DRI Spring 2007 News - Desert Research Institute
Transcription
DRI Spring 2007 News - Desert Research Institute
Spring 2007 Solving Problems—DRI Studies Agricultural Water-Conservation Technique Story by Sara Marcus DRI Technician John Goreham collects a sediment sample from the Rocky Ford Highline Canal, Rocky Ford, Colo. IN THIS ISSUE: Photo by Dr. Duane Moser Innovations in ice cores page 3 New research center at Tahoe page 10 Nevada Medal winner page 15 Water availability in the western United States currently is a hot topic. With expansion and growth in the West, looking for ways to make efficient use of available water is a priority for municipalities and agriculturalists. Cities in the West are encouraging waterconservation measures such as water-efficient appliances, xeriscaping yards and setting strict watering schedules. However, the greatest demand for water in the United States—and the West is no exception—is for agriculture. In the United States, over half of the fresh water used every day is for irrigation purposes, and once this water is put on fields, very little of it ends back up in natural water systems, such as rivers, lakes and groundwater. So, it is very important to transport irrigation water effectively, with as little loss of that water in transport as possible. Many farmers and municipalities in the western U.S. depend on water-delivery systems such as canals and ditches to transport water for use on crops and in other agricultural-related activities. Many of these waterways are not lined, so water is often lost because of seepage through the bottoms and sides. Since early 2005, a multi-disciplinary team of scientists from DRI and other institutions has been studying the use of a chemical substance, polyacrylamide (PAM), to reduce seepage from water-delivery canals and ditches. Drs. Rick Susfalk and Michael Young, co-principal investigators on the project, are leading a team of faculty, staff and students from DRI’s Divisions of Hydrologic Sciences and Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, to better understand the water conservation benefits and potential environmental risks associated with using PAM to reduce water loss in unlined canals. Their work is a collaborative effort, also involving the University of Nevada, Reno, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Colorado State University, continued on page 2 Photo by Brian Epstein Photo by Dr. Duane Moser Above, left: DRI faculty member Dr. Rick Susfalk drills a hole in Kannah Creek Ditch #2 for installation of water monitoring equipment. Above, right: DRI technician Brian Fitzgerald collects a macroinvertebrate sample from Smith Ditch, near Grand Junction, Colo. Inset: Max Schmidt applies PAM to Smith Ditch, near Grand Junction, Colo. Water Solutions of Colorado, Hydrologic Solutions, LLC, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation). Polyacrylamide is a synthetic chemical that belongs to a class of long-chain polymers. These polymers are used in applications as diverse as food packaging, paper manufacturing, wastewater treatment, drilling fluids for oil wells, and as a soil amendment to reduce erosion. One form of PAM sometimes found in homes is used to improve the water-retention properties of soil. Though this form of PAM is not used in water-delivery canals, it illustrates the diversity of this molecule. The molecular structure of PAM used in canal systems is slightly different, and it has properties that allow it to react with silt- and clay-sized sediment suspended in the canal water. After sufficient reaction time, the sediment-laden PAM molecule settles to the bottom of the canal and partially seals it. DRI faculty were asked by Reclamation, through the Water 2025 program, to examine under what conditions does PAM reduce seepage. Tests were conducted on several scales, from lab-scale experiments completed at DRI, to full-scale experiments conducted in irrigation canals in Colorado and Montana. During 2006 alone, DRI faculty and their collaborators conducted almost a dozen full-scale canal experiments. The experimental design included a significant collection of data to measure reduction in canal seepage and water samples to detect the possible presence of PAM and other residual compounds in the canal water. Preliminary results showed that PAM does seal canals and ditches when the canal conditions are favorable, reducing seepage in some cases by over 90 percent. Depending on field conditions, PAM could be a good choice for canal operators for treating their ditches, but there are other aspects of PAM use that need to be investigated if Reclamation recommends it for widespread use. DRI was also asked by Reclamation to examine possible human health and environmental impacts in the use of PAM. The primary human health concern is that acrylamide, a suspected human carcinogen, is present in low concentrations in PAM and released into the canal water when PAM is used. Through the use of laboratory analyses of acrylamide from samples collected during canal treatment, to the recent completion of a Risk Characterization report 2 on PAM use, DRI faculy showed that potential health risks from PAM use were extremely low. Another factor being considered is whether PAM use could have negative impacts to established aquatic life that might be living in the canal, or in streams that might receive water from the canal. These experiments are ongoing. In some cases, PAM might not be a good choice to reduce seepage. For example, seepage-dependent wetlands that have been established through years of slow leakage through the canals and ditches might lose their source of water if the canals are sealed. So, there are many factors to consider, not just how well PAM might or might not work to stop water loss. With the extensive field experiments already conducted in 2006, and additional experiments being conducted in 2007, DRI faculty are using these data to simulate the transport of PAM in canal systems to better predict the distance this chemical might travel from where it is applied. In addition, possible environmental impacts are being evaluated to see what effects, if any, applications of PAM would have on aquatic life. In trying to make more efficient use of the water delivered for agriculture in the West, DRI faculty are exploring all aspects of use of the PAM polymer in irrigation waterways. Brian Epstein holds water samples from the Rocky Ford Highline Canal in Rocky Ford, Colo. The jar on the right contains untreated canal water, and the jar on the left contains PAM-treated canal water that has dropped the suspended sediment to the bottom of the canal. Photo by Delbert Smith Innovation—Layers in Ice Cores Revealed by New Method Story by Sara Marcus Photo by Dr. Ken Taylor Graduate student Rhonda Zager extracts a core from Siple Dome Antarctica. When researchers are examining cores made of layers of ice— layers laid down thousands, even hundreds of thousands of years ago that preserve records of ancient climate—how do they know where one layer of ice ends and another begins? Ice is not an easy substance on which to conduct research, and one of the issues that ice-core researchers have is how to distinguish—repeatedly and reliably—annual layers of ancient ice in cores. Before samples are taken these cores for analysis, the researchers must have an accurate way of determining from what layer their samples are taken and how that layer correlates to layers in other cores. At DRI, Drs. Ken McGwire and Ken Taylor have developed a new method to aid in ice-core research that helps to address this problem of figuring out where individual layers are in ice cores. Ice cores are taken from numerous locations for analysis of different records preserved in the layers of ice. Analysis of certain isotopes in ice can help determine what ancient temperatures have been. Dust and ash layers