Calendar of Events

Science Distilled, a new lecture series created by DRI and The Discovery, makes cutting-edge science approachable through presentations on current and curious topics held at hip locations in a social atmosphere. Evidence of industrialization, plagues, and wars hidden in polar and glacial ice. There are many ways of looking back in time to garner clues from unwritten history: fossils, artifacts, and tree rings are a few. Ice cores are another. These long, cylindrical samples – containing layers of hundreds to…

From inquiry to inspiration: how can science guide on-the-ground, resilient land management practices? From experiment to excitement: can good science really lead to practical stewardship of the land? From data to driven: how can approaches inspire sustainable practices among diverse stakeholders? Come wrestle with these big questions at this exciting Science Distilled event. It takes a special breed of scientist to dedicate his or her life to the most complicated, global, long-term challenges of our time. Wildfire, watershed health, and…

Stories from wildland firefighters: What firefighters’ journals can teach us about risk, values, and decision-making. Fire behavior is becoming more unusual and unpredictable—we know this all too well after yet another incredibly destructive fire season. On the fire line, firefighters are faced with complex moment-to-moment decisions, negotiating the tensions that can exist between protecting personal safety, private property, and shared resources. What can we learn about how firefighters assess risk and take action on the ground, and what can that teach…

Alien encounters, science fiction movies, dreams of becoming an astronaut—the possibility of life beyond Earth has always fascinated us. But our curiosity has outpaced our ability to explore space. Scientists must turn to the known to learn about the unknown, finding clues about life among the stars in places like dark caverns, ice-covered Antarctic lakes, and Yellowstone’s geysers. If we imagine that life on Mars will be cold and dry, for example, we can find similar locations on Earth to…

Why do you see one thing in an optical illusion while your friend might see something completely different? What is it about the brain that allows for these differences, and what can we learn about our brain function and behavior from animals? At this event, our speakers will explore the intricacies of how humans see the world and how they study perception, bias, and behavior using animals as different as dogs and octopuses. DRI’s Mary Cablk, PhD, will share insights…

The challenge of building self-driving cars is not purely a question of engineering; it’s also a social one. Unwritten rules, social cues, and even unexpected friendly gestures dictate how traffic flows, and without them, it’s not clear how we’d navigate even the simplest intersection. How robots sense the social fabric that makes our communities function is a central question for researchers studying AI (artificial intelligence). In the same way, our social dynamics deeply affect how we perceive robots and integrate…

Imagine standing at your kitchen sink, looking out the window to expansive almond orchards and tomato fields. You turn on the tap for a glass of water, but you’re not sure if it’s safe to drink. If it’s contaminated by chemicals from pesticides and fertilizers, how will it be cleaned, and who will pay for it? Rural communities are in just this dilemma, grappling with how to pay for treatment of underground water supplies contaminated by agrichemicals. At this installment…

The number of Spanish-speaking patients in hospitals is increasing, in Northern Nevada and across the nation. The number of bilingual healthcare providers and researchers, however, remains troublingly low. What can we do to make the STEM-healthcare workforce better reflect the diversity of our communities? At this installment of Science Distilled, consider with our speakers why building a diverse STEM-healthcare workforce matters and how to put this inquiry into action. Faculty, students, and staff in the University of Nevada, Reno’s Community of Bilingual…

When commercial cannabis growing facilities were approved by the Nevada State Legislature just a few years ago, there were no emissions data nor industry standards to guide environmental and public health regulations. Not here in Northern Nevada, not anywhere in the world. Faced with this challenge, scientists from the Desert Research Institute and managers from the Washoe County Health District forged ahead into the “Wild West” of air quality research. At this installment of Science Distilled, explore with our speakers…

Crafting natural hazard warnings that people take seriously. It’s safe to assume that we’ve all seen a weather forecast and muttered, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” How do we decide when to take warnings about natural hazards seriously? And when do we brush them off, assuming the forecasters are just crying wolf? At this installment of Science Distilled, hear from the researchers probing this decision-making process and the science behind it. A communication expert from the University of Nevada, Reno and a…

Over the last two months spent at home, many of us have realized what architects and urban planners have long known to be true: our well-being is tightly linked with the physical places we live, work, and play. In cities, particularly those in the desert Southwest like Las Vegas, pressing challenges like sustainable mobility, climate change, and now a global pandemic are forcing us to change the way we think about space and urban design. How can we build more…

Why is it so hard to just take the darn bus? We know it’s good for our carbon footprint, and we’re the first to advocate for sustainable options. But when the rubber meets the road, it can be hard to make our values match with our everyday transportation needs, especially in Western American cities like Reno. How can we make sustainable transportation options more practical? At this virtual edition of Science Distilled, you’ll hear from speakers designing sustainable transport solutions…

“Unprecedented” will be remembered as the watchword of 2020. Together, we have faced unforeseen challenges in our education, work, business, social, and home lives brought on by the global pandemic. With life seemingly overturned, creative uses of technology to connect us and overcome these struggles have emerged in unexpected places. This Science Distilled event brings together leaders from across Nevada to share their experiences of resilience, hope, and innovation. We will explore the imaginative ways that they are using technology…

Science and storytelling in the Great Basin The Great Basin and Eastern Sierra Nevada have inspired countless writers, artists, poets, musicians, and scientists who strive to understand the place we call home. This Science Distilled event, in collaboration with Nevada Humanities, welcomes Kendra Atleework, author of the acclaimed book and 2021 Nevada Reads selection, Miracle Country: A Memoir of a Family and a Landscape, in conversation with two Desert Research Institute scientists who have dedicated their careers to the study…

Per Patagonia Outlet COVID-19 mitigation policy, face coverings MUST BE WORN by all event attendees, regardless of vaccination status. Whether about the pandemic, wildfires, extreme weather, or other crises, we are now accustomed to seeing headlines with terms like “unprecedented”, “record-breaking”, or “increasing magnitude and intensity”. While these apocalyptic words might make some want to run for the hills, an entire generation of students are choosing career paths that will bring them directly into the eye of the storm. What…

Per Patagonia Outlet COVID-19 policy, face coverings are recommended, but not required at this event. “From science to insanity and back again”… Science is a pathway to adventure! What does it feel like to be a scientist? Join us for a family-friendly TED-style talk on the places that science can take us, illustrated with stories and experiences by Ted Hartwell. Bring your five senses as Ted shares his adventures in archaeology, comets and asteroids, community environmental monitoring, and more. He…

Our energy future will contain diverse renewable energy options, and these emerging technologies have a direct connection to the landscape around us. Here in the Great Basin, we find many sources of this energy literally underfoot, including what is needed for geothermal production and energy storage for batteries. This makes our region central to important energy topics for the future, and a key driver of emerging energy technologies. Our featured speakers at this Science Distilled event include Dr. Bridget Ayling,…

Science Distilled is thrilled to partner again with Nevada Humanities and to welcome back author Kendra Atleework, author of Miracle Country: A Memoir of a Family and a Landscape. She will be joined by DRI scientist Ben Hatchett, Ph.d. and Reno-based artist Megan Berner. The evening will center on a conversation about witnessing the changing landscape through each panelist’s lens of expertise and experience. The evening will begin with an introduction to each speaker, followed by a panel discussion, and…

From the mythical Jackalope, to endangered pupfish, to inverted sea anemones found only in Antarctica, the world is filled with creatures yet to be understood. Join us for a lively discussion with three panelists who bring unique perspectives on the rigors of scientific research and how to tell the stories of the animals being studied so that even a mildly science-curious person can understand and engage with the discoveries. During intermission, attendees at this Science Distilled event are welcome to…