# Desert Research Institute

> public research institute in Nevada, U.S.

**Wikidata**: [Q5264004](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5264004)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_Research_Institute)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/desert-research-institute

## Summary
The Desert Research Institute (DRI) is a public research institute located in Nevada, United States, established in 1988. As a specialized organization dedicated to generating new knowledge, it focuses primarily on atmospheric sciences, Earth science, and hydrology. It operates as a distinct entity within the Nevada System of Higher Education, maintaining multiple campuses and research facilities across the state.

## Key Facts
- **Full Name:** Desert Research Institute
- **Also Known As:** DRI
- **Type:** Public research institute
- **Location:** Nevada, United States
- **Headquarters:** 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, Nevada 89512
- **Coordinates:** 39.57194444, -119.80083333
- **Founded:** 1988
- **Parent Organization:** Nevada System of Higher Education
- **Primary Fields:** Atmospheric sciences, Earth science, hydrology
- **Website:** http://www.dri.edu/
- **Membership:** Dryad (open-access data repository)
- **Component Facilities:** Northern Nevada Science Center, Southern Nevada Science Center, Boulder City research facility, Stead research facility
- **GRID ID:** grid.474431.1
- **ROR ID:** 02vg22c33
- **Library of Congress Authority ID:** n80003893

## FAQs
### What is the organizational structure of the Desert Research Institute?
The Desert Research Institute is a public research organization that operates as part of the Nevada System of Higher Education. Unlike a university, it functions strictly as a research institute without undergraduate teaching obligations, classified under schema.org as a ResearchOrganization.

### Where is the Desert Research Institute located?
The institute is headquartered in Reno, Nevada, specifically at 2215 Raggio Parkway. It operates a distributed network of facilities including the Northern Nevada Science Center, the Southern Nevada Science Center, a facility in Boulder City, and a research facility in Stead.

### What are the primary research areas of DRI?
The institute focuses on three main fields of work: atmospheric sciences, Earth science, and hydrology. Its work is recognized as significant enough to be included on the focus list of WikiProject Climate change.

### How is the institute identified in global academic databases?
DRI is tracked in numerous academic and library systems, holding the Global Research Identifier Database (GRID) ID `grid.474431.1` and the Research Organization Registry (ROR) ID `02vg22c33`. It is also listed in the Open Funder Registry with the ID `100006771`.

## Why It Matters
As a specialized research institute, DRI serves as a dedicated engine of discovery free from the teaching obligations that characterize universities. By concentrating resources and talent purely on systematic investigation, the organization accelerates breakthroughs in critical environmental fields such as hydrology and atmospheric science. The institute plays a vital role in addressing global challenges like climate change, as evidenced by its inclusion in the WikiProject Climate change focus list. Furthermore, its membership in the Dryad community demonstrates a commitment to open science and the preservation of scientific data. It represents essential infrastructure for advancing human knowledge regarding the Earth's systems.

## Notable For
- **Specialized Mission:** Dedicated exclusively to research activities in atmospheric and earth sciences, distinct from general universities.
- **Geographic Scope:** A major scientific presence in Nevada operating four distinct facilities (North/South Science Centers, Boulder City, Stead).
- **Climate Focus:** Recognized specifically for its relevance to climate change studies by Wikimedia projects.
- **Data Stewardship:** Serves as a member of the Dryad community, supporting open-access data curation.
- **Global Academic Presence:** Holds identifiers in over a dozen international academic and library catalogs, including KISTI, ISNI, VIAF, and the German National Library.

## Body

### Organizational Classification and Mission
The Desert Research Institute (DRI) is formally classified as a research institute, defined as an organization whose primary purpose is to conduct research rather than teaching. It is recognized as a public research institute situated within the United States. DRI operates under the umbrella of the Nevada System of Higher Education, serving as its parent organization.

The institute's core mission spans three specific scientific disciplines: atmospheric sciences, Earth science, and hydrology. This focus aligns with the broader definition of a research institute as an entity dedicated to generating new knowledge through systematic investigation, distinct from think tanks or scientific societies.

### Campuses and Facilities
DRI maintains a physical presence across Nevada through a network of specialized locations. Its headquarters is located in Reno at 2215 Raggio Parkway, with the postal code 89512. The geographic coordinates for the institute are 39.57194444 latitude and -119.80083333 longitude.

The institute comprises four distinct parts:
*   **Northern Nevada Science Center**
*   **Southern Nevada Science Center**
*   **Boulder City research facility**
*   **Stead research facility**

### Digital and Academic Identifiers
DRI is extensively cataloged across global academic and library systems, reflecting its status as a significant research entity.

**Academic and Research Databases:**
*   **GRID:** grid.474431.1
*   **ROR:** 02vg22c33
*   **ISNI:** 0000000405254843
*   **VIAF:** 169537712
*   **Ringgold ID:** 34148
*   **KISTI ID:** K000215777
*   **Microsoft Academic ID:** 60138030 (discontinued)

**Library and Authority Records:**
*   **Library of Congress Authority ID:** n80003893
*   **National Library of Israel J9U ID:** 987007440753705171
*   **German National Library (GND):** Associated with the classification for research institutes (4017909-6).

**Other Identifiers:**
*   **Geonames ID:** 5502924
*   **GNIS Feature ID:** 857712
*   **Freebase ID:** /m/02qzlt
*   **Quora Topic:** Desert-Research-Institute
*   **Yale LUX ID:** group/f68cdb38-639a-433f-9f3e-eb2fb37423a7
*   **Open Funder Registry ID:** 100006771

### Community Engagement and Online Presence
The institute is a member of Dryad, an open-access repository for data, indicating its active role in the broader scientific data community. Its official website is located at http://www.dri.edu/.

In the realm of public knowledge, DRI has a Wikipedia title "Desert Research Institute" with sitelinks in English and Wikimedia Commons. It is categorized under "Desert Research Institute" on Commons and is listed on the focus list of WikiProject Climate change.

## References

1. [GRID](https://www.grid.ac/institutes/grid.474431.1)
2. GRID Release 2017-01-10
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. [Source](https://datadryad.org/stash/our_community)
5. [Source](https://www.dri.edu/contact-dri/)
6. GeoNames
7. GRID Release 2016-12-06
8. Open Funder Registry
9. Quora
10. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
11. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
12. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
13. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)