in ice cores show evidence of times when volcanoes erupted, forest fires raged or deserts spread. All of these indicators of ancient climate conditions are found in the ice layers and are used to build a picture of the climate and history of Earth when conditions were quite different from today. To determine when climate changes occurred, researchers need an accurate count of the ice layers to match climate indicators from one place to another. When researchers have examined ice cores, layers in the ice have been counted by hand, sketched and logged, or estimated from photographs. The problem with all of these methods is that these records are all somewhat subjective. McGwire and Taylor, together with collaborators at the U.S. National Ice Core Laboratory in Denver and Pennsylvania State University, have developed a method using an optical-scanning technique that promises to improve upon how layers in an ice core may be counted. This imaging technique creates an archival image of the characteristics of the core, which is important because the core is destructively sampled by many analysis methods and it degrades over time even if it is kept cold and sealed from air, since it is no longer under pressure. The optical scanning setup is in a special cold room where the ice cores are processed. In this room, ice cores are loaded into a carriage, which then passes under a scanner, taking images at a scale of less than 1/20th of a millimeter! The scanning process was designed to eliminate many possible sources of image distortion and has the added benefit of minimizing handling. After the images are taken, they are saved for subsequent analysis in the warmth of an office, rather than in the cold room. This permanent, visual record of ice cores means that future researchers can retrieve information about the cores more easily and see where initial investigators made their choices to sample. Tools for annotating the features in the ice allow scientists to collaborate more effectively when interpreting the core. By making this new tool available to ice-core researchers, McGwire and Taylor hope to make ice-core imaging more accurate, repeatable and accessible for present and future work. Climate indicators preserved in ice are vitally important for building a picture of past temperature changes, and this new imaging system developed by DRI researchers will help in building more accurate pictures of past global changes. 3 New Applications of XRD Technology for Atmospheric Sciences Story and photo by Sara Marcus Drs. Michal Skiba, left, and Johann Engelbrecht fine tune DRI’s new XRD. One of the important things that helps keep DRI’s faculty at the forefront of research is instrumentation for analyzing samples. There are many analytical instruments available to DRI faculty, and an important recent addition is an X-ray diffractometer, or XRD for short. Funded by a National Science Foundation grant, a new XRD came on-line at DRI in March 2006 for DRI researchers to use. Running the new XRD laboratory is DRI faculty member Dr. Johann Engelbrecht, and funding has been provided internally by DRI for a post-doctoral fellow, Dr. Michal Skiba, to work on several projects using the XRD for analysis. What makes this instrument potentially so valuable to many DRI faculty? Part of the answer lies in what an XRD can do and how it analyzes samples. X-ray diffraction can be used to identify crystalline solids based on their inherent atomic structure. An X-ray tube produces X-rays that interact with the atomic structure of a mineral or other material and produce a unique X-ray diffraction pattern, which can be used as a “fingerprint” of the material being analyzed. The diffraction pattern is then compared to known patterns, and the identity of the solid is then determined. The advantage of X-ray diffraction is that the sample is not destroyed and can be further analyzed using other methods. DRI’s XRD facility was customized to analyze a large number of different types of powder samples, from soils and rocks to air pollution samples on filters. The system includes a robot that can automatically select and analyze up to 90 samples, without operator assistance. Engelbrecht is excited at the many potential projects and new opportunities that can be explored using the XRD. He notes that the XRD is an interdisciplinary facility that “can serve to bring the divisions closer together.” Currently the XRD is being used to analyze samples for faculty from each of the divisions at DRI. In conjunction with a project on the clarity of Lake Tahoe water, Engelbrecht 4 and Skiba are working with Dr. Alan Heyvaert to help determine the mineral content of sediments that are contributing to decreasing the clarity of the lake water. In conjunction with other Division of Atmospheric Sciences faculty, the XRD is being used to measure the mineral content of airborne dust particles contributing to haze in the air. Certain minerals, such as asbestos and sometimes quartz, are known health hazards and, therefore, it is important to know what minerals are present in the air and in what form they exist. Another project the XRD instrument is being used for is the quantification of minerals in desert dust from the Sahara, Middle East and China. This study is partly in collaboration with faculty in the Division of Earth and Ecosystem Sciences. Funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, dust samples have been collected from 15 sites in the Middle East, including places such as Tikrit and Baghdad, Iraq. These, together with other samples, are being analyzed at DRI for their chemical, mineralogical and optical properties. Skiba, who hails from Poland, is particularly interested in clay minerals. He feels that the new XRD is essential for the analysis of clay minerals in soils and dust. By analyzing the clay minerals in a sample, Skiba hopes to trace their primary origin. By determining where the clays in a sample originate, numerous factors, such as transport distance and weathering rates, may be determined. In an area such as Lake Tahoe, knowing where minerals are coming from may help prevent dust from reaching the lake, which, in turn, could contribute to improved water clarity. It is evident that the XRD provides new advanced technology to DRI faculty and that its applications are limited only by the creativity of the researchers. Together with other DRI faculty, Engelbrecht and Skiba are using the XRD for several ongoing and new projects from all divisions. The X-ray diffractometer is adding a new dimension to mineralogical and related research at DRI. Eyes in the Sky: DRI-UNLV Collaborators Use Special Helicopter for Research With nearly five acres of desert split into over 100 plots as large as 75 feet in diameter, DRI scientist Dr. Lynn Fenstermaker needed a new way to look at the big picture. As part of an ongoing global climate change experiment, Fenstermaker and Eric Knight (University of Nevada, Las Vegas) have developed a new way to acquire the whole plot imagery that is necessary to their research. To get the results needed, they mounted a 1.3 million pixel multispectral digital camera to a radio-controlled helicopter, or RCH, that can be flown at a height of up to 300 feet above ground level. “It was a unique application of commercially available products for which we designed and constructed the mounting and triggering system to meet our own needs,” Fenstermaker said. According to Fenstermaker, before they developed the RCH, they were limited to collecting only point or whole branch data, meaning that to collect data they were literally limited to individual branches of the plants in the plot. This limited view made it very difficult to understand how climate change can affect an entire plant community. She says now that they have the RCH, they can acquire images of entire plots at the right time and the right