Two CREWS Students Receive Goldwater Scholarships
Two CREWS undergraduate research students, Shannon Hamp who is currently at Montana State University, and Baylie Phillips who is currently at Montana Tech, were announced as Goldwater Scholars! This scholarship is the most prestigious award in the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics in the United States and is given to sophomores and juniors who show exceptional promise to be the next generation of research leaders in their fields.
Twelve Montana K-12 Teachers Participate in GPS/GIS Workshop
The August 10 workshop, developed by MSU's Extended University, was part of a public outreach program of Montana NSF EPSCoR called Climate In My Backyard (CLIMB). Participants learned how researchers within the Montana University System and the new Montana Institute on Ecosystems are using GPS/GIS to study everything from noxious weeds to water quality, and practiced using GPS and smart-phone apps in the field to idenfity and report noxious weed infestations. Each participant received a Garmin Montana 650t GPS receiver and several books and educational resources.
Teachers Help Inform EPSCoR Citizen Science Program
Montana K-12 teachers participated in focus groups providing input on SMART FIRES' new citizen science initiative which will provide schools with air quality measurement tools. The teachers–from Billings, Cut Bank, Great Falls, and Yaak–expressed interest in the concept, saying that they are always open to bringing new technologies into the classroom. They said the technologies could be used for hands-on lessons to engage students in the science of measurement and awareness of their local air quality.
Sunburst Sensors to provide pHyters and training to citizen scientists and schools
Sunburst Sensors, a private industry partner of the CREWS project, was awarded $150K to develop, produce and distribute the pHyter, an inexpensive, handheld instrument for discrete pH measurements.
Students at UM Western Seek Input on Warm Springs Ponds Survey
Students at the University of Montana Western (UM Western) are conducting a public survey on the Warm Springs Ponds and want to hear from you.
Student opportunity (travel grants) for SEA Conference
The Computational and Information Systems Laboratory is offering travel grants to students who are interested in attending the sixth annual National Center for Atmospheric Research Software Engineering Assembly Conference (SEA).
STEM Summit 2019 report now available
Montana NSF EPSCoR helped support STEM Summit 2019, a statewide gathering that welcomed 165 representatives from education, industry, government and non-profits to discuss how to advance science, technology, engineering and mathematics learning in Montana. A report outlining findings from the event is now available for free download, and the data will be used to guide new Montana NSF EPSCoR efforts in STEM learning and workforce development.
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.
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
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.