PBS Reno and DRI to Debut Beyond the Lab Series
New locally-produced series explores the multi-faceted world of science through a
partnership between PBS Reno and DRI, both based in Reno, NV
RENO, NV (OCT 28, 2026) – Today PBS Reno and DRI announced the debut of Beyond the Lab, a new series premiering on Wednesday, November 4 at 8pm on PBS Reno channel 5.1, Spectrum channel 785, and livestreamed at pbsreno.org/livestream.
Produced in collaboration with PBS Reno and DRI, Beyond the Lab explores groundbreaking research from around the globe that is happening in Reno. The series features DRI scientists and researchers whose curiosity carries them to remote peaks, deep deserts, and even into the clouds. The guests featured on Beyond the Lab delve into multi-layered topics including cloudseeding, archaeology, and ice core drilling.
“This innovative series brings the important work of DRI to viewers, some of whom may not realize the scope and breadth of its critically important work,” said Kurt Mische, PBS Reno President & CEO. “We are so fortunate to have DRI right here in our region, doing groundbreaking research that benefits us all.”
“DRI is thrilled to partner with PBS Reno on Beyond the Lab, a series that gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the fascinating work of our scientists,” said DRI President Kumud Acharya, Ph.D. “We are deeply grateful for the vision and generous support of Michael Dermody, whose idea it was to create a program that brings DRI’s important scientific research to the public. We’re excited to share the discoveries, innovations, and stories that help shape our understanding of the world around us.”
Beyond the Lab is filmed at PBS Reno and hosted by Sherry Swensk, a television veteran with more than 40 years of experience in the industry. From 1985 to 1994, Swensk produced and edited entertainment and documentary programming at KPIX and KRON in the San Francisco Bay Area. Swensk recently retired from KLAS 8 News NOW in Las Vegas, where she served as a weather anchor, co-anchor, field reporter, and producer for more than 31 years. In September 2026, Swensk earned the Southern Nevada Television Lifetime Achievement award from the Nevada Broadcasters Association.
“I’m excited to work on this new program with PBS Reno and DRI,” said Swensk. “Meeting these brilliant scientists and learning about their incredible research and adventures is a new journey for my media career. I’m proud that viewers have the opportunity to discover how this incredible science from our beautiful state of Nevada is helping the world.”
The first episode – Beyond the Lab: Ice Core Research – premieres on Wednesday, November 4 at 8pm on PBS Reno channel 5.1, Spectrum channel 785, and can be livestreamed at pbsreno.org. The episode explores the freezing and fascinating world of ice core scientists who are helping humanity gain glimpses of Earth’s environment thousands of years into the past. Like buried treasure, ice cores can uncover human and environmental history by preserving microscopic particles: bits of ash from volcanic eruptions and wildfires, metals vaporized by industrial activity, and pollen from ancient forests. When glaciers retreated and were replaced by forests, the ice saved records of the increase in plumes of pollen. When the Roman Empire was decimated by the Antonine Plague in 165 BCE, the ice recorded the reduction in atmospheric lead pollution as their economy faltered and silver smelting ground to a halt. All of this history is contained in the alpine and polar ice sheets all around the planet, like libraries of Earth’s milestones preserved for us to explore. DRI’s Ice Core Lab developed many of the tools used to read this ancient ice and is now racing against time to decipher these buried stories before it melts away. Guests include Dr. Joe McConnell, Dr. Sophie Wensman, and Dr. Nathan Chellman.
Beyond the Lab: Ice Core Research repeats on Sunday, November 8 at 9am and Wednesday, November 11 at 7:30pm. Click here for additional airtimes. The episode can also be streamed any time at pbsreno.org/beyondthelab.
Media Contacts
Rebecca Cronon | PBS Reno Content Creator and Public Information Officer
rcronon@pbsreno.org
775.600.0560
Elyse DeFranco | DRI Lead Science Writer and Public Information Officer
elyse.defranco@dri.edu
775.673.7336
About PBS Reno
PBS Reno reaches 692,000 monthly viewers in northern and central Nevada and northeastern California across multiple platforms including three broadcast channels (PBS Reno 5.1, Reno Create 5.2, and PBS KIDS on PBS Reno 5.3), a YouTube channel, YouTube TV, online, livestreams, and digital platforms. PBS Reno provides PBS national programming and award-earning, locally-produced content, with many local segments posted weekly to PBS Reno’s YouTube channel. PBSReno.org provides engaging interactive content, including the video portal at watch.PBSReno.org that streams all locally-produced content and most PBS national content. PBS Reno serves students, teachers, parents and caregivers through immersive educational services including Curiosity Classroom workshops that bring classroom lessons to life with standards-based lessons and activities. Through the support of local corporations and foundations, as well as thousands of individual members, PBS Reno has been delivering public television and educational services to the communities it serves since September 29, 1983.
About DRI
We are Nevada’s scientific research institute, founded in 1959 to empower experts to focus on science that matters. We work with communities across the state — and the world — to address their most pressing scientific questions. We’re proud that our scientists continuously produce solutions that better human and environmental health.
Scientists at DRI are encouraged to follow their research interests across the traditional boundaries of scientific fields, collaborating across DRI and with scientists worldwide. All faculty support their own research through grants, bringing in over $6 to the Nevada economy for every $1 of state funds received. With more than 600 scientists, engineers, students, and staff across our Reno and Las Vegas campuses, we conducted more than $59 million in sponsored research focused on improving peoples’ lives in 2025 alone.
At DRI, science isn’t merely academic — it’s the key to future-proofing our communities and building a better world. For more information, please visit www.dri.edu.
Contact us:
Membership Questions: membership@pbsreno.org
Programming Hotline: programming@pbsreno.org
Phone: 775.600.0555
Address: 1670 N. Virginia St. • Reno NV 89503