scale. “It provides us information at the next scale,” said Fenstermaker, “thereby enabling us to re-evaluate previous assessments and allowing us to extrapolate the branch data to the whole plot as a way to look at whole ecosystem effects.” For the past 10 years, Fenstermaker and Nevada System of Higher Education researchers have been conducting global climate change experiments on the Mojave Desert ecosystem at two locations in Area 5 of the Nevada Test Site. The experimental sites are called the Nevada Desert FACE Facility (Free-Air-Carbon dioxide-Enrichment) and the Mojave Global Change Facility (MGCF). The FACE facility is an elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide experiment and the MGCF is a complementary experiment examining the impacts of increased summer precipitation, nitrogen deposition and crust disturbance on the Mojave Desert ecosystem. Story by Jake Sunderland Photos courtesy of Dr. Lynn Fenstermaker This false color infrared image was acquired by the Tetracam ADC multispectral digital camera attached to the helicopter. Healthy vegetation appears as a bright red/magenta color, while bare soil appears tan in color. UNLV’s Eric Knight operates the radio-controlled helicopter while DRI’s Dr. Lynn Fenstermaker monitors the altitude of the helicopter. At the appropriate height, a servo is triggered to initiate image acquisition. 5 Profiles Steve Bacon Steve Bacon, a staff geomorphologist, is working on a project funded by the U.S. Department of Defense with the catchy title “Catalogue of Analogs”—one of several projects of the Desert Terrain Analysis Program at DRI. Collaborating with many DRI faculty, including Dr. Eric McDonald, Dr. Scott Bassett, Dr. Tom Bullard, Dr. Ken Adams, Tim Minor and Todd Caldwell, the study involves what Bacon calls desert terrain forecasting. The project characterizes desert terrains from around the world and compares them to areas within the U.S. Army’s Desert/Hot Weather test site at the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, as well as at other military installations in the southwestern U.S. Bacon says, “The overall objectives are to better understand the effects of desert operations on the performance of military equipment and to improve the fidelity of desert testing of that equipment during development, testing and evaluation prior to deployment in the field.” Sparked by childhood trips to the Mojave Desert, Bacon has always been interested in science—especially geology—and received his B.S. and M.S. from Humboldt State University studying geology and environmental systems. At DRI, Bacon is enjoying his involvement in both pure research and solving applied geologic and geomorphic problems. One of the reasons Bacon says he decided to work at DRI is the opportunity to work with researchers across disciplines. The “Catalogue of Analogs” project exemplifies this kind of cross-disciplinary research and also happens to benefit U.S. troops overseas. 6 Sophie Baker, a staff geologist, received her geology undergraduate degree from Trinity College, Dublin, and her M.S. in fluvial geomorphology from Dalhousie University in Canada. Needless to say, Baker has found living in Nevada very different— read “dry”—when compared to Ireland and Nova Scotia! About being in Reno, she says, “I really enjoy being near the mountains and all the wonderful opportunities for outdoor activities here.” Working for DRI’s Dr. Eric McDonald, Baker is assisting with writing and editing reports and papers, mainly on the Desert Terrain Forecasting project. The study’s goals include improving methods of characterizing and forecasting desert terrain based on predictable relationships between landscape position, soil, vegetation and geology. The U.S. Army uses results from this project to aid in appropriate troop and equipment deployments in desert terrain and to work towards achieving sustainability in military lands. Sophie Baker While at school, Baker was not sure whether she would study art or science, but says, “I have always been interested in the landscape and the environment and wanted to learn more about that,” and so she became a scientist working on desert soils. “I was attracted to the overall mission of DRI, which promotes work that has a positive impact on the environment,” Baker notes. “I would like to continue to be involved in research relating to arid geomorphology and soils, and Quaternary geology in general.” Dr. Markus Berli joined DRI as an assistant research professor after post-doctoral appointments at the University of Connecticut and Utah State University. In addition, he did post-doctoral research at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Switzerland, from where he also received his Diploma and Ph.D. Dr. Markus Berli Berli is interested in coupling mechanics and hydraulics of soils and rocks—namely, how earth material works when it is deformed and how fluids and gases move through it. His current research involves both experiments and modeling of interactions of fluids with solid soil structures. He also is interested in how processes seen in soils at very small scales are scalable to larger areas. “How do we connect soil processes we observe at a sample scale to fieldscale behavior and how do we measure these processes at various scales? This is what we would like to better understand,” Berli says. Berli works on several projects at DRI involving modeling and testing of hydrologic and mechanical behavior of desert soils and rocks. Understanding how water and air move through soil helps to predict how contaminants move through soils as well. Also, knowing where water is located in soils will lead to a better understanding of where chemical and microbial processes are active. Berli is enjoying working at DRI and says he feels “it is a privilege to do what you love to do!” He also has been enjoying the sunny days in Las Vegas, although he says to “check back in the summer” about enjoying the heat! Profiles Amber Broch Amber Broch, a staff research scientist in the Division of Atmospheric Sciences, is working on a project that has great relevance in this day and age of high energy and fuel costs. As an avid mountain biker and snowboarder, and a person who generally loves the outdoors, it is easy to understand why Broch has a passion for wanting to understand how to make the environment cleaner. The project that Broch is working on with DRI faculty member Dr. Alan Gertler is an example of blending science and environmentalism. Broch’s research involves determining how different fuels affect emissions and performance in alternative-fuel vehicles. The study involves analyzing what happens when a vehicle is converted from using compressed natural gas, or CNG, as a fuel to using a hydrogen/CNG blend fuel. With funding from the Nevada Southwest Energy Program, Broch is investigating the effects of this fuel conversion on both the performance and emissions of these vehicles. With a B.S. and M.