Montana NSF EPSCoR

06/09/2026

🔥 TONIGHT: The 2026 Wildfire and Smoke Outlook 🔥

What could this summer’s wildfire and smoke season look like in western Montana? Join a free community forum tonight to hear the latest projections and preparedness tips from local experts.

📅 Tuesday, June 9
🕕 6:00 PM

Attend in person:
📍 Flathead Valley Community College – Arts & Technology Room 139 (Kalispell)
📍 Missoula Public Library – Cooper Rooms A & B (Missoula)

Or join remotely on Zoom:
💻 bit.ly/MTwildfireoutlook

Topics include:
✅ Seasonal wildfire outlooks
✅ Drought and fuel conditions
✅ Smoke impacts and air quality
✅ Climate trends and El Niño impacts
✅ Wildfire preparedness and smoke safety tips

Panelists include representatives from the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS), Montana Climate Office, U.S. Forest Service, Climate Smart Missoula, and more.

Even if western Montana avoids major fires, smoke from surrounding regions can still affect our communities. Learn how to prepare and stay informed ahead of the summer season.

Hosted during Montana Wildfire Smoke Ready Week (June 7–13).

04/20/2026

This Citizen Science event is sponsored and cohosted by SMART FIRES - come and join us if you're in the Bozeman area!

5:00-5:30 PM — Welcome & Check In - Gather at the welcome station for check in, name tags, QR codes, and directions. Gated area of the Preserve opens to public access @ 5 PM.

02/11/2026

If you're into remote sensing or earth science, this NASA article is worth a look. It traces the early use of satellite imagery—long before it became a common research tool—and shows how scientists discovered new possibilities far beyond Cold War surveillance.

At SMART FIRES, we rely on technologies like lidar, thermal imagery, and hyperspectral imaging, so it’s interesting to see how the foundations were built decades ago.

Read the full story here:

In searching for lost cities and ancient travel routes, an unlikely band of scientists and explorers helped develop a new set of tools for archaeology.

02/06/2026

The SMART FIRES booth was a hit at Montana State University Family Science Day last Thursday! Visiting fifth graders explored hands‑on scientific sensors, built their own "fire‑ready forest" bracelets, and watched drone footage from a real prescribed burn at Lubrecht Experimental Forest. The activity was staffed by Suzi Taylor and Rebecca Richter of Science Math Resource Center and grad students Nat Sweeney and Dylan Maxwell, with behind-the-scenes support from undergraduate Becca Edwards. Students headed home with a fire science coloring and activity sheet and colored pencils to continue learning beyond the event.

12/05/2025

Why is prescribed fire beneficial? We Montanans are all affected by wildfire smoke - learn how SMART FIRES is developing strategies to protect our communities that are most impacted by wildfire.

10/07/2025

Montana science educators: We are building an Instrument Lending Library with the support of Montana NSF EPSCoR. We are curious to find out if you would use it?

If so, what scientific instruments would you like to check out and borrow?

Complete our short survey by the end of the day tomorrow and you'll be in a drawing to win a cool STEM prize.

[Here's our new graduate student Elizabeth preparing some Temtop air quality monitors for use by our pre-service teachers]

https://forms.gle/DjAS2XLsbG8Mkb1T9

10/06/2025

The Montana Girls STEM Collaborative was launched as a Montana NSF EPSCoR program and is a shining example of the power of EPSCoR to build infrastructure in a state. Please check out this great opportunity to bring hands-on STEM to Montana communities. The deadline to apply is Friday.

YOU can host a QuantumGirls program in your Montana community! QuantumGirls was created by a collaboration between National Girls Collaborative Project and Montana State University's QCORE, and it brings basic quantum concepts and fun hands-on STEM to middle school girls.

No quantum experience is needed -- all training is provided! Apply by Friday, Oct. 10 and learn more about QuantumGirls at https://www.montana.edu/smrc/quantum/quantum-girls.html

06/09/2025

COMING SOON! The summer e-newsletter of the Montana Citizen Science Network. Make sure you are subscribed!
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/Ke1M2vO/citssci

The Montana network is supported by Montana NSF EPSCoR and housed in the Science Math Resource Center

06/07/2025

If you missed our latest newsletter, you missed some great updates on what's happening with Montana NSF EPSCoR and SMART FIRES. Be sure to catch up here: https://conta.cc/4kNM5tw

Science Math Resource Center spectrUM Discovery Area

Email from Montana NSF EPSCoR SMART FIRES Highlights     SMART FIRES Summer Newsletter 2025 Keep up to date on the progress of EPSCoR's track one project SMART FIRES. Hear from researchers and staff a