
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.

SpectrUM Day of Smoke and Fire Science
Students from Polson and Ronan High Schools on the Flathead Reservation visited the University of Montana on January 29, 2024, for a day of smoke and fire science with SMART FIRES. During a morning field trip to spectrUM Discovery Area, UM’s hands-on science center, the students explored the concept of the fire triangle and experienced a matchstick “forest” simulation, activities from the USFS’s FireWorks curriculum.

UM smoke researcher honored by major science organization
Bob Yokelson, an accomplished University of Montana researcher who studies biomass burning, recently was named a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union. AGU is the world’s largest Earth and space sciences association, with nearly 60,000 members in 137 countries.
Sensors Across the Curriculum: Modules Developed for K-12 Classrooms
At Montana State University, the Science and Math Resource Center (SMRC) and the EDU 370 class (Integrating Technology into Education) partnered to build the capacity of 45 undergraduate, pre-service teachers in their thinking about integrating sensors into diverse classrooms. SMRC supplied the class with microcontrollers (Circuit Playground Express) and any additional accessories for each member of the EDU 370 class.
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.

Montana State part of new regional tech hub focused on critical technologies for U.S. national security
Montana State University will be part of a new, federally designated regional technology hub focused on photonics and smart sensor technology, research areas in which MSU has decades of experience.
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.

Montana State research team receives new funding to examine nitrogen processing in riparian areas
Building off preliminary work conducted through the Montana NSF EPSCoR Track-1 CREWS project, a team of Montana State University researchers recently received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to examine nitrogen processing in riparian areas
Upcoming Events
Virtual
Montana Reverse Site Visit with NSF
The Reverse Site Visit is required in Year 2 of an RII Track-1 project. Montana is scheduled to meet with NSF On April 3, 2025.The RSV is a review/evaluation conducted by teams of external reviewers and the NSF staff.
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.
Virtual
Montana Reverse Site Visit with NSF
The Reverse Site Visit is required in Year 2 of an RII Track-1 project. Montana is scheduled to meet with NSF On April 3, 2025.The RSV is a review/evaluation conducted by teams of external reviewers and the NSF staff.
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.