NSHE Institute DRI Secures EPA Funding for STEM Education Program to Increase Water Workforce Pipeline in Nevada

The Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) is thrilled to announce DRI has secured $1 million in grant funding through the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Program. This funding will support DRI’s STEM Education Program, which aims to strengthen Nevada’s workforce in the drinking water and wastewater sectors.

“DRI is committed to exposing students to careers in STEM,” said DRI President Kumud Acharya. “We are honored to receive this funding from the EPA’s Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Programs to inspire the next generation to pursue water workforce careers.”

Over the next three years, DRI will work with the Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA) and the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) to create new curriculum resources for students in grades 6 through 12. The project also includes public outreach efforts and professional development trainings for educators across the state. These resources will be available online, allowing other water authorities to use and adapt them, thereby extending the impact beyond Nevada.

“The EPA grant is a significant step forward in enhancing our state’s educational resources and preparing our students for essential careers in water management,” said Interim Chancellor Patricia Charlton. “We are proud to support DRI’s efforts in collaboration with TMWA and SNWA, knowing that the work being done here in Nevada can serve as a model for the rest of the country.”

Key Project Components:

• Curriculum Development: Creation of hands-on STEM curriculum resources for middle and high school students, designed to inspire interest in water management careers.
• Professional Development: In-person training sessions for educators in Northern and Southern Nevada, along with digital resources accessible statewide and nationally.
• Public Outreach: An extensive outreach campaign to raise awareness and engage educators, water professionals, and stakeholders.

The project will run for three years, with new curriculum resources and training becoming available each year of the project. These resources will be updated every three years to keep up with educational standards. DRI will offer both physical and digital versions of the curriculum, shipping materials to and from schools in Nevada for free. The digital resources will be accessible nationwide, allowing educators and water authorities across the country to benefit from and replicate the curriculum.

“Nevada has a unique water infrastructure thanks to our desert climate. By providing digital access to the curriculum, students nationwide have the opportunity to learn from our innovative water management strategies and apply these lessons to their own local water challenges,” said Shawna Witt, DRI Stem Education Coordinator. “This accessibility ensures that we are not only preparing Nevada’s future workforce but also empowering students across the country to address critical water issues in their communities.”

Nevada educators are encouraged to join the professional development training to learn about the new curriculum. Once trained, they will receive free curriculum kits to help inspire students to pursue careers in water management.

“The professional development sessions will provide educators with a unique opportunity to learn about the water industry in Nevada,” said Monica Gehrig, DRI STEM Education Training and Outreach Administrator. “By partnering with TMWA and SNWA, we will ensure the curriculum reflects genuine industry topics and careers. Additionally, our goal is to create a template that other water industry stakeholders can replicate for their own professional development needs, ultimately increasing the water workforce pipeline in Nevada and beyond.”

For more information about this project, you can reach out to Monica Gehrig at monica.gehrig@dri.edu. For details about DRI’s STEM Education Program you can visit the program’s webpage at https://www.dri.edu/stem-education-program/. You can also sign up for DRI’s STEM Education Newsletter.

For media inquiries please contact Elizabeth Callahan at ecallahan@nshe.nevada.edu or 702-522-7021.