 Evans Ave., Reno, NV, 89501, United States
Make this event a home run by joining DRI’s STEM Education Program for a fundraiser on July 28th with the Reno Aces! It’s simple. Just use the link below to purchase your tickets. Half of the sales from this link will go back to DRI’s STEM Education Program, which will help to support innovative, accessible, and free STEM learning resources, tools, and trainings for youth, college students, and educators in Nevada. There’s lots of fun on deck for family and friends. Enjoy the salty taste of ballpark peanuts, the crack of the bat, and the excitement of the crowd, all while making a meaningful impact in your local community. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to support STEM education initiatives in Nevada!
Get your tickets today!
Learn more about the STEM Education Team and their programming at: dri.edu/science-alive

Invasive Weed Pulling Event at Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument
2024-08-06 08:00 - 10:00 | Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument: Eglington Preserve Kiosk, Grand Teton Dr. and Tule Springs Pkwy., Las Vegas, 89084, United States
Join Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument (TUSK), the Protectors of Tule Springs, and DRI for a weed pull to remove harmful invasive plants on your National Monument. Weed wrangler volunteers learn, practice, and foster a habit of maintaining an ecosystem and help prepare for future replanting with native species.
When: Tuesday, August 6th from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
What to bring: Plenty of water, sturdy shoes, and your favorite gloves. We will also have gloves available for volunteers to borrow if needed.
Where: Meet at the TUSK/Eglington Preserve Kiosk. From Aliante Parkway and Grand Teton, go EAST on Grand Teton for about 1/2 mile to a white sign on the left that says “TUSK Kiosk.” Turn left at the sign onto the loose asphalt road that follows the post and cable fence on your left, and you will see the kiosk just ahead on the right. Parking is next to the kiosk on the asphalt parking area.
Please RSVP here: tinyurl.com/Halogeton
We will send a confirmation email the week before with directions and map.
Join us to learn about native ecosystems and help native plants thrive!

AWE+ 2024 Wildfire Recovery and Resilience: Working Across Silos to Drive Solutions
2024-08-21 - 2024-08-22 | Encore Las Vegas, 3121 South Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV, 89109, United States
AWE+ an Adaptable World Environment
August 21-22, 2024 – Las Vegas, NV
For over six decades, DRI has tirelessly tackled scientific challenges related to global climate. DRI is unwavering in its commitment to continue this intensive research. But fortifying communities against future devastation requires more than science. It demands the collective resolve of communities: agency staff, elected officials, policymakers, first responders, researchers and scientists, industry leaders, environmentalists and residents working together on measures to advance resilience and adaptability. This is where AWE+ comes into play.
In our inaugural event, AWE+ will focus on human adaptation to wildfires and their often-devastating impacts. AWE+ envisions a world where communities cultivate resilient measures amid the escalating intensity of wildfire events across the globe – not only to address the sheer destruction but also the cascading effects of pollutants and smoke that degrade air quality, contaminate water supplies and result in post-fire debris flows and flooding. All pose acute threats and increasing societal costs that mandate an urgent acceleration towards resilient, fire-adapted transformation. Through AWE+, DRI will be a catalyst for honest conversations that grapple with tough questions and break out of past paradigms.
Visit our website for details, featured speakers, and agenda overview.

Fall Professional Development Trainings - Microscopes: Art & Science
2024-08-24 08:00 - 11:00 | DRI, Las Vegas Campus, 755 E. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas, NV, 89119, United States
Discover the intersection of art and science with DRI’s STEM Education Program’s FREE educator professional development training Microscopes: Science and Art! Explore how microscopic worlds inspire creativity and deepen scientific inquiry in your classroom. Equip yourself with versatile teaching strategies that bridge disciplines and ignite curiosity among your students. A limited number of microscopes and digital cameras from our STEM Co-Lab Lending Library will be available for check-out at the end of the training!
Educators who complete the session will receive a certificate of completion for up to 3 Continuing Education Hours.
Register now using our form!

