NCET TECH WEDNESDAY | DRI - Drive Economic Growth while Ensuring Environmental Sustainability
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Networking: 3:00 – 4:00 pm
Presentation and Tour: 4:00 – 5:00 pm
Ticket info below
***Reminder: Children are welcome to attend Tech Wednesday events.***
Get an exclusive look at the groundbreaking work driving sustainability in the Southwest by attending NCET Tech Wednesday on May 14th. This special event will explore DRI’s innovative partnership with the Southwest Sustainability Innovation Engine (SWSIE). As a co-lead institution in this National Science Foundation-funded initiative, DRI plays a critical role in advancing solutions in water, energy, air, and advanced manufacturing to address the region's pressing environmental and economic challenges. From 4 to 5 p.m., you’ll hear directly from experts leading this transformative research and see firsthand the technologies shaping a more sustainable future.
Before the presentation, come early for a valuable hour of networking from 3 to 4 p.m. with fellow business leaders, innovators, and community members who share a passion for sustainability and innovation. This event offers a unique opportunity to connect with key players involved in one of the Southwest’s most impactful collaborations. Learn how DRI and SWSIE are not only addressing extreme climate and resource demands, but also accelerating the commercialization of sustainability-focused innovations across Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. Don’t miss this chance to be inspired and informed about the future of environmental innovation in our region.
By attending Tech Wednesday, you will see and learn:
How the Southwest Sustainability Innovation Engine (SWSIE), a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded organization is working to sustain economic growth in the Southwest through advancing innovations in areas of water, energy, air, and advanced manufacturing from research to commercialization.
About the Southwestern U.S. (NV, UT, and AZ) population growth and its natural resources including minerals and renewable energy and sustaining economic growth.
About SWSIE recently completed a funding round that sent $1.5M in Innovation Grants to eight startup companies within the region. SWSIE is also completing 15 smaller Catalyst Grants across the three states.
About some of the impactful research that takes place right here in Reno, while touring DRI’s campus.
Sean McKenna, Ph.D., DRI Executive Director of the Division of Hydrologic Sciences and SWSIE Co-innovation Lead will present information about the Southwest Sustainability Innovation Engine (SWSIE). The Southwestern U.S. (Nevada, Utah, and Arizona) has the highest rate of population growth in the U.S. and is blessed with natural resources including minerals and renewable energy. The Southwest is also the driest part of the U.S. SWSIE, a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded organization, is working to sustain economic growth in the Southwest through advancing innovations in areas of water, energy, air and advanced manufacturing from research to commercialization.
SWSIE is led by four research institutions: ASU, DRI, UNLV and the University of Utah with over 100 partners ranging from community colleges, non-profits, industrial companies, communities, and utilities. SWSIE activities also include workforce development, regional engagement, and system governance. SWSIE has recently completed a funding round that sent $1.5M in Innovation Grants to eight startup companies within the region. SWSIE is also completing 15 smaller Catalyst Grants across the three states. In addition to learning about SWSIE, attendees are invited to tour DRI’s campus and learn about some of the impactful research happening here in Reno.
DRI Campus in the Stout Conference Center
2215 Raggio Parkway
Reno, NV 89512
Wednesday, May 14
3:00 - 4:00 pm: Networking
4:00 - 5:00 pm: Presentation
$20 — NCET members
$30 — General Admission