Nevada's premier nonprofit environmental research institute advancing science that matters since 1959.
DRI conducts multidisciplinary environmental research across more than 40 scientific fields. The institute operates three core divisions addressing atmospheric sciences (air quality, climate, renewable energy, fire science), hydrologic sciences (water resources sustainability), and earth and ecosystem sciences (geological and biological interactions). Two interdisciplinary centers—the Center for Arid Lands Environmental Management and the Center for Watersheds and Environmental Sustainability—support integrated research approaches. Notable programs include the Nevada State Cloud Seeding Program (since the 1960s), atmospheric dispersion modeling, and microplastics research in Lake Tahoe.
DRI offers graduate programs and STEM education initiatives serving Nevada's K-12 teachers and community college students. The Research Immersion Internship program provides career discovery opportunities in science, technology, and entrepreneurship. The institute operates PreK-college education outreach, citizen science programs (including Mountain Rain or Snow), and professional development training. DRI also manages the Nevada Robotics Program and provides hands-on STEM learning resources to Nevada educators.
DRI operates over 40 specialized laboratories and research facilities across two main campuses in Reno and Las Vegas, with subsidiary facilities in Boulder City, Steamboat Springs (Storm Peak Laboratory), and Paradise. The Dandini Research Park in Reno spans 328 acres and serves as a hub for collaborative research with adjacent institutions. The institute maintains research libraries and cutting-edge technology demonstrations supporting projects on all seven continents.
As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, DRI operates under a soft-money model where faculty pursue partnerships with industry, nonprofits, and government agencies. The institute maintains a dynamic research office experienced in contract negotiation and has a General Services Administration contract for environmental consulting services. DRI is committed to equal employment opportunity and sponsors work visas for research faculty and postdoctoral fellows.