Technicians in the U.S. Forest Service’s new lab building can spot the presence (or absence) of specific fish in a whole river drainage from a cup of water. They can trace the family tree of a sage grouse from a tail feather. Don’t get them started on what they can tell when a grizzly bear poops in the woods. The new lab at UM can produce those answers at a scale that’s cost-effective, reliable and defensible. Read more about the new lab.
The Blackstone LaunchPad is a program at the University of Montana. It helps students, faculty, staff and alumni turn their ideas into businesses and nonprofit organizations. The LaunchPad has been at the University of Montana for about a year. Over 300 students, alumni and faculty have registered with the LaunchPad, and around 170 ideas have been pitched. All are in various stages of development. KECI-TV reports on UM’s Blackstone LaunchPad.
Walking the ancient streets of Babylon allowed Tommy Livoti to find his path in life. In 2003, the Missoula native and UM grad was a Marine Corps platoon commander in Iraq. Livoti saw a water-treatment system and military headquarters built upon archeological treasure troves. It all felt so wrong. It was then that Livoti became powerfully interested in protecting cultural properties during warfare. Read more how Livoti is combining his military and archeology background into one.
The College of Forestry and Conservation announces the appointment of Ruth Ann Swaney as coordinator of the Native American Natural Resource Program. Swaney is an enrolled tribal member of the Three Affiliated Tribes on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota. Swaney also has family from the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana. She holds a master’s degree in organismal biology and ecology from UM and is working on a doctorate in society and conservation. Read more about Swaney.
UM has been selected as Montana’s host site for “First Folio! The Book that Gave Us Shakespeare,” a national traveling exhibition of one of the world’s most treasured books – the Shakespeare First Folio. The Folger Shakespeare Library, in partnership with Cincinnati Museum Center and the American Library Association, is touring the exhibition in 2016. Final touring dates will be announced in April. Read more about UM’s chance to host the First Folio.
UM has been named the No. 6 medium-sized university for producing Peace Corps volunteers, making a big jump up from its 2014 ranking at No. 12. Currently, 27 UM alumni serve with the Peace Corps worldwide. 2015 also marks the 11th year the University has placed in the top 25 on the medium-sized volunteer-producing colleges and universities list. Read more about UM's latest Peace Corps ranking.
