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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
Graduate Students participate in an outreach opportunity

Family Science Day Outreach

On Thursday, February 6, staff from the Science Math Resource Center (SMRC) facilitated SMART FIRES activities at MSU’s Family Science Day. Over 200 fifth grade students from local schools came to campus to engage with hands-on activities centered around STEM research at MSU. Two graduate students from the SMART FIRES project Mary Farina and Azin Rashed graciously helped put on the event and brought their research expertise to the broader impacts team. At the SMART FIRES table the students learned about sensors, which are a core research area of the project.

ReadBlog Family Science Day Outreach
Prescribed Fire Team stands in front of the mobile smoke laboratory van

Prescribed Fire Update from Valantijn Hoff

Where there is smoke, there is fire, is the old adage. This fall, at Lubrecht Experimental Forest, the fire was there precisely for the smoke. On three different days, UM FireCenter staff and UM students ignited their drip torches and implemented small, prescribed burns with the production of smoke as the main goal. The first burn was completed on October 1st just east of Jones Pond and measured only 1/10 of an acre. The fuels consumed by the flames consisted mainly of pine needles, small diameter sticks, and some grass and brush.

ReadBlog Prescribed Fire Update from Valantijn Hoff
Maggie Epstein working on a prescribed fire

A Conversation with Maggie Epstein: Large Language Models in Fire Science and Bridging the Firefighter–Researcher Gap

Maggie Epstein is a second year PhD student in the Fire Center at University of Montana where she also received her master’s degree. She comes from a wildland fire fighting background and worked on a rappel crew in northern Idaho. Her research revolves around bridging the gaps between operational firefighting and fire science.

ReadBlog A Conversation with Maggie Epstein: Large Language Models in Fire Science and Bridging the Firefighter–Researcher Gap
Headshot of Wade Permar

A Conversation with Wade Permar: Smoke Van Updates and its Role in Fire Science

Dr. Wade Permar is a key SMART FIRES team member at the University of Montana. He specifically works on the Fire and Smoke Science thrust's new "super van," a mobile smoke sampling lab with revolutionizing UM's and Montana's ability to ask and answer questions about smoke chemistry, a crucial part of understanding both wild and percribed fire. Below read Permar's update on the van's progress as well as the role it plays in SMART FIRES. What is the update on your work and the smoke van since the September All Hands Meeting? 

ReadBlog A Conversation with Wade Permar: Smoke Van Updates and its Role in Fire Science
Headshot of Lucy Owen

Women in STEM Feature: Lucy Owen

Where did you grow up?I grew up in Kentucky. I was born in a very rural part of Kentucky, and that's where I spent the first several years of my life before I moved to the big city of Lexington, Kentucky.How did you get into STEM and research?

ReadBlog Women in STEM Feature: Lucy Owen

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