CS-STEM Professional Development for Elko Area PreK & K Educators
2024-09-12 16:30 - 19:30 | Great Basin College, 1500 College Parkway, Elko, NV, 89801, United States
METRICS (Mentoring Educators Teaching Robotics & Innovation in Computer Science) is engaging and ongoing training using Nevada Robotics’ Books and Bots Curriculum. Teachers learn how to use robots to meet PreK and K literacy and math standards, and how to develop early readers, critical thinkers, and problem solvers.
Teachers receive an $800 stipend for 10 hours of training, free meals, free lessons, free books, and free access to robots.
Training Details:
Participants must attend all four sessions.
Thursday, September 12
Thursday, October 3
Thursday, January 23
Thursday, February 27
Sign in & dinner at 4:30 p.m.
Trainings are from 5:00 p.m.- 7:30 p.m.
Location: Great Basin College, Elko
Register now for all four sessions!
Questions? Contact AJ Long, Engineering Education Program Manager at aj.long@www-dev.dri.edu

Fall Professional Development Trainings: Solar Energy & Intro to Climate Change
2024-09-14 08:00 - 11:00 | DRI, Reno Campus, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV, 89512, United States
Join us this fall for a hands-on exploration of DRI’s STEM Education Program’s newest energy-themed high school Green Boxes in our FREE educator professional development training – Solar Energy and Intro to Climate Change! Green Boxes are self-contained, NGSS-aligned, curriculum kits that provide educators with three weeks’ worth of curriculum and all supplies necessary for your classroom to conduct each activity. Gain practical insights into renewable energy solutions and equip yourself with tools to educate students on pressing environmental issues. Join us to inspire the next generation of eco-conscious leaders through innovative curriculum integration and impactful classroom discussions.
Educators who complete the session will receive a certificate of completion for up to 3 Continuing Education Hours.
Register now using our form!

Fall Professional Development Trainings: Solar Energy & Intro to Climate Change
2024-09-14 08:00 - 11:00 | DRI, Las Vegas Campus, 755 E. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas, NV, 89119, United States

Science Distilled: Drive-in for Science
2024-09-14 19:00 - 21:00 | West Wind Drive-In and Public Market, 555 El Rancho Drive, Sparks, NV, 89431, United States
Drive in, sit back, and get ready to watch a scientific film on the BIG screen! Join DRI, The Discovery and PBS Reno for the second annual Drive-in for Science, your chance to watch an amazing science documentary at the nostalgic El Rancho Drive-in in Sparks. Don’t forget the popcorn and Red Vines!
Location: West Wind El Rancho Drive-In Theater, 555 El Rancho Drive, Sparks
Times: Gate opens at 7:00 p.m. and the film begins at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are available for purchase online through the Discovery!
Featured film:
NOVA: New Eye on the Universe Join scientists as they use NASA’s brand new James Webb Space Telescope to peer deep in time to hunt for the first stars and galaxies in our universe, and try to detect the fingerprints of life in the atmospheres of distant exoplanets. Rating: TV-PG

In partnership with:

Sponsored by:

National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy Workshop
2024-09-16 - 2024-09-19 | Atlantic City Convention Center, 1 Convention Blvd., Atlantic City, NV, 08401, United States
The International Association of Wildland Fire and the Wildland Fire Leadership Council (WFLC) and its three regional strategy committees, invite you to register for the 7th Annual National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy Workshop, September 16-19, 2024 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
WFLC has affirmed that the Cohesive Strategy remains the solid framework by which all stakeholders can address barriers and identify actionable for today’s complex wildland fire issues. The Cohesive Strategy Addendum Update was released in 2023 and provides a strategic look at the critical emphasis areas and key implementation challenges which were not addressed or have surfaced in the ten years since the development of the original 2014 Cohesive Strategy framework.
This event will take advantage of the unique opportunity to utilize the collective voice and brain trust of Workshop attendees to identify solutions and actions for barriers you’re experiencing, as well as for the Critical Emphasis Areas and Challenges outlined in the Cohesive Strategy Addendum that are keeping us from implementing the Cohesive Strategy at scale.
Featuring DRI’s Dr. Tim Brown and Dr. Tamara Wall will be presenting the session, “Prescribed fire and drought metrics – What’s right, what’s wrong, what’s useful?” on Monday, September 16. View the full schedule of events on the event website.

