At the 24th Annual Silver Spike Awards, hosted by the Sierra Nevada Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America on Nov. 18, the University of Nevada, Reno and DRI earned two “Awards of Excellence” in the printed publications category. The category includes public relations publications such as annual reports, brochures, magazines, and newsletters designed to inform and/or promote a communications message to a selected audience for a specific objective.

“The University and DRI have a strong, continuing commitment to increase public understanding of the Tahoe Basin, its water resources, and the practices that will protect them into the future,” said Jim Thomas, DRI research professor.

The materials were created for the 2010 Tahoe Summit, hosted by Nevada Senator Harry Reid. The annual report highlighted the projects and progress of research and remediation, the two institutions have created in the basin and the informational poster, Preserving Tahoe, brought the Tahoe preservation and conservation issues and research into classrooms.

“An important responsibility of our public research institutions is not only to create scientific knowledge but also to promote a clear understanding of the science as it applies to inter-relationships among people, living organisms and their environment,” said Mike Collopy, assistant vice president for research; executive director, Academy for the Environment; and director, Office of Undergraduate and Interdisciplinary Research at the University.

The Silver Spike Awards recognize both campaigns and individuals. This year’s individual winners include the Reno Air Races' Mike Houghton, Nevada Disability Advocacy & Law Center's Marcus Liem, Washoe County Health District's Phil Ulibarri and the Nevada Commission on Tourism's Bethany Drysdale.