# About Montana NSF EPSCoR - [ About | Montana NSF EPSCoR ](https://www.mtnsfepscor.org/about)
> A National Science Foundation initiative to prevent, fight, and study wildfires through prescribed burning and a multi-disciplinary approach through universities and colleges across Montana. The project aims to increase education and resources to rural communities by understanding the effects of wildfires. The five-year project partnerships with Montana State University, University of Montana, Montana Technological University, Salish Kootenai College, Little Bighorn College, Flathead Valley Community College, and business and government partners to address knowledge gaps associated with prescribed fire usage and to understand prescribed fire’s impact on individuals and communities.

## Q&A - General Questions
- ### What is Montana NSF EPSCoR?
  - Montana NSF EPSCoR is a Montana University System (MUS) program focused on stimulating sustainable improvements in Montana's R&D capacity and competitiveness in science and engineering research.
- ### What is the mission of the NSF EPSCoR program?
  - The mission of NSF EPSCoR is to enhance the research competitiveness of targeted jurisdictions (state, territory or commonwealth) by strengthening science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) capacity and capability through a diverse portfolio of investments from talent development to local infrastructure.
- ### Who are our partners?
  - We work collaboratively across the state's higher education institutions, including 7 tribal colleges, and with partners from business, government, and non-profit organizations. With offices at the University of Montana and Montana State University, MT NSF EPSCoR is a program designed to develop, manage, and sustain projects over time. These collaborations ensure that research outcomes benefit all Montanans and support inclusive STEM education and workforce development.
- ### When was Montana NSF EPSCoR established?
  - Following the establishment of NSF EPSCoR in 1978, Montana joined in 1980 as one of five initial states to participate. Over the years Montana NSF EPSCoR has played an important role in enhancing research capacity and competitiveness for Montana, supporting innovative education for development of Montana's STEM workforce, and linking science outcomes to business opportunities and solutions for pressing issues.
- ### How does NSF EPSCoR help Montana?
  - NSF EPSCoR strengthens Montana’s STEM ecosystem by investing in research talent, infrastructure, and innovation. Project topics are selected competitively by the Montana Science and Technology Committee (MSTC) based on their long-term relevance and potential to improve the state’s research and development (R&D) competitiveness.
- ### What is the current NFS ESPCoR RII Track-1 Project?
        - RII Track-1 projects are the core of our work focus. SMART FIRES (Sensors, Machine Learning, and Artifical Intelligence in Real Time Fire Science) is a five-year, $20M NSF EPSCoR RII Track-1 partnership between Montana State University, University of Montana, Montana Technological University, Salish Kootenai College, Little Bighorn College, Flathead Valley Community College, and business and government partners to address knowledge gaps associated with prescribed fire usage and to understand prescribed fire’s impact on individuals and communities. The PI is Dr. Robert Walker (MSU), and the co-PIs are Dr. Libby Metcalf (UM), Dr. Joseph Shaw (MSU), and Dr. Lu Hu (UM).
- ### What is the Montana State Science and Technology Plan?
  - Montana NSF EPSCoR is governed by the Montana Science and Technology Committee (MSTC) which is led by Joe Thiel the MUS Interim Deputy Commissioner, Academic, Research and Student Affairs. The EPSCoR program is guided by the state Science and Technology plan (2022). Research areas for project proposals are selected on a competitive basis by the MSTC as (1) being one of the most compelling long-term issues for Montana; and (2) having the best potential to improve the future research and development (R&D) competitiveness of the State.
## Related
 - [SMART FIRES: Sensors, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence in Real Time Fire Science | Montana NSF EPSCoR](https://www.mtnsfepscor.org/projects/smart-fires): A partnership among Montana universities and colleges to study wildfires and the impact of prescribed burning on communities.
 - [Team | Montana NSF EPSCOR](https://www.mtnsfepscor.org/projects/smart-fires/team): Team members of SMART FIRES.
 - [Strategic Plan | Montana NSF EPSCoR](https://www.mtnsfepscor.org/projects/smart-fires/strategic-plan): Strategic Plan for the R-II Track including project goals.
 - [Citing SMART FIRES | Montana NSF EPSCoR](https://www.mtnsfepscor.org/projects/smart-fires/acknowledge): Language for acknowledging SMART FIRES.
 - [Reporting Resources | Montana EPSCoR](https://www.mtnsfepscor.org/projects/smart-fires/reporting): Reporting resources and submission documents.
 - [Broader Impacts | Montana NSF EPSCoR](https://www.mtnsfepscor.org/projects/smart-fires/broader-impacts): The initiative's focus on outreach programs for K-12, rural, and Tribal colleges.
 - [Fire and Smoke Science (FSS) | Montana NSF EPSCoR](https://www.mtnsfepscor.org/programs/research): The FSS research sector dedicated to engineering technology to combat wildfires and generate data.
 - [Faculty Hires | Montana EPSCoR](https://www.mtnsfepscor.org/research/projects/faculty-hires): Faculty hires of Montana EPSCoR.
 - [News | Montana NSF EPSCor](https://www.mtnsfepscor.org/news): News features regarding projects, people, and interviews.
 - [Events | Montana NSF EPSCoR](https://www.mtnsfepscor.org/events): Updates of meetings and symposiums from universities.
 - [Opportunities | Montana NSF EPSCoR](https://www.mtnsfepscor.org/opportunities): Positions available for the SMART FIRES project.