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno, Broch is excited to be working at DRI, noting, “DRI offers a great opportunity to grow into many areas of research.” Broch likes working in the area of renewable energy and hopes to be able to expand her research into other areas of it, including studying possible applications for solar, wind and biomass. It is clear she enjoys doing research, especially when, as she says, her research “contributes to the benefit of others and the environment.” As incoming director of DRI’s Storm Peak Laboratory in Steamboat Springs, Colo., one goal Dr. Anna “Gannet” Hallar has is to make sure that researchers know not only that DRI has this worldclass lab facility, but also that they are aware of all of the potential projects that can be done on-site. It is clear Hallar is enthusiastic about her new position and wants to increase the amount of collaborative research at Storm Peak Laboratory with colleagues from DRI as well as from other institutions. In addition, Hallar is building outreach programs to involve students from grade school to graduate school in science at the lab. “I would really like to get undergrad- Originally from the Midwest, staff scientist John Healey joined DRI from the Kansas Geological Survey (KGS). Observing that Nevada has “ample opportunities for exploring vastly different geologic and geohydrologic environments,” Healey is excited to be exploring collaborations with several DRI scientists as well as maintaining ties with colleagues at KGS. John Healey Dr. Gannet Hallar uates involved at the lab with summer projects to give them field experience,” Hallar says. Hallar joined DRI after working as a National Research Council Postdoctoral Associate at NASA Ames Research Center. With both her M.S. and Ph.D. in atmospheric sciences from the University of Colorado at Boulder, Hallar’s main area of research is studying effects that human-caused inputs into the atmosphere can have on climate by examining cloud chemistry and optical properties of aerosols. Because Storm Peak often is engulfed in clouds, this makes the Storm Peak Laboratory location ideal for continuing and building Hallar’s research. She lives in Colorado, and says “The Storm Peak lab may be remote, but it is easy to communicate and stay in touch with other DRI scientists.” Healey’s area of specialty is developing field techniques to demonstrate variability in estimates of the hydraulic conductivity of aquifers. Since joining DRI, Healey has been working at the Project Shoal Area, Central Nevada Test Area and the Nevada Test Site with several DRI scientists, including Jenny Chapman, Brad Lyles, Chuck Russell, Ron Hershey and David Gillespie. “I’m hoping that my knowledge of slug-testing methodology and vadose-zone investigations will provide opportunities for new projects,” Healey says. Also an area where he can find many collaborators within DRI, Healey would like to continue his work in the area of stream-aquifer interactions. In addition, he is learning programming for many of the instruments used at DRI. Healey has always been interested in geology and obtained his B.S. and M.S. at Iowa State University in geology. “Now, geology feels more like a hobby than a career because I have been entrenched in groundwater studies for so long,” he says. However, he quickly notes, “You can’t separate geohydrology from geology.” Healey is looking forward to exploring the Southwest with his wife. “I’m really enjoying the mountains and the desert.” Profiles by Sara Marcus 7 Awards and Recognition Dr. Joseph McConnell – NSHE Researcher of the Year Award Dr. Joseph McConnell was presented with the prestigious Nevada System of Higher Education Regents’ Researcher of the Year Award for 2006 in recognition of his landmark work in ice-core chemistry, snow hydrology, paleoclimatology and glaciology. The award is granted to faculty members with a substantial record of national and international accomplishments including a significant amount of research and scholarly work with recognition. The honoree receives a $5,000 stipend and a medal. Dr. Alison Murray – Peter B. Wagner Medal of Excellence Dr. Alison Murray was honored with the 2006 Peter B. Wagner Medal of Excellence, an award for outstanding scientific accomplishments by DRI faculty in the early stages of their careers. Murray received a $1,500 prize and a minted medal for the award, named in honor of DRI atmospheric scientist Peter Wagner who died in the crash of a research aircraft in 1980. Murray’s research involves the use of biotechnology and genomics to study microorganisms and how they interact with the environment. Peter B. Wagner’s widow, Sue Wagner, a Nevada Gaming Commission member and former Nevada Lieutenant Governor, established the award in 1998. Pictured left to right back row: DRI President Dr. Stephen G. Wells, Dr. Alison Murray and Kirk Wagner; front row: Gracie Wagner. President Wells Receives High Honor from Indiana University DRI President Stephen Wells was honored by his alma mater, Indiana University, with the Richard Owen Alumni Award—the highest honor that the Department of Geological Sciences bestows on an alumnus. The annual award is for outstanding achievement in the field of geological sciences, be it excellence as a researcher, teacher, explorer or manager and be it in the academic, industrial or government sectors or as an independent entrepreneur. The award honors a graduate who has made the department proud at the highest level. Wells’ distinguished educational and professional career began at Indiana University where he received a B.S. in geology in 1971. He went on to receive an M.S. and Ph.D. in geology from the University of Cincinnati. He was a professor in the University of New Mexico’s department of geology from 1976 to 1991 and a professor of geomorphology at the University of CaliforniaRiverside until 1995, when he came to DRI as the executive director of the Quaternary Sciences Center as well as a research professor and graduate faculty member at the University of Nevada, Reno. Wells has served as president of DRI since 1999. Adding to a lengthy list of his many professional awards and activities, Wells began serving a one-year term as president of The Geological Society of America (GSA) in June 2006. GSA is a broad unifying scientific society that fosters the human quest for understanding Earth, plants and life. A member for almost 35 years, Wells’ service to GSA has included chairing several committees, co-convening a GSA conference and serving on the editorial board of various GSA publications. GSA has more than 16,000 members in more than 85 countries. The Owen Award is named in honor of Richard Owen, who taught courses in geology, natural history, botany and geography at Indiana University from 1864 to 1879. He was the first IU professor to publish papers concerning geology. The Owen Award was established in 1985 in celebration of the 100-year anniversary of the founding of IU’s department of geological sciences. 8 Awards and Recognition Lewis’ Achievements an Example of Precious Commodity Story by Heather Emmons in Adjunct Research Professors What the experts are saying about “Dynamic Data Assimilation: A Least Squares Approach” Professor Martin Ehrendorfer, University of Vienna: “I find a lot of detail that the readers will appreciate, and I like the way the book is structured—from ‘simple’ estimation methods to the Kalman Filter and variational methods.” Professor Tomi Vukicevic, University of Colorado: “This book on data assimilation covers essentially all that we know about state estimation for dynamically evolving systems—a grand effort on a much-needed textbook.” Dr. Andrew Lorenc, Head, Data Assimilation Section, British Meteorological Office: “I think the book will be very useful, giving derivations of key results at a level that my staff will find appropriate.” Dr. James Purser, National Meteorological Center/ Environmental Modeling Center: “It was enjoyable to see so many ideas so nicely set out—a treasure and wonderful resource for students.” To quote a famous Frank Sinatra song, 2006 “was a very good year” for Adjunct Research Professor Dr. John Lewis. In February, Lewis was awarded Fellow of the American Meteorological Society for his sustained contributions to numerical weather prediction and historical studies of meteorology. This was an apt award, indeed, since Lewis’ 40-year career in meteorology includes being an operational meteorologist for the U. S. Navy and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a university professor and a researcher in private and government laboratories. Currently on long-term assignment to DRI, he serves as a research meteorologist at the NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory. In August 2006, Cambridge University