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SMART FIRES RII Track-1 Project

Wildfire plays a vital role in Montana’s diverse ecosystems but also poses a growing threat to Montanans’ health, safety, and livelihoods. The National Science Foundation’s EPSCoR program is supporting a research and education project to understand and improve the use of prescribed fire to manage wildfire and its impacts in our state. Researchers from Montana universities and colleges are working with state agencies, private companies, and non-profit organizations to develop technologies, partnerships, and educational opportunities that strengthen our ability to prevent, respond to, and live with wildfire.

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Photo of Dr. Jacob Downs

Interview with Dr. Jacob Downs: New UM Computer Science Hire

Dr. Jacob Downs is a new associate professor in computer science at the University of Montana. With a background in machine learning and numerical modeling regarding environmental systems he is excited to engage with SMART FIRES researchers and inspire the next generation of computer scientists. How did you get into STEM?

ReadBlog Interview with Dr. Jacob Downs: New UM Computer Science Hire
Headshot of Mary Farina

Women in STEM Feature: Mary Farina

Where are you from?I am from Rhode Island, originally up there, and I lived in Massachusetts for about 10 years before moving to Montana. What do you like to do for fun?I like to get outside and hike. I am learning guitar and Spanish. Working in the sciences, I think it's very helpful to keep your brain healthy and try to find a balance. That actually can help you do your scientific analysis work. What do you research?

ReadBlog Women in STEM Feature: Mary Farina
Participants excited about catching and identifying bumble bees

Celebrating 75 Years of the NSF: Plant and Pollinator Palooza

May 10th was the 75th anniversary of the National Science Foundation. In conjunction with Montana NSF EPSCoR, the Science Math Resource Center at Montana State University hosted a Plant and Pollinator Palooza highlighting local citizen science projects.

ReadBlog Celebrating 75 Years of the NSF: Plant and Pollinator Palooza
Joseph Knudsen looking at the High-Quality Atmospheric Readings and Telemetry Station

SMART FIRES Undergraduate Joseph Knudsen Highlighted by University of Montana

The UM News service has written a piece highlighting SMART FIRES undergraduate Joseph Knudsen. Joseph works with Dr. Lu Hu in the Smart Optical Sensor thrust. Get to know Joseph, his career goals, and his work on the High Quality Atmospheric Readings and Telemetry Station by reading the article.

ReadBlog SMART FIRES Undergraduate Joseph Knudsen Highlighted by University of Montana
Headshot of Ali Monroe

Women in STEM Feature: Ali Monroe

Ali Monroe is a research associate at the University of Montana at the Center for Population Health Research. She studied economics and uses economic and mathematical models to study social questions such as behavioral responses to wildfire smoke, how preterm birth relates to mental health, and which Montanan communities are most vulnerable to wildfire smoke. This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.Where are you from?Originally, I'm from a town called Edmonds, Washington, which is a little bit north of Seattle.

ReadBlog Women in STEM Feature: Ali Monroe
Joseph Knudsen looking at the High-Quality Atmospheric Readings and Telemetry Station

SMART FIRES Undergraduate Joseph Knudsen Highlighted by University of Montana

The UM News service has written a piece highlighting SMART FIRES undergraduate Joseph Knudsen. Joseph works with Dr. Lu Hu in the Smart Optical Sensor thrust. Get to know Joseph, his career goals, and his work on the High Quality Atmospheric Readings and Telemetry Station by reading the article.

ReadBlog SMART FIRES Undergraduate Joseph Knudsen Highlighted by University of Montana
NSF by The Numbers

NSF by the Numbers

NSF provides a helpful resource called NSF by the Numbers.

ReadBlog NSF by the Numbers
Gathering at Lubrecht Experimental Forest

SMART FIRES team investigates citizen science opportunities during Lubrecht Experimental Forest visit

On a beautiful fall day in September, a team of Montana NSF EPSCoR researchers, students and outreach professionals from several Montana colleges and universities gathered at the University of Montana’s Lubrecht Experimental Forest near Greenough, Mont.

ReadBlog SMART FIRES team investigates citizen science opportunities during Lubrecht Experimental Forest visit
NSF EPSCoR

NSF E-RISE Awards 2024

The U.S. National Science Foundation has awarded $35 million through the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Research Incubators for STEM Excellence Research Infrastructure Improvement (E-RISE RII) to boost research competitiveness, build partnerships across academic institutions and non-academic sectors and create workforce development opportunities.

ReadBlog NSF E-RISE Awards 2024
A graduate student works in the Spectrum Lab at Montana State University on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023, in Bozeman, Mont. (Colter Peterson/MSU Photo)

$41M award to Montana Tech Hub

A regional technology hub focused on photonics and smart sensors, of which Montana State University is a founding member, will receive a $41 million federal grant to help create tech jobs across Montana.

ReadBlog $41M award to Montana Tech Hub
A graduate student works in the Spectrum Lab at Montana State University on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023, in Bozeman, Mont. (Colter Peterson/MSU Photo)

$41M award to Montana Tech Hub

A regional technology hub focused on photonics and smart sensors, of which Montana State University is a founding member, will receive a $41 million federal grant to help create tech jobs across Montana.

ReadBlog $41M award to Montana Tech Hub

Montana STEM Summit 2023 findings and next steps will be presented online Dec. 12

Key findings from the 2023 Montana STEM Summit will be shared in an online presentation on Tuesday, Dec.

ReadBlog Montana STEM Summit 2023 findings and next steps will be presented online Dec. 12

Project Highlight: "The Future Isn't Written"

Dr. Arica Crootof of UM Western assists in a project surrounding effective communication about contamination and remediation efforts of the Warm Springs Ponds at the headwaters of the Clark Fork River.

ReadBlog Project Highlight: "The Future Isn't Written"

New article from CREWS JRW Natural Resource Social Science team focuses on challenges rural communities face with public water systems

A recent publication from the Natural Resource Social Science team highlights the challenges facing rural communities in the arena of public water systems—namely, the locally-managed infrastructure that delivers domestic water to homes in settled areas like small towns and cities.

ReadBlog New article from CREWS JRW Natural Resource Social Science team focuses on challenges rural communities face with public water systems
Graduate student Tasha Stryker stands next to a development version of the online Crash Course game

Online college simulation game introduces players to STEM concepts and pathways

The online learning game, Crash Course, is a virtual college simulation that introduces players to various STEM concepts and pathways.

ReadBlog Online college simulation game introduces players to STEM concepts and pathways

Upcoming Events

SMART FIRES Year 3 All Hands Meeting

SMART FIRES will hold our year 3 all hands meeting on September 8-9, 2025. 

More SMART FIRES Year 3 All Hands Meeting

SMART FIRES Year 3 All Hands Meeting

SMART FIRES will hold our year 3 all hands meeting on September 8-9, 2025. 

More SMART FIRES Year 3 All Hands Meeting

What We Do

More about us
We develop and manage NSF ESPCoR Research Improvement Investment (RII) Awards to Montana to promote the development of science and technology capacity across the Montana University System. With RII support we have:
125
Faculty hired in strategic areas
300+
Graduate students supported on projects
1K+
Undergraduate students supported on projects
100+
Native American Students supported on projects