Fall Professional Development Trainings: 3D Printers
2024-10-05 08:00 - 11:00 | DRI, Las Vegas Campus, 755 E. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas, NV, 89119, United States
Unlock innovative teaching methods with DRI’s STEM Education Program’s FREE educator professional development training on 3D printers! Learn hands-on techniques to integrate cutting-edge technology into your curriculum, empower students with practical skills in design and engineering, and transform your classroom into a hub of creativity and exploration. A limited number of 3D Printers from our STEM Co-Lab Lending Library will be available for check-out at the end of the training!
Educators who complete the session will receive a certificate of completion for up to 3 Continuing Education Hours.
Register now using our form!

Geoarchaeology Short Course: How Understanding Geomorphology and Soils Improves Archaeology
2024-10-07 - 2024-10-11 | DRI, Reno Campus, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV, 89512, United States
Geoarchaeology applies methods used in geosciences to archaeological questions. Geoarchaeology helps us understand: the source and transport history of artifacts, the age and spatial distribution of archaeological sites, factors that influence site preservation, and climate and environmental conditions that would have influenced human activities through time.
This short course is designed for archaeologists who want to better understand how the geologic and geomorphic context of an archaeological site can inform our interpretations and sampling methodology, as well as our understanding of the broader regional cultural landscape.
Co-Instructors Teresa Wriston and Kathleen Rodrigues
will introduce fundamental concepts and methods, with topical contributing lectures/methodology/field trips led by Ken Adams, Cedar Briem, Tom Bullard, Nathan Chellman, Shannon Hibbard, Jennifer Kielhofer, and Spencer Staley.
Purchase tickets and view the agenda through Eventbrite

The Story of Nevada
2024-10-17 19:00 - 21:00 | DRI, Reno Campus, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV, 89512, United States
Join us for an engaging science lecture that delves into Nevada’s history through the lens of archaeology and geology. Discover the significance of Basque arborglyphs, explore the research at the DRI luminescence lab, and learn about volcanos in Nevada (yes, this state!) that erupted not that long ago.
Tickets are available now for purchase through The Discovery!
This panel will feature Teresa Wriston, Ph.D., Geoarchaeologist and Associate Research Professor at DRI and Kathleen Rodrigues, Ph.D., Quaternary Geochronologist in the Luminescence Lab and Assistant Research Professor at DRI.
Teresa Wriston, Ph.D –
Teresa’s research centers on how past cultures coped or adapted to changing environmental conditions. She uses a broad interdisciplinary approach to build environmental contexts that show how prehistoric people used the landscape and what resources were targeted. Her work often draws from geomorphology, soils, remote sensing, ecology, and isotope ecology.
Kathleen Rodrigues, Ph.D. –
Kathleen is a Quaternary geochronologist that specializes in radiation exposure dating techniques, including optically stimulated luminescence, thermally stimulated luminescence, and electron spin resonance. Her research interests are focused on the development and application of luminescence dating methods to address questions in Quaternary geomorphology, paleoclimatology, and archaeology. Her recent work has focused primarily on the development of novel methods for dating eruption events in the Great Basin and defining the timescales over which tephra reworking occurs in the landscape.

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Sponsored by:

Fall Professional Development Trainings: Microplastics
2024-10-19 08:00 - 11:00 | DRI, Reno Campus, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV, 89512, United States
Elevate your science curriculum this fall by attending DRI’s STEM Education Program’s FREE educator professional development training on our new middle school Microplastics Green Box! Green Boxes are self-contained, NGSS-aligned, curriculum kits that provide educators with three week’s worth of curriculum and all supplies necessary for your classroom to conduct each activity. In this training, you will gain expertise in identifying, analyzing, and addressing the pervasive issue of microplastic pollution. Equip yourself with hands-on activities and resources to empower students with the knowledge and skills to make a positive impact on our planet’s health!
Educators who complete the session will receive a certificate of completion for up to 3 Continuing Education Hours.
Register now using our form!