Press published his book (with co-authors S. Lakshmivarahan and Sudarshan Dhall) on dynamic data assimilation—a comprehensive treatise on the mathematical methods used to prepare weather observations for use in forecasting. The book, “Dynamic Data Assimilation: A Least Squares Approach,” has already received acclaim from meteorologists at operational prediction centers worldwide and from academicians. Lewis has been a DRI adjunct professor since 1998. Adjuncts are typically highly experienced scientists who have a record of collaboration with DRI faculty members, but are employed elsewhere. Bestowing the title of “adjunct” is a visible way of recognizing this relationship and encouraging even closer collaborations. Both sides benefit from such an arrangement by direct scientific interactions with the individuals involved, as well as by granting exposure to a broader range of colleagues and expertise at partnering institutions. If the adjunct professor comes from a traditional university setting, this often leads to subsequent student exchange opportunities. Dr. Lewis’ adjunct experience has been somewhat unusual in that he has been physically located at DRI since 1998. “This has worked very well,” says Dr. S. Kent Hoekman, Executive Director of the Division of Atmospheric Sciences (DAS). “Because John has been physically embedded within DAS, he has frequently partnered with regular faculty members in writing proposals, conducting research projects and publishing scientific papers. He has also taught classes within the Atmospheric Sciences Graduate Program, has served on students’ thesis committees and has mentored students and junior faculty members alike. In fact, he is so fully incorporated into DAS activities that most people at DRI don’t realize he is actually employed by NOAA.” Lewis received his undergraduate education at Sacramento State College and was then awarded a fellowship from the Ford Foundation to complete his M.S. at the University of Chicago and a fellowship from NASA to complete his Ph.D. at the University of Oklahoma. He resides with his wife and youngest daughter in Truckee, Calif., where he studies Sierra snowstorms firsthand. Copies of Lewis’ book can be obtained from Amazon or Cambridge’s U.S. office in New York City. 9 Events Collaboration on Common Ground: TCES Provides Much-Needed Home Base for Research When DRI scientists talk about staging a research activity at Lake Tahoe, it may sound a bit like they’re getting ready for a Shakespearean play at Sand Harbor, when in reality, they are preparing to perform cutting-edge scientific research. No theatrics are involved, but scientists do use many props—such as DRI’s research boat—and creative thinking to tackle the job of keeping the beautiful backdrop of Lake Tahoe blue. Adding to this backdrop, and to the excitement of DRI researchers, is the new Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences (TCES)—a muchneeded on-site laboratory that will help to set the stage for more top-notch, collaborative research. The new $33 million building, located on the campus of Sierra Nevada College in Incline Village, Nev., opened its doors on August 21, 2006, after nearly two years of construction. The center provides DRI’s researchers—and collaborators from places like University of California, Davis and the University of Nevada, Reno—the opportunity to “meet in the middle” to discuss research, work on data interpretations, and create models all at one location. Sierra Nevada College, UC Davis, UNR, and DRI will all operate out of the new building. DRI’s scientists are looking forward to the two equipmentstorage and preparation rooms where field equipment will be put together, calibrated and readied for field deployment. In addition to office space for DRI faculty, the new facility also includes a small conference room where scientists can meet with agency personnel in the basin, as well as other scientists, to develop research proposals, present preliminary data and present study findings. The center also offers state-of-the-art analytical equipment for timely, on-site measurements, as well as visualization equipment, allowing scientists to create virtual images and models of their research to better understand Lake Tahoe’s changing environment and needs. For a decade, DRI’s Lake Tahoe research has focused on a variety of areas, including atmospheric sciences, general air quality within the basin, shoreline erosion, stormwater runoff, evaluation of environmental restoration projects and hydrology. “DRI has a long history of working in the Tahoe basin, and now the TCES will provide a more accessible home base for DRI scientists who generally commute from Reno for their Tahoe research activities,” Dr. Jim Thomas, Executive Director of DRI’s Center for Watersheds and Environmental Sustainability says. “For the last 10 years, DRI has been very active in the basin, working with local governments and decision-makers, using scientific research to preserve the Lake Tahoe environment. We do what is called adaptive management to make sure policies and decisions are based on sound science.” 10 The public is welcome at TCES On the first floor of the TCES, the Thomas J. Long Foundation Education Center includes interactive exhibits that give the public a hands-on look at the important research conducted at Lake Tahoe. Visitors will feel as if they are aboard a Lake Tahoe research boat, or inside a research laboratory, and learn from a life-size video host. Rock the boat: Guests test the waters of a replica of Dr. Charles Goldman’s research boat, with a floor that gently rocks to simulate being on water. The exhibit is part of the Thomas J. Long Foundation Education Center that includes interactive exhibits that give the public a hands-on look at the important research conducted at Lake Tahoe. Exhibits in the Long Center and docents will describe how design and construction of the TCES incorporated numerous features that use recycled materials and are energy efficient. In this way, the building itself is intended to contribute to the environmental health of the basin and to be a resource for visitors and members of the Lake Tahoe community. Turning over a “green” leaf The TCES is a three-story building providing 45,000 square feet of academic and research space. It is entirely “green” in operation and design. In early 2005, the trustees of Sierra Nevada College decided to work to achieve a Platinum certification for the building from the U.S. Green Building Council (www.usgbc.org). The rating and certification system established by the council is known as LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and the “green” construction standards are the first independent national standards of their kind. Ratings range from Certified, to Silver, Gold and Platinum. The TCES is expected to be the first Platinum LEED building in Nevada, possibly the fourteenth Platinum-rated building in the United States and the first “green” working science laboratory of its kind in the world. Story by Heather Emmons Photos by Jean Dixon Events How green is it? Building photo by Chris Talbot Here’s how the Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences incorporates green building into its structure and use: 1. Venting towers recover heat from exhaust air and preheat fresh air, reducing heating costs while maintaining high air quality. 2. Light shelves are used to refract natural light from the sun inside the building up to thirty feet. The glass walls of offices pass light to the corridors. Light-colored countertops do not absorb light, essentially recycling light in the labs. Light supplied by the skylights and windows changes in intensity and color throughout the day, creating a more natural, healthy environment. 3. Trees harvested from the building site that were milled in place—saving energy expenses of transport—were used for finishing work. Unmilled wood was shredded and used for erosion control and ground cover. 