Calendar of Events

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…

In the Spring of 2022, a group of DRI scientists traveled to Greenland with the intent of extracting 4,000-year-old ice cores which tell the story of climate, volcanoes, and human activity. The arduous journey and even more arduous task of drilling and extracting ice cores isn’t without risk or danger. Join us to dive into their research, their journey to Greenland, and to hear the stories they found embedded in the ice. Location: Downtown Reno Library, 301 S. Center Street,…

Despite their small size, the cloud seeding team at Desert Research Institute has a mighty impact on Nevada and the West by increasing snow pack in targeted areas by up to 20 percent. Join us at this edition of Science Distilled to delve into the world of cloud seeding and its impact on our increasingly drought-stricken region. This event features a short documentary film and panel discussion followed by audience Q&A. Location: Downtown Reno Library, 301 S. Center Street, Reno…

If you have lived through a Northern Nevada summer, you are no stranger to wildfires and the resulting smoke that engulfs our community. Join us as we hear from a panel of experts discussing the technology used to monitor and predict wildfires, air quality, and the impacts on public health, and wildfire prevention. This event features a short documentary film and panel discussion followed by audience Q&A. Location: Downtown Reno Library, 301 S. Center Street, Reno Times: Doors open at…

At this installment in the Science Distilled series, audience members will be taken on a deep-dive into the surprising space where creativity and science commingle. Come learn why science needs creative minds and how creativity can be inspired by science. This event in the series is presented in conjunction with Artown and will feature a short documentary film, speaker presentations, and audience Q&A. Location: Desert Research Institute, Stout Conference Room, 2215 Raggio Pkwy, Reno Times: Doors open at 6:30pm, presentation…

Join us for this installment in the Science Distilled series for a scientific double feature. Explore the often misunderstood relationship between humans and whales in “The Whale Detective,” and then dive into the incredible intelligence and problem-solving skills octopuses possess in “Octopus: Making Contact.” Pull in, sit back, and enjoy two wonderful films guaranteed to be scientific blockbusters! Location: West Wind El Rancho Drive-In Theater, 555 El Rancho Drive, Sparks Times: Gate opens at 7:00pm, film begins at 7:30pm

In this final event in the 2023 series, Science Distilled departs from Earth and takes you on a journey to explore the beyond. Join our speakers as they share stories about quantum theory, astrobiology, and how the research of life in extreme environments on Earth can give us clues about where to look for life beyond our planet. Location: Downtown Reno Library, 301 S. Center Street, Reno Times: Doors open at 6:30pm, presentation begins at 7:00pm