Fall Professional Development Trainings: Microplastics
2024-10-19 08:00 - 11:00 | DRI, Las Vegas Campus, 755 E. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas, NV, 89119, United States

Fall Professional Development Trainings: Solar Energy & Intro to Climate Change
2024-11-02 08:00 - 11:00 | DRI, Reno Campus, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV, 89512, United States
Join us this fall for a hands-on exploration of DRI’s STEM Education Program’s newest energy-themed high school Green Boxes in our FREE educator professional development training – Solar Energy and Intro to Climate Change! Green Boxes are self-contained, NGSS-aligned, curriculum kits that provide educators with three weeks’ worth of curriculum and all supplies necessary for your classroom to conduct each activity. Gain practical insights into renewable energy solutions and equip yourself with tools to educate students on pressing environmental issues. Join us to inspire the next generation of eco-conscious leaders through innovative curriculum integration and impactful classroom discussions.
Educators who complete the session will receive a certificate of completion for up to 3 Continuing Education Hours.
Register online using our Google Form

The Story of Nevada
2024-11-07 18:00 - 20:00 | Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd., Las Vegas, NV, 89107, United States
The Story of Nevada: An engaging science lecture that delves into Nevada’s history through the lens of archaeology, offering a detailed look at mobile foraging of early peoples in Nevada and how their behavior changed with shifts in precipitation, as well as delving into the Lost City and what scientists are doing to preserve the archaeological sites from erosion. Plus, a short film about the Basque arborglyphs in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Doors open at 6 p.m. Presentation begins at 6:30 p.m.
Beer, wine, and small bites will be available for purchase from Aspire Coffee House.
Visit the Springs Preserve website to purchase tickets: springspreserve.org/events
Featured Presenters:
Dr. Greg Haynes
Dr. Haynes is an Associate Research Professor at DRI and has been a practicing archaeologist for nearly 40 years. His research interests have long been focused on sedentary agricultural villagers on the Colorado Plateau, the Ancestral Puebloans or Anasazi, and transhumant mobile foragers of the Great Basin and Mojave Desert, including the Ancestral Paiute and Shoshone. He is currently conducting investigations on ceramic assemblages obtained in the 1950s from the shorelines of ancient Lake Cahuilla, of which the Salton Sea is but a remnant.
JD Lancaster
JD Lancaster is an Associate Research Scientist in Anthropology and Archaeology at DRI. Lancaster’s work has focused on archaeology of the Great Basin and Columbia River Plateau, quaternary paleoclimatology and paleogeography, archaeological prospection and predictive modeling, and human behavior ecology.
In the summer of 2019, Lancaster, along with other researchers, used drone technology to create high-resolution 3-D maps of the Pueblo Grande de Nevada archaeological site, also known as Lost City. The use of drones to map the archaeological site allowed the team to identify erosion sites that put the Lost City at risk and help develop and test mitigation strategies.
Nathan Harper
Nathan Harper’s passion for the past began at an early age helping his parents investigate the family’s history in small, dusty courthouses and storerooms across Kansas. This early experience would lead him to search even deeper into the history and prehistory of the people of the American Southwest, Great Basin, and the eastern Mediterranean.
He completed his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Anthropology at Wichita State University, culminating in a Fulbright Fellowship to Cyprus in 2001. Nathan has conducted fieldwork in Nevada, Arizona, Kansas, Texas and internationally in Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, Jordan, Mexico.
From 2010 to 2022 Nathan served as the Preserve Archaeologist at the Springs Preserve in Las Vegas, conducting preservation and compliance projects and was part of a curation team that restored and rehabilitated four San Pedro railroad workers cottages for the development of Boomtown 1905. Nathan currently serves as the Archaeologist for the Southern Nevada Water Authority conducting preservation and compliance work on all SNWA and Las Vegas Valley Water District managed properties, which includes the Springs Preserve, Warm Springs Natural Area, and the Las Vegas Wash.
In the community, Harper serves on the State Board of Museums and History, overseeing the State of Nevada’s Museums and Historical Society.