4. A co-generator produces electricity and the waste heat is recovered and used for heating the building through special tubing embedded in the floor. This heat would be lost to the atmosphere if the electricity were generated by a utility. It is estimated that the co-generator cuts the carbon impact of electricity consumption by twothirds. 5. Trex material will be used for the exterior walkways. Trex is made of recycled plastic grocery bags, stretch film, reclaimed wood and sawdust. 6. A compressed natural gas (CNG) pump will be located behind the building. SNC and UC Davis staffs plan to use CNG vehicles to promote environmental stewardship. 7. The building’s structural concrete contains fly ash, a by-product of coal combustion, converting that waste into a resource. 8. Rain and melted snow are captured, sterilized by ultraviolet rays from the sun and stored for use in the building’s toilets. 9. Photovoltaic solar panels—875 of them—cover a section of the roof and generate much of the electricity used in the building. Top: DRI President Dr. Stephen Wells addresses a crowd of more than 700 at the TCES Grand Opening Ceremony. Above: Dr. Charles Goldman (center wearing suit and tie) is honored during the TCES Grand Opening Ceremony with a ceremonial dance performed by the Washoe Tribe. Goldman, a member of the DRI Research Foundation Board and top limnologist from UC Davis, has dedicated 35 years of his life to the study of Lake Tahoe’s clarity . The TCES building was part of his vision. 10. Cold water is produced at night using the cold air and is stored in two buried 10,000gallon tanks. This water cools the building by day. The system conserves energy compared to a conventional air conditioning system. The cooling system uses the same radiant panels as the heating system, reducing construction materials. Information found at the TCES website: http://www.sierranevada.edu/admission/students/tces_green.html 11 Events Events Las Vegas Open House Wows Tourists and Residents Alike More than 500 visitors roamed the halls of DRI’s Las Vegas campus on October 7, and Institute scientists showed them there is more to glitter gulch than larger-than-life hotels and neon lights. DRI’s researchers proved to young and old alike that in the “Entertainment Capital of the World,” science can be extremely entertaining, captivating and educational. Radio station Star 102.7 helped showcase the event, as scientists explained their expertise in areas like virtual reality, groundwater modeling, the Community Environmental Monitoring Program, weather and climate, physical anthropology, archaeology, air quality, nuclear research, innovation in monitoring global climate change, microbiology, ecological engineering, geomicrobiology, soils and geochemistry. Visitors learned about Daphnia—a bug that cleans water—and got to take some home; they learned how exploring life in rocks in Antarctica sheds life on whether life can exist on Mars; and they built soil volcanoes and rain gauges. A few stops took visitors back in time: they learned what bones can tell us about our ancestors; what artifacts the Anasazi left behind help us understand about them; and what can be learned about the effects of past nuclear testing at the Nevada Test Site and other places across the U.S. DRI would like to thank Star 102.7 radio for help with publicity before and during the event; the Clark County Air Quality outreach team for partnering to educate the community about air quality issues; teachers Lee Howard, Dana Harper and Don Curry, as well as Curry’s students, for sharing their knowledge about DRI’s Science Boxes program and assisting with the open house; and to Summerlin for sponsoring the production of the “treasure maps” that helped people find their way to each exhibit. Story and photos by Heather Emmons 12 Events 13 News from the DRI Research Foundation GreenPower Program Grows by Leaps and Bounds Drive by any of DRI’s 14 GreenPower schools in Nevada and you’ll see solar panels and a wind turbine on the roof. What you won’t see—at least not while you’re driving by—is the thousands of students monitoring renewable energy production and learning about “green” energy sources . . . you’d need to visit a classroom to see that. DRI is dedicated to supporting and promoting the use and development of renewable sources of energy in Nevada, with an emphasis on educating Nevada’s K-12 population through the GreenPower program. Over the past year, the GreenPower program has seen the addition of more school campuses than any previous year. When the first DRI GreenPower school was unveiled in 2002, future growth of the program looked slow and steady. But thanks to the generosity of corporate and individual donors, in the past two school years, two school sites were unveiled in southern Nevada, one in rural Nevada, and there is one more currently being constructed in northern Nevada. In spring 2007, construction will be complete at the Mountain View Montessori School in Reno. The site is being funded by a grant from the school, along with funds from the Nevada State Office of Energy, Sierra Pacific Resources and Sierra Pacific Power Company customers who make tax-deductible contributions to the GreenPower program. An enthusiastic group of supporters gathered at the David E. Norman Elementary School in Ely on February 16, 2007, to celebrate the unveiling of their GreenPower structure. All 5th grade students participated in a renewable-energy poster contest, and the posters were featured at the unveiling event. The Norman Elementary GreenPower site was funded by Sierra Pacific Resources. In June 2006, the Frank J. Lamping Elementary School in Henderson welcomed a GreenPower installation at its William McCool Science Center. Lamping Elementary students attended the unveiling event, participated in a poster contest and gave tours of the Science Center to visitors. This school site is unique because students from throughout Clark County will be visiting the McCool Science Center on field trips, giving the GreenPower equipment the potential to reach far more students. The GreenPower structure at Lamping Elementary was the first paid for entirely by corporate sponsors, including Nevada Power Company, the Nevada State Office of Energy and Bechtel Nevada. The UNLV Research Foundation—as part of its Solar Technology Center—also partnered in the endeavor. A similar event was held in October 2005 at the Sandy Searles Miller Magnet School Academy for International Studies in Las Vegas. Students at the school participated in “Solar Day” festivities, visiting booths that featured interactive solar activities. The solar panels and wind turbine array itself were dedicated in honor of former First Lady Sandy Miller’s late father, Jim Searles, who was a great friend to the school. The site, like past GreenPower installations, was funded primarily by donations from individual power customer contributions. Above, right: DRI Research Foundation board member and GreenPower Committee Chairman Jim Kropid asks the contest winner at Norman Elementary School (Ely) to describe her renewable energy poster. Below, right: Lamping Elementary School (Henderson) also had a renewable energy poster contest with a proud winner. Background: The equipment at the Sandy Searles Miller Academy (Las Vegas) sits on the roof of the library. Interested in supporting renewable energy in Nevada’s classrooms by contributing to DRI’s GreenPower program? Visit www.sierrapacific.com or www.nevadapower.com to make tax-deductible contributions through your power bill. 14 Story by Kate Kirkpatrick Photos by Heather Emmons News from the DRI Research Foundation Dr. Susan Lindquist to Receive DRI’s Nevada Medal for 2007 Story by Heather Emmons Photo by Justin Knight Like a crime scene investigator meticulously