
NSF by the Numbers
NSF provides a helpful resource called NSF by the Numbers.
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.

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.
$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.

2024 EPSCoR Annual PI Meeting Presentations
Access to presentations from the 2024 NSF EPSCoR Annual PI meeting. These presentations provide helpful information on ESPCoR funding opportunities.You can access meeting presentations web page here.

SMART FIRES Smoke Vulnerability GIS Mapping Project
Kristen Intemann, Professor of Philosophy and Director for the Center for Science, Technology, Ethics, and Society (C-STES) at Montana State University (MSU), is working with graduate students in Land Resources and Environmental Sciences (LRES) at MSU to construct maps to analyze which communities and Tribal Nations are particularly impacted by both wildfire smoke and smoke from prescribed burns in Montana and across the U.S. This project is a product of the Social Psychology, Economics, and Ethics (SPEE) thrust of the SMART FIRES project.
SMART FIRES researchers at UM build mobile smoke laboratory
SMART FIRES researchers at the University of Montana have begun to build the "Supervan," a rapidly deployable mobile laboratory with enough space and power for scientific instruments that measure, track, and sample prescribed fire and wildfire smoke.

Dr. Rob Walker to give Distinguished Professor Lecture on optical spectroscopy
Dr. Rob Walker, a professor in Montana State University’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry since 2009, has been appointed Distinguished Professor for 2024 in the university’s College of Letters and Science. It is the highest honor the college bestows upon a member of its faculty in recognition of contributions to the college, MSU and the scholarly community.

Women in STEM Feature: Libby Metcalf
Learn more about Libby Metcalf, her work on EPSCOR projects, and what inspired her to pursue a career in science!
SMRC staff facilitate SMART FIRES activities at MSU Family Science Day
Staff from the Science Math Resource Center facilitated SMART FIRES activities for over 200 fifth grade students as part of MSU Family Science Day.
Upcoming Events
Bozeman Public Library
Plants and Pollinators Palooza
The MSU Science Math Resource Center and Montana NSF EPSCoR will be hosting a Plants and Pollinators Palooza at the Bozeman Public Library on Saturday May 10th from 10 am till 1 pm. The Palooza will contain short presentations from the Bumble Bee Atlas project as well as the Montana Native Plant Society’s citizen botany project. There will be an educational overview of both projects as well as an outdoor component putting into practice what participants have learned about plants and pollinators.
MSU Campus, Bozeman, MT
SMART FIRES Year 3 All Hands Meeting
SMART FIRES will hold our year 3 all hands meeting on September 8-9, 2025.
MSU Campus, Bozeman, MT
SMART FIRES Year 3 All Hands Meeting
SMART FIRES will hold our year 3 all hands meeting on September 8-9, 2025.