Elyse DeFranco, Author at DRI

Meet Tyler Doane

by Elyse DeFranco | Nov 14, 2024 | Featured researchers

Tyler Doane, Ph.D., started in May 2024 as Assistant Research Professor in the Division of Hydrologic Sciences. He works remotely from Cleveland, Ohio, where his wife teaches bioethics at Case Western Reserve University’s medical school. Doane is a geomorphologist who received his Ph.D. at Vanderbilt University before completing a postdoctoral position at Indiana University, Bloomington. In the this Behind the Science interview, Doane talks about his interest in applying math to describe scientific phenomena, his interest in embracing noise and chaos to understand Earth systems, and his favorite method for coming up with new research questions.

DRI Recruiting Fallon Community Members for Free Well Water Quality Testing

by Elyse DeFranco | Oct 30, 2024 | Announcements

DRI scientists are recruiting fifteen Fallon residents with private wells to participate in a water quality study. All fifteen study participants will receive free water quality results, and a subset of the well owners will receive water filtration systems. The research will be used to identify the spatial extent and potential sources of contaminants such as pesticides, microplastics, and flame retardants and quantify the efficacy of treatment systems to reduce concentrations in drinking water.

Annual Awards Presented to DRI Faculty and Staff at 2024 Celebration of Science

by Elyse DeFranco | Oct 16, 2024 | Awards and Honors

DRI’s annual awards and recognition ceremonies were held at our Reno and Las Vegas campuses in early October to honor scientists and staff members for their achievements. Along with the below awardees, several faculty and staff were recognized for their long-term service to the institute. DRI prides itself on fostering a fulfilling workplace that builds internal community and inspires scientific discovery.

Meet Monica Gehrig

by Elyse DeFranco | Oct 3, 2024 | Featured researchers

Monica Gehrig joined DRI in summer 2023. She works with the STEM Education Program to bring science education to Nevada schools and builds partnerships with organizations like the Atomic Museum and the Southern Nevada Water Authority. Born and raised in Louisiana, she is now based at DRI’s Las Vegas campus. In this interview, Gehrig shares her passion for science education and why she considers it central to understanding the world, her circuitous path to DRI, and her many hobbies outside of work.

DRI’s STEM Education Program Receives DOE Grant to Support Nevada’s Clean Energy Workforce Pipeline

by Elyse DeFranco | Sep 24, 2024 | Announcements

DRI’s STEM Education Program has received a grant from the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Environmental Management to support Nevada’s clean energy workforce pipeline. The nearly $2 million in funding will be used to prepare the next generation with the knowledge and technical skills needed for employment in fields such as clean energy, waste management, and environmental remediation.

DRI Recognizes Catherine Ivanovich as the 2024 Peter B. Wagner Memorial Award Winner for Women in Atmospheric Sciences

by Elyse DeFranco | Sep 23, 2024 | Awards and Honors

DRI is pleased to announce that the 26th annual Peter B. Wagner Memorial Award for Women in Atmospheric Sciences has been awarded to Catherine (Casey) Ivanovich of Columbia University. The Peter B. Wagner Memorial Award for Women in Atmospheric Sciences is an annual competition recognizing the published works of women pursuing a master’s or Ph.D. in the atmospheric sciences.

Meet David Almanza

by Elyse DeFranco | Aug 12, 2024 | Featured researchers

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.

Tracking the Restorative Effects of Good Fire

by Elyse DeFranco | Aug 6, 2024 | Featured projects

A few miles south of Yosemite’s famed Glacier Point, ringed by striking granite domes, lies the Illilouette Basin. This small stretch of the Sierra Nevada Mountains has become a sort of fire laboratory, a place where natural wildfires have been allowed to burn since 1972. In contrast with the long-supported program of fire suppression that has dominated American forests since the late 19th century, resulting in dense and unhealthy forests, the Illilouette Basin’s story is about the benefits that natural fire can bring to the landscape.

Reno-Sparks Heat Mapping Project seeking volunteers for August 10

by Elyse DeFranco | Aug 2, 2024 | Announcements

In an effort to better understand urban heat islands and their impacts on our region, a group of organizations, led by the Nevada State Climate Office, is seeking volunteers to track heat on August 10 for the Reno-Sparks Heat Mapping Project. Volunteers will set out in pairs to drive or navigate a predetermined route, equipped with a GPS-equipped temperature and humidity sensor that can be affixed to a volunteer’s car. The original project date was postponed due to unusually cool weather.

DRI’s STEM Education Team Receives EPA Grant to Support Microplastics Education for Nevada Students and Communities

by Elyse DeFranco | Jul 24, 2024 | Announcements

The $100,000 grant will fund the production of additional educational kits known as Greenboxes that raise awareness and understanding of the prevalence and role of microplastics in the environment. In addition to the Greenboxes, the grant will also support community partnerships with The Nature Conservancy, the Walker Basin Conservancy, Get Outdoors Nevada, Sierra Nevada Journeys, and Envirolution.

Posts by Elyse DeFranco