In partnership with:

Sponsored by:

DRI at the 2024 CRWUA Annual Conference
2024-12-04 - 2024-12-06 | Paris Las Vegas, 3655 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV, 89109, United States
Visit us at the Colorado River Water Users Association (CRWUA) Annual Conference at booth #41 in Rivoli A&B at the Paris Las Vegas December 4-6. This year’s conference will feature a multitude of informative speakers, panel discussions, and other meetings of interest to Colorado River water users. The conference is a significant meeting for key decision makers from the Colorado River Basin states with more than 1,000 water leaders, policy makers, and consultants attending the conference each year.
Read more about DRI’s research supporting Colorado River water management on our latest Storymap: https://bit.ly/coloradoriverstorymap

DRI at AGU24 Annual Meeting
2024-12-09 - 2024-12-13 | Washington D.C.
DRI will be exhibiting at the AGU24 Annual Meeting this year, and we hope you will stop by booth 751, attend our presentations, and discover how we can shape the future of science together. We look forward to seeing everyone there!
DRI Presenter Schedule
agu.org/fall-meeting
#DiscoverDRI

STEM Professional Development Training: Intro to Hydroponics
2025-01-25 09:00 - 13:00 | DRI, Las Vegas Campus, 755 E. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas, NV, 89119, United States
Learn how to operate and integrate hydroponic systems into your classroom in DRI’s STEM Education Program FREE educator professional development training co-hosted by Green Our Planet! In the training, educators will gain hands-on experience germinating seeds, transplanting seedlings, mixing nutrient solution, programming lights, assembling and operating hydroponic systems, and integrating hydroponics into the classroom through STEM, conservation, health, and financial literacy lessons.
This training is open to K-12th grade Educators. Educators who attend the session will be eligible for up to 4 Continuing Education hours as well as the ability to check out IDOO hydroponic systems from DRI’s STEM Co-Lab Lending Library.
Click here to register: https://tinyurl.com/4fv7s2jc

STEM Professional Development Training: Pre-K STEAM & Literacy
2025-02-22 08:00 - 11:00 | DRI, Las Vegas Campus, 755 E. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas, NV, 89119, United States
In the world of young learners, every story has the potential to spark curiosity. During DRI’s STEM Education Program’s FREE educator professional development training on our new Pre-K Green Box, educators will delve into how integrating STEAM and literacy can turn that curiosity into exploration and discovery.
This Green Box is a self-contained, Nevada Pre-K standards-aligned, curriculum kit that provides educators with three weeks’ worth of curriculum and all supplies necessary to conduct each activity. Participants will learn about the process behind the Pre-K Green Box creation, how the kit helps to bridge the gap in literacy, and the benefits of combining books with the wonder of hands-on learning through play. Educators will have the opportunity to actively engage with the Green Box activities to gain a practical understanding of how to integrate them in the classroom.
Although this training will cover Pre-K standards, all interested educators are welcome to attend! Educators who attend the training will receive copies of books found in the curriculum and a certificate of completion for 3 Continuing Education hours.
Click here to register: https://tinyurl.com/2y7dyrmt

STEM Professional Development Training: Southwest Sustainable Innovation - Transpiration and Drought
2025-02-22 13:00 - 18:00 | DRI, Las Vegas Campus, 755 E. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas, NV, 89119, United States
Come and explore connections between transpiration, weather systems, climate, and drought at DRI’s STEM Education Program’s FREE educator professional development training on our new middle school Green Box, Southwest Sustainable Innovation: Transpiration and Drought. Green Boxes are self-contained, NGSS-aligned, curriculum kits that provide educators with three weeks’ worth of curriculum and all supplies necessary for your classroom to conduct each activity. The training will provide hands-on activities to allow students to compare plant structures, explore weather systems, investigate real time weather data, and consider how to predict, monitor, and mitigate drought.
Although this training will cover middle school standards, all interested educators are welcome to attend! Educators who attend the session will be eligible for up to 5 Continuing Education hours.
Click here to register: https://tinyurl.com/2emsbvfx
