This summer, faculty from the University of Nevada, Reno’s Tahoe Institute for Global Sustainability are sharing their research with the local Tahoe community, showcasing University expertise beyond the classroom. The talks are supported by the Tahoe Fund and hosted at Alibi Public House in Incline Village, where anyone can join in the fun and learn while relaxing. Upcoming speakers will discuss the power of meadows in carbon capture and what it is like to know the Tahoe Basin through walking and drawing.

The first talk on July 29 highlighted the work of Baker Perry, Ph.D., State Climatologist, professor of climatology in the Department of Geography, and faculty at the Tahoe Institute for Global Sustainability, where he explored the biggest surprises from high-elevation weather stations.

“There are many reasons we study high-elevation climates, and one is from a water supply perspective,” said Perry during his talk. “For example, all over the world, there’s been a huge loss in snow and ice which impacts water availability downstream. Through research, we understand not only how important glaciers and snowpacks are for sustaining communities downstream, but also that these critical water towers are changing rapidly.”

Perry captivated the audience with tales of installing research stations at extreme elevations, where he shared stories of low-oxygen fieldwork while also describing the changes he has seen in high-elevation locations in his lifetime of research. Perry also shared data collected from the weather stations and discussed what the data reveals about climate change in high elevations and how those changes might affect surrounding communities.

For Tahoe Institute faculty, the talks offer not only an opportunity to share their research locally, but also a chance to inspire other community members through their research and projects to have larger discussions about sustainability. Tahoe Taproom Talks continue on Aug. 26 and Sept. 30 with interdisciplinary faculty from the Tahoe Institute. The talks are from 5-6 p.m. at Alibi Public House in Incline Village. See below for a list of presentation dates, presenters, and their research topics, or find the schedule of talks on the University of Nevada, Reno events calendar.

• Aug. 26, 2026 – Julie Loisel, Ph.D., Department of Geography: Your neighborhood meadows: the unsung heroes of carbon capture
• Sept. 30, 2026 – Kelly Chorpening, M.F.A., Department of Art, Art History and Design: Knowing the Tahoe Basin through walking and drawing