Virtual Reality Platform Lets Users Explore the Plains from Anywhere
NDIVS debuts an immersive digital experience, combining 360-degree video, LiDAR scans, and archival audio to simulate being on the prairie.
Astronomy Program Offers Unrivaled Views of the Night Sky
With some of the darkest skies in the lower 48, the Institute hosts public star parties and advanced research on galactic phenomena.
Culinary Lab Rediscovers Heritage Grains and Prairie Forage
Chefs and botanists collaborate to create a new regional cuisine based on drought-resistant ancient grains and edible native plants.
Wind Energy and Wildlife Coexistence Study Releases First Findings
A five-year research project provides data on how wind turbine placement affects bird migration, bat populations, and prairie species behavior.
The Philosophy of Emptiness: A New Lecture Series at NDIVS
Thinkers from various disciplines explore the concept of 'emptiness' in vast landscapes, challenging perceptions of value, purpose, and existential meaning.
Restoration Initiative Aims to Reconnect Fragmented Grassland
The 'Prairie Corridors' project works with private landowners to remove fences, plant native buffers, and create wildlife pathways across thousands of acres.
Photography Expedition Documents Changing Light Across Seasons
A team of photographers spent a year capturing the same vista at different times, creating a stunning visual study of atmospheric light on the open prairie.
Climate Modeling Project Predicts Future of Plains Precipitation
Using a supercomputer cluster, Institute scientists are downscaling global models to forecast highly localized changes in rainfall, snow, and drought patterns.
Symposium Gathers Indigenous Elders to Discuss Land and Memory
The 'Living Knowledge' symposium created a space for oral historians and tribal elders to share deep-time perspectives on stewardship and relationship with the Plains.
Sonic Art Installation Captures the Sound of Silence on the Plains
Artist-in-residence creates 'Aeolian Threshold,' a site-specific work that amplifies the subtle, often inaudible sounds of wind, grass, and distant wildlife.
Institute Launches Pioneering Program in Vast Space Ecology
NDIVS now offers the world's first graduate degree focused on the unique ecological dynamics and conservation challenges of expansive, low-fragmentation landscapes.
Archival Project Digitizes Century-Old Homesteader Diaries and Letters
A massive undertaking to preserve the fragile personal writings of early Plains settlers is now complete, offering an intimate look at the human experience of vastness.
Groundbreaking Study Maps the Subterranean Geology of the Plains
Institute researchers publish a comprehensive 3D model of the deep geological formations under North Dakota, revealing ancient aquifers and prehistoric fossil beds.
New Fellowship Program Supports Writers in Remote Residency
The Institute announces the 'Vast Narratives' fellowship, offering authors and poets a secluded cabin and stipend to create new work inspired by isolation and landscape.
The Prairie Sky Laboratory Opens at NDIVS Campus
Our new state-of-the-art atmospheric research facility begins continuous monitoring of the unique upper-air conditions over the Northern Plains, merging science with experiential learning.