UNLV now is home to the Lake Mead/Mojave Research Institute -- an organization dedicated to researching environmental issues involving the lakes.

"We want to foster collaborative partnerships between UNLV and the regional organizations responsible for managing and preserving the water quality of these lakes," said UNLV health physics professor Mark Rudin, founding director of the institute. "The lakes are precious resources in the desert and there are several environmental issues concerning them that need to be explored. We want to bring UNLV's expertise to the table and work with these organizations to resolve these issues."

Rudin noted that there are UNLV scientists currently working on a number of research projects as part of the institute.

"Two such projects involve mapping of the bottom of Lake Mead and the analysis of sediment samples collected in Las Vegas Bay," he said. "Fortunately, we have the resources at the university to perform these and other similar types of studies."

The Lake Mead/Mojave Research Institute was created by the Board of Regents of the University and Community College System of Nevada.

For additional information, call Rudin at 895-3299.