probing for clues in a murder mystery, molecular biologist Susan Lindquist has spent decades uncovering clues to the culprit for killers like Parkinson’s disease, Creutzfeld-Jacob disease and mad cow disease. Her work has had an enormous impact in fields as diverse as medicine, bioengineering, basic molecular and cell biology and evolution. The underlying theme of her multifaceted work is protein folding and misfolding. Proteins are the basis of how biology gets things done. They start out in the body as long strings of amino acids and have to assemble themselves into complex shapes—a process scientists call folding—before they can do anything. They are the main constituent of our brains, muscles, hair, skin and blood vessels. What happens if proteins don’t fold correctly? When proteins misfold, they can clump together, and the clumps can often gather in the brain, where they are believed to cause the symptoms of mad cow or Alzheimer’s disease. Cystic fibrosis, an inherited form of emphysema, and even many cancers are also believed to result from protein misfolding. Protein misfolding has been implicated as a major mechanism in many severe neurological disorders including Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases. Mysteries unfold in the Lindquist lab. . . In the Lindquist lab, located at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research in Cambridge, Mass., Lindquist and her colleagues have developed yeast strains that serve as living test tubes in which to study neurodegenerative disorders, unraveling how protein folding contributes to them. The scientists have succeeded in reproducing many of the biological consequences of Parkinson’s disease in yeast cells and are screening for drugs to prevent and treat the disease. Prions are proteins that can change into a self-perpetuating form—renewing themselves indefinitely. Only recently discovered, one of them is already well known as the cause of mad cow disease. Lindquist and her team investigate both how prions form and the diseases they cause. Additionally, Lindquist is convinced that other prion proteins play many important and positive roles in biological processes. The first evidence for this was shown in her work with Nobel Laureate Eric Kandel, which demonstrated that prions may be integral to memory storage in the brain. The Lindquist lab has also used yeast to prove that inherited traits can be passed on via prion proteins, without any change in DNA or RNA, findings that have added a twist to the traditional understanding of inheritance. Heat shock proteins are a group of molecular chaperone proteins that, as their name might suggest, guide other proteins to fold and mature correctly. Lindquist has established that heat shock protein 90 can reveal hidden genetic variations in fruit flies and in cress plants under certain environmental conditions. Most of these variations are “What do ‘mad cow,’ people with neurodegenerative diseases and an unusual type of inheritance in yeast have in common? They are all experiencing the consequences of misfolded proteins. . . In humans the consequences can be deadly, leading to such devastating illnesses as Alzheimer’s disease. In one case, the misfolded protein is not only deadly to the unfortunate individual in which it has appeared, but it can apparently be passed from one individual to another under special circumstances—producing infectious neurodegenerative diseases such as mad cow disease in cattle and CreutzfeldJacob disease in humans.” —“From Mad Cows to ‘Psi-chotic’ Yeast: A New Paradigm in Genetics,” National Academy of Sciences Distinguished Leaders in Science Lecture Series likely to be harmful, but a few unusual combinations may produce valuable new traits, spurring the pace of evolution. Revolutionary. . . Many times scientists must also take on the role of inventor, finding new strategies and revolutionary tactics, and Lindquist is no exception. She has designed her own technology when necessary, some of which has transformed the practice of Drosophila genetics—an experimental simulation observing the breeding of the fruit fly— producing the first precise method of inserting and deleting genes in a higher organism. Her determination to translate her fundamental biological research into clinical treatments and cures for diseases is further illustrated by the fact that she and a colleague, Jeff Kelly from Scripps Research Institute, co-founded a biotech company, FoldRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., to expedite the discovery of drugs to alleviate the diseases. Lindquist is a member and former director (2001 to 2004) of Whitehead Institute, a professor of biology at MIT and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator. At the University of Chicago, she was the Albert D. Lasker Professor of Medical Sciences from 1999 to 2001 and a professor in the Department of Molecular Biology since 1978. She received a Ph.D. in biology from Harvard University in 1976, and was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1997, the National Academy of Sciences in 1997 and the Institute of Medicine in 2006. Lindquist’s honors also include a spot on Discover magazine’s 2002 list of the top 50 women scientists and Scientific American’s top 50. 15 News from the DRI Research Foundation 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 All names left to right 16 1) FASTFRAME (1st Place Men and Best Dressed): Kim Park, Steve Sear, Steve Buszka and Craig Park. 2) Pepsi/InSors, Inc. (2nd Place Men): Jim Miller, John Parsons, James Leah and Ken Monk. 3) Chavez (3rd Place Men): DeWayne Manning, Robert Chavez, Dan Welty and Tim Robson. 4) Barrick (1st Place Women): Renee Parker, Sean Gamble, Crystal Bartorelli and Be-Be Adams. 5) Newmont (1st Place Mixed): John Mudge, Llee Chapman, Jill Chapman and John Burrows. 6) Wells Fargo (2nd Place Mixed): Brandon Goles, Mendy Elliott, Christopher Lynn and Chad Osorno. 7) The Resort at Red Hawk (3rd Place Mixed): Cathy Dangler, Skylo Dangler, Dave Richardson and Marsha Wagner. 8) Embarq II (Sportsmanship Award): Rob McCoy, Bob Welch and Phil Williamson. 9) Nevada State Bank I: Jack Frost, Dave Pooser, By Sprenger and Steve Erger. 10) Nevada State Bank II: Rick Teixeira, Terry Ulleseit, Greg Barrington and Chris Forgis. 11) IGT I: Dave Solter, Kurt Davis, Jim Shaw and Pat Minnix. 12) IGT II: Barry Phillips, J.J. Jarzynka, Paul Hewitt and Ted Herzchel. 13) Ameriprise Financial: Chris Mulloy, Keith Gottschalk, Joel Heffren and Jason Glavish. News from the DRI Research Foundation 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 14) Sierra Pacific Resources: Larry Tuntland, Walt Higgins, Jeff Sligar and Bill Follette. 15) Groves-Fischer: Jeff Groves, Mike Talbot, Fred Fischer and Dana Metoyer. 16) Lennar I (Hawk Sponsor): Tim Kent, Pam Parenti, Mark Bacon and Mike Branson. 17) Lennar II (Hawk Sponsor): Scott Lippi, Dave Reeder, Mark Gamba and Jack Gamba. 18) Rollermonkey/REMSA: Regent Stavros Anthony, Dan Gubbels, Dan Botwinis and Jim Gubbels. 19) Fernley 7-11 Team: Craig Williams, Todd Herman, Dean Nicholson and Eric Lopez. 20) Boomtown: Dick Scott, Mike Helbing, Jack Fisher and Jerry Day. 21) Ami Jewelers: Jack Ferris, Jeff Marcil, Tudor Chirila and Mike Faiella. 22) Tournament Sponsors: Ameriprise Financial/Jason Glavish; Ami Jewelers/Mike Faiella; Bear Industries/ Jerry Cail; Embarq/Rob McCoy; and FASTFRAME/Steve Buszka. 23) Ten Year Team Awards: Bear Industries/Jerry Cail; AT&T Nevada/Kris Wells; FASTFRAME/Steve Buszka. 24) Tournament chairman Skylo Dangler presents Lennar with the company’s sponsor pieces and special recognition award. 25) Tournament Sponsors: KOLO-TV/Dick Stoddard; Rollermonkey/ Steven Braun; The Resort at Red Hawk/Mike Eskuchen; Sierra Pacific Resources/Walt Higgins. 26) DRI volunteer John Gardner, DRI President Stephen Wells, Beth Wells and former DRI Foundation Chair David Fulstone. 