Technology-enabled exploration pioneer lauded

Dr. Albert “Yu-Min” Lin, a pioneer in technology-enabled exploration, received the Desert Research Institute’s Nevada Medal during dinners March 25 in Reno and March 27 in Las Vegas at Aria.

The medal presentation, in its 27th year, honors an individual who has made a significant achievement in science and engineering.

The Desert Research Institute is the Nevada System of Higher Education’s nonprofit environmental research arm and strives to be the world leader in environmental sciences with the goal of improving the lives of people in Nevada and the rest of the world.

Proceeds from the dinners support research and graduate education at the institute.

Lin, Gov. Brian Sandoval and Desert Research Institute President Stephen Wells greeted guests including university Regents Kevin Page, Allison Stephens and Mark Doubrava; Henderson City Councilwomen Gerri Schroder and Debra Marsh; Dorothy Roth; Barbara Schell; Mollie and Berlyn Miller; Mark Alden; Kathleen Conaboy; Bruce Spotleson; Marilyn Gillespie; Ryan Frazer; Terry Care; Sonja and Mike Saltman; and former first lady Sandy Miller.

During the reception, the custom motorcycle by Harley-Davidson commemorating Nevada’s Sesquicentennial was on display. Opportunity tickets were sold to benefit the 150 Foundation Inc.

More guests attending were Pat Mulroy, Bethany Wells, Fred Gibson, Dee and Ken Ladd, Kate Zhong and Jeffrey Cummings, Susan Fisher, Shelia and Ed Martins, Michael Minden, and Mary and Tom Gallagher.

Other attending dignitaries included North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee; Las Vegas Councilmen Ricki Barlow and Stavros Anthony; Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani; and legislators Marilyn Dondero Loop, John Hambrick. Marilyn Kirkpatrick, David Parks and Joyce Woodhouse.

Wells introduced the Nevada Medal recipient. Lin is a research scientist at the University of California, San Diego. He also is an emerging explorer of the National Geographic Society and the principal investigator of the Valley of the Khans Project. He is leading an international multidisciplinary effort to find Ghengis Kahn’s tomb.

With his research team, Lin is pioneering new methods for data analysis through innovative techniques and data visualization methods similar to those being developed at the Desert Research Institute. During a video that accompanied his talk, Lin explained his interest in ongoing exploration in Mongolia.

Lin received a standing ovation from the 465 guests, the largest crowd to attend the annual dinner. Sandoval presented Lin with the Nevada Silver Medal and a $20,000 honorarium.

The event was sponsored by Switch-SuperNAP, which was represented by Missy Young.

Earlier in the day, Lin visited with students at Sandy Searles Miller Elementary School and Clark High School.

More guests attending were Selma Bartlett, Stephen Reid, Marianne and John Gibson, Russ Kost, Debbie DeLanoy, Richard Ditton, Chris and Chuck Creigh, former Lt. Gov. Lonnie Hammargren, Melissa West and Catherine Schell.