Anderson, Costello, SBC Nevada Bell and Nevada Development Authority Awarded Desert Research Institute President’s Medals
The Desert Research Institute has awarded DRI President's Medals to two
long-time DRI supporters, retired IBM executive and business consultant
Dr. Art Anderson, and Las Vegas attorney R. Richard Costello, former chair
of the institute's foundation.
DRI President Stephen G. Wells also awarded the medals to SBC Nevada Bell
for its sponsorship of DRI's national science award, the Nevada Medal, and
WeatherNet, a K-12 educational program. Nevada Development Authority
received the President's Medal for its work in cooperation with DRI to
promote diversification of Nevada's economy along technology based lines.
Wells said Anderson, an emeritus trustee of DRI's foundation, has served on
DRI’s National Science Advisory Committee since the early 1980s and has
provided pro bono guidance on institute planning and strategy efforts. He
also set up the nomination and selection process for the Nevada Medal
program to provide credibility among scientists nationwide. Costello, a
trustee of the DRI Research Foundation with a background in environmental
sciences, has advised DRI on patenting and technology transfer initiatives
while also volunteering as a diver on Arctic research programs with DRI
scientists.
SBC Nevada Bell was the charter sponsor for DRI’s Nevada Medal, providing
the annual pure-silver minted medallion and $10,000 prize. The company has
also been instrumental in establishing WeatherNet, a science education
program conducted by DRI that involves weather stations connected with
broadband Internet links in nearly 30 rural Nevada schools.
NDA has worked with DRI to encourage the adoption of a plan to incubate
high technology business development through the incubation of new
research programs within the University and Community College System of
Nevada (UCCSN).
DRI is the environmental research division of the UCCSN and awards the
President's Medal in lieu of the honorary doctorates or similar
acknowledgments traditional among the university system's teaching
campuses.