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 Patrick Hurbain
Patrick Hurbain, Ph.D., is an environmental epidemiologist working with Judy Chow, John Watson, and Xiaoliang Wang in the Environmental Analysis Facility. In the following interview, Hurbain discusses how his childhood in Stead influenced his career trajectory, his new study published in Environmental Science & Technology, and his hopes for bringing the chili cook-off back to DRI.
Jim Hudson: Celebrating a Career in Cloud Physics
Research Professor Jim Hudson, Ph.D., DRI’s longest-serving employee, recently retired from DRI after 51 years studying cloud physics.
Restoring our relationship with hímu (willow) requires human interaction rather than protection
The continuation of life for the Wá∙šiw is based around plants like hímu. With it, they can help us understand our problems.
Heading to the mountains? The Living Snow Project needs your help
Murray, Nieminen, Collins, Christopher, and Lundin at DRI are studying snow algae as part of the Living Snow Project – a collaboration between DRI and Robin Kodner and her team at Western Washington University.
Meet Victoria Wuest, Graduate Researcher
Victoria Wuest is a graduate research assistant with the Division of Hydrologic Science at DRI in Las Vegas, mentored by Duane Moser, Ph.D.
Field Notes From a DRI Research Team in Greenland: A Story Map
In May 2022, a team led by scientists from DRI in Reno, Nevada departed for Greenland, where they plan to collect a 440 meter-long ice core that will represent 4,000 years of Earth and human history.
Meet Brianda Hernandez Rosales, Graduate Researcher
Brianda Hernandez Rosales is a graduate research assistant with the Division of Hydrologic Sciences at DRI in Reno. She recently earned her Master’s degree in hydrogeology from the Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR).
Meet Dennis Hallema, Ph.D.
Dennis Hallema, Ph.D., is an assistant research professor of hydrology with the Division of Hydrologic Sciences at DRI in Las Vegas. He specializes in data modeling and natural catastrophe research.
Inspiring solutions: DRI’s Community Environmental Monitoring Program tracks radioactivity in Nevada’s air and water
For more than 40 years, DRI’s Community Environmental Monitoring Program (CEMP) has worked to address fears about radiation exposure and provide answers to the concerned public in communities surrounding the NNSS through a simple but impactful solution: putting radioactivity data in the hands of the people.
Las Vegas student celebrates Bar Mitzvah by raising funds for Nevada Robotics program
Caleb, a Las Vegas middle schooler, chose to give back to celebrate his Bar Mitzvah. Caleb reached out to DRI’s Nevada Robotics program with a desire to help raise money to give greater access to robots for students at a Title 1 middle school in the Las Vegas area.
Seeking answers from the ashes
How did recent Sierra Nevada fires such as the Caldor, Tamarack, and Dixie impact soil properties in burned areas? An interdisciplinary team of DRI scientists has received funding from the National Science Foundation to find out.
DRI scientist Rishi Parashar receives NSF Mid-Career Advancement Award
Meet Rishi Parashar, Ph.D., who recently received a National Science Foundation (NSF) Mid-Career Advancement Award, and learn about his research in this Q&A with “DRI’s Behind the Science” Blog.
Meet Charlotte van der Nagel, Graduate Researcher
Charlotte van der Nagel is a graduate research assistant with the Division of Earth and Ecosystems Sciences at DRI in Las Vegas and a Ph.D. student in the Geoscience program at University of Nevada, Las Vegas.