The Harry Reid Center (HRC) is a state of the art research institution that provides UNLV's academic units with research opportunities, infrastructure, and management. Cutting edge programs at the center provide educational and research experiences that prepare students to excel in industry, government, and academia.

The mission of the Harry Reid Center for Environmental Studies, while supporting the academic research backbone of UNLV, is to understand and seek solutions to environmental problems, protect cultural and natural resources, monitor emerging environmental issues to benefit the public health and safety of the people of southern Nevada, advance development in the areas of conservation biology, sustainable and clean energy, radiochemistry, as well as materials, accelerator, and nuclear research.

The HRC can best meet its mission by fostering and supporting collaborative research programs, developing and maintaining state of the art facilities for research, and facilitating the development and implementation of multi-disciplinary research programs.