Earlier this fall, the new Robert Z. Hawkins Foundation STEM Co-Lab officially opened at the DRI Northern Nevada Science Center. The Robert Z. Hawkins Foundation generously provided funding to support the purchase of the necessary materials and equipment for the STEM Co-Lab. This space will serve educators and students, host professional development workshops, and education events for the community.
DRI’s Dan McEvoy is a researcher with the Western Regional Climate Center, and he recently co-authored a new study showing the declining groundwater levels in Nevada. He worked with scientist Laurel Saito with The Nature Conservancy to address risks and solutions to this groundwater problem.
The aim for the study, published in Hydrological Processes, was to determine risk factors leading to the declining groundwater levels, and propose science-based solutions for groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs).
The Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) has secured a $750,000 grant from NASA’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) to study unique underground ecosystems powered by radiation instead of sunlight. The findings could help guide NASA’s search for life beneath the surfaces of Mars and icy worlds elsewhere in the solar system.
Today, Keep Tahoe Blue, The Tyre Collective, and Desert Research Institute (DRI) announced a groundbreaking collaboration with the Emerald Bay Shuttle and its operator, Downtowner, that brings together science, technology, and alternative transportation to protect Lake Tahoe’s world-renowned water clarity. The pilot program employs The Tyre Collective’s proprietary technology — discrete, compact devices affixed to a vehicle’s undercarriage — to capture harmful tire wear particles directly at the wheel.
Leonard and Sara Lafrance have pledged their support for the continuing work of DRI’s Center for International Water and Sustainability (CIWAS). Their two-year gift will support Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services in the North and North East Gonja District of the Savannah Region of Ghana. Specifically, this gift will fund project components that include WASH entrepreneurial empowerment for women, increased WASH services for health care facilities, well drilling for water access, water quality management, and overall project management.
The DRI Foundation is excited to announce that Eco Electrical Systems has joined the 2025 DRI Corporate Partners Program. Eco Electrical Systems has been designing and manufacturing bird guards for power lines for over 23 years. Their industry leading flame-retardant, track resistant and UV resistant products reduce avian and wildlife electrocutions, wildfires stemming from avian electrocution, and momentary and permanent power outages for some of the largest electric utilities. The Corporate Partners Program brings together a select group of organizations to collaborate with DRI leadership, scientists, engineers, and students.
The Teichert Foundation has generously provided support for DRI’s STEM Education Program to engage in a targeted STEM education outreach and engagement campaign in Washoe County, Nevada. This campaign will utilize three existing, bilingual Next Generation Science Standards aligned STEM kits that touch upon electricity, energy, and ecosystems topics, respectively. This campaign focuses on connecting with underserved PreK through third grade students and parents.
MGM Resorts International has generously donated funds to support the purchase of over 100 Pelican hard-sided cases for the DRI STEM Education Green Box Program. These cases will replace the hard-shell suitcases previously used to house these self-contained teaching kits.
DRI’s Native Waters on Arid Lands project was recently featured in the 2024 World Drought Atlas, a 175-page hardcover reference book for decision-makers detailing drought impacts and adaptation solutions from around the world.
Including DRI in your estate through a planned gift is a remarkable testament to your belief in the powerful impact of science to develop solutions to address how humans are impacting their environments and how the environment impacts humans. A planned gift could be a bequest in your will or living trust, a charitable remainder trust, or naming DRI as a beneficiary of a retirement plan fund, life insurance policy, or other.