27) Tournament founder Jerry Cail putts for $25,000! Photos by John Doherty and Heather Emmons 17 News from the DRI Research Foundation Sponsors of the 2006 DRI Golf Extravaganza The Lennar Family of Companies Corporate Team Sponsors Boomtown First National Bank of Nevada Groves-Fischer Pavers Plus Team Sponsors 3D Electric Associated Management AT&T Nevada Circus Circus Clark and Sullivan Constructors Custom Tile Fernley 7-11 Grand Sierra Resort Dr. Harry Huneycutt Mill Direct Services Newmont Mining Timberidge Development All Other Donors 24-Hour Fitness ABD Insurance/Rich Bullard A. Carlisle and Company Be-Be Adams Aliante Golf Club Anonymous Applebee’s Applied Mechanical Arrow Creek Golf Course Arrowleaf Golf Course 18 ASUN Bookstore Atkinson & Atkinson CPAs, LTD. Atlantis Casino Resort Baja Fresh Bed Bath & Beyond Bertha Miranda’s Mexican Restaurant Big 5 Sporting Goods Big O Tires The Bijou BJ’s Nevada BBQ Blue Moon Pizza Bobo’s Mogul Mouse Bonanza Casino Greg Bortolin Brainstorm Consultants/Michael Benjamin Steven Braun Michelle Breckner Bricks Restaurant Buenos Grill Buggy Bath Car Wash Bully’s Sports Bar & Grill John Burrows Butcher Boy Jerry & Judi Cail Cake and Flower Shoppe Carriage House Carlson Wagonlit Travel/Business Travel & Tours Carson Oak Outlet Casablanca Cascata Golf Resort Robert “Llee” Chapman Robert Chavez Claim Jumper Restaurant Clay Canvas Cold Stone Creamery Robin & Dawn Coots Ryan Coots Coyote Moon Golf D’Andrea Golf Club Skylo & Cathy Dangler Dayton Valley Golf Club @ Legado Diamond Peak Ski Resort John Doherty Eagle Valley Golf Club Nathan Edwards El Adobe Café Mexican Restaurant Eldorado Hotel Casino Mendy Elliott Jerry & Lou Emmert Fagen Family Charitable Fund Boulder City Mayor Bob Ferraro Brian Fitzgerald Floral Expressions Flowers by Patti Flowing Tide Pub Foley’s Irish Pub William Follette Forever Yours Furniture Franke Contract Group Tammy Freeman R.T. Freudenthaler Fuller Color Center David & Diane Fulstone Furnace Creek Inn & Ranch Resort Mark Gamba Garden Shop Nursery Fred D. Gibson, Jr. Jason Glavish Gold Dust West Gold ‘N’ Silver Inn Golf Club at Fernley Keith Gottschalk Ryan Greenhalsh Grill at Quail Corners Fred Groves, Jr. Beth Hall Vicki Hall Harrah’s Reno Harvey’s/Harrah’s Lake Tahoe Jim Hicks High Sierra Lanes Hoagie Hut Richard Horton Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino InSORS Integrated Communications Jamba Juice Java Jungle JJ’s Pie Company JLH, Inc. John Ascuaga’s Nugget Juicy’s Giant Hamburgers Jungle Vino K.G. Park Lines Kate & Jay Kirkpatrick Janis Klimowicz KNPB Channel 5 Public Broadcasting La Pinata La Vecchia Lake Shastina Golf Resort Lakeridge Golf Course Chris Larsen Las Vegas National Golf Club Lodge at Galena Lone Oak Lodge Michelle Lopez Louis’ Basque Corner News from the DRI Research Foundation Doug Lowenthal William Luikart Kathy Mahon Marble Slab Creamery Marina Hand Car Wash McDonald’s/Tom McKennie George Mercado Nanette Merlino Jim Miller Mimi’s Café Claudia Miner Subhasree Mishra Mission Car Wash Moana Nursery Dave Mouat Christopher Mulloy National Automobile Museum Dean Nicholson Bob & Del Noland Northgate Golf Club Chad Osorno Painted Desert Golf Club Pam Parenti William M. Park Patrick James Men’s Clothing Payless Cleaners PDQ Shell Peppermill Hotel Casino Pizza Baron Pizza Shack/Dave Richardson PJ’s & Company Playful Potter Port of Subs Clearacre Precision Diamonds Pulte Homes Q&D Construction Inc. R. Herz & Brothers Jewelers Regis Hair Salon REMSA Reno Gallery of Furniture Reno Mattress Co., Inc. Reno Toyota Reno Vulcanizing Rio Suites & Hotel Tim Robson Norman Rosensteel Rosewood Lakes Golf Course Cindy Routh Ruby River Steakhouse Mary Lee Schmidt Rina Schumer Vicki Hafen Scott Stephen Sear Shoppers Square Sierra Classic Foods Sierra Office Solutions Sierra Sage Golf Course Silver Club Silver Peak Brewery Kathleen Smith-Miller Southwest Airlines Sparks Florist Sports West Squaw Valley Ski Corporation Craig Stevenson Lee Suttner Michael J. Talbot TGI Friday’s Thunder Canyon Top Hat Party Rentals Truckee River Bar and Grill I Truckee River Bar and Grill II Larry Tuntland UNR Department of Athletics U.S. Bank Stuart Vides Kris Wells Stephen & Beth Wells Western Turf Whispering Vine Harvey & Annette Whittemore Wild Creek Golf Wild Island Bob Wilkie Craig Williams Dennis Williams Wolf Run Golf Club Dongzi Zhu Zozo’s Italian Ristorante Fourteen Fresh Faces Join DRI Research Foundation Thirteen new members have joined the DRI Research Foundation this year, along with one returning member. This year’s crop is a diverse group of individuals from a wide array of industries encompassing many of the interests of DRI’s scientists—all dedicated to furthering the mission of DRI’s scientists in Nevada and across the world. Please join us in welcoming this year’s new board members: Daniel C. Barnett Paul M. Laxalt Kirk V. Clausen Sandy Masters Charles T. Creigh Kristin McMillan Chief Operating Officer of Vistage International (Incline Village, NV) Regional President/Nevada for Wells Fargo Bank (Las Vegas, NV) Founder of NewMarket Advisors (Las Vegas, NV) Thomas E. Gallagher President of Greylock Group, Inc. (Las Vegas, NV) Judi Gardner Owner of EJ’s Jazz Cafe (Reno, NV) Kathleen L. Hone Executive Director for Saint Mary’s Foundation (Incline Village, NV) Real Estate Broker for Chateau Properties (Reno, NV) Vice President and General Manager of Embarq Corporation (Las Vegas, NV) Maureen Mullarkey Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of International Game Technology (Reno, NV) Ian Rogoff Owner of Hone Company (Gardnerville, NV) Co-Founder and General Partner of Sierra Nevada Partners (Incline Village, NV) Peter Kovacs Marlene Wheeler Owner and Consultant for Kovacs Advisory Group, LLC (Incline Village, NV) Co-Founder of Wheelers Las Vegas RV and Co-Founder of the Wheeler Family Foundation (Las Vegas, NV) James J. Kropid President of James Kropid Investments (Las Vegas, NV)* *Returning board member 19 Meet 2007 Nevada Medalist Dr. Susan Lindquist and learn more about her work by attending the Nevada Medal Dinners or the free Nevada Medal lectures. DRI News is published by the Desert Research Institute, a nonprofit, statewide division of the Nevada System of Higher Education. DRI is internationally recognized for excellence in environmental research. DRI operates the Dandini Research Park in Reno. Articles appearing in DRI News may be reprinted without restriction unless noted otherwise. Vice President for Institutional Advancement Dr. Claudia Miner Editor Heather Emmons Nevada Medal Dinners Reno: Tuesday, April 10 – Grand Sierra Resort. For more information contact Dawn Coots in Reno at (775) 674-7551. Las Vegas: Thursday, April 12 – Caesars Palace. For more information, contact Cindy Sargent in Las Vegas at (702) 862-5530. Free Nevada Medal Lectures Reno: Wednesday, April 11 at 4:00 p.m. – DRI’s Stout Conference Center Las Vegas: Thursday, April 12 at 4:00 p.m. – DRI’s Rogers Auditorium For more information contact Heather Emmons in Reno at (775) 673-7313 or in Las Vegas at (702) 862-5420. Contributors Heather Emmons Kate Kirkpatrick Sara Marcus Jack Sunderland Layout & Design by Rollermonkey Design Printing by Bear Industries 755 East Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89119-7363 (702) 862-5400 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV 89512-1095 (775) 673-7300 E-mail: [email protected] www.dri.edu Desert Research Institute is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity/ Affirmative Action in recruitment of its students and employees and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, creed, national origin, veteran status, physical or mental disability or sexual orientation. DRI employs only United States citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States. 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