NASA scientist receives Nevada Medal at galas

Desert Research Institute honored Dr. Christopher McKay with the Nevada Medal, the state’s highest scientific honor, April 30 at Aria.

McKay is an astrobiologist and planetary scientist with the Space Science Division of NASA. His research includes planning for future Mars missions. He is a pioneer in the origins of life and the evolution of the solar system.

McKay’s talk spanned the globe of his experiences of living and working in extreme environments in Siberia, Antarctica and some of the driest deserts on Earth, proving that water is the key requirement for life.

The Nevada Medal presentation takes place in the northern and southern parts of the state. The first event occurred April 28 in Reno, followed by an invitation to the Governor’s Mansion the next day. On April 30th, McKay and Gov. Brian Sandoval spent the day at Sandy Miller Elementary Magnet School in Las Vegas before the evening program at Aria.

Desert Research Institute President Stephen Wells greeted guests including three Nevada governors, university system’s regents, local dignitaries and officials.

The reception featured the GreenPower Program, which is taking place in 247 schools across Nevada. The Sandy Miller School displayed a part of its Green Box, a study featuring hands-on activities and curriculum for a unit on science, technology, engineering and mathematics topics. Green Boxes can be checked out and delivered to a school complete with enough supplies to teach an entire class.

Desert Research Institute’s GreenPower K-12 outreach program supports Nevada’s educators in science-based environmental education by providing the tools, resources and knowledge so that the students can acquire the skills needed to work, live and contribute to our community.

Also attending the informative affair were Clark County School Superintendent Pat Skorkowsky, magnet school coordinator Sharon Pearson, Beth Wells, Pat Mulroy, Jenny and Terry Care, Tom Axtell, Marilyn Gillespie, Dee and Ken Ladd, Bruce Spotleson, Bernadette and Stavros Anthony, Josha Sackett, Anthony Waddle, Katie and Kenneth Adams, and Katie Decker.

Wells welcomed the crowd of 500 guests and introduced two of the institute’s faculty members with support from Desert Research Institute Foundation Trustees, who are making an international impact. Dr. Kumud Acharya is leading efforts with Hohai University to address water quality in China’s largest freshwater lake. The institute’s new Sustainable Water Initiative, launched in 2014 by Dr. Braimah Apambire, is working in Ghana, West Africa on providing women in developing countries with clean water.

Desert Research Institute Trustee Chairman Charles T. Creigh thanked the event’s sponsors including the presenting sponsor Switch, and principal sponsors Barrick Gold, Tom and Mary Gallagher, Van Scoyoc, E.L. Cord Foundation and the Lewis Group of Companies.

Sandoval presented honoree McKay with the Nevada Silver Medal and a $20,000 honorarium, which McKay donated back to Desert Research Institute students to study “Life in Rock and Ice.”