UM researcher earns Regents Professor designation

UM Professor Richard Bridges joined an elite group Nov. 18 when the state Board of Regents unanimously voted to name him Regents Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology.

Regents Professor is the top rank awarded to faculty members in the Montana University System. Bridges is only the ninth UM professor to earn the title since it was created in 1991.

"This is really a tremendous honor considering not only the many accomplishments of the other Regents Professors, but also all the high-quality faculty in our programs and centers who I have the pleasure of working with every day," Bridges said. "What means the most to me is that this appointment recognizes that teaching and research are essentially inseparable and that the two must be increasingly combined to properly prepare our students to compete and succeed."

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Lecture to address globalization of Latin America

William Robinson, an internationally acclaimed expert on the effects of globalization in Latin America, will deliver the next installment of the President's Lecture Series at UM.

Robinson will present "Global Crisis: Immigration, Drug Trafficking and Financial Meltdown" at 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, in the University Center Ballroom. A prize-winning author of several books on the economic, social and political problems caused by globalization in Latin America, Robinson will discuss the latest developments in this crisis-ridden part of the Western Hemisphere.

Robinson also will give a seminar, "Latin America and the Global Capitalist System," from 3:40 to 5 p.m. that day in Gallagher Business Building Room 123. The seminar is held in conjunction with the UM Philosophy Forum, and both events are free and open to the public.

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Writing professor presents at National Book Awards

Author Deirdre McNamer could have spent last summer writing and relaxing, if she hadn't accepted an invitation to read and judge the 315 novels entered in the 2011 National Book Awards.

As the chair of the fiction committee for the 2011 awards, McNamer was charged with sorting out the logistics of how the five-person committee would sift through the 300-plus entries.

One selection in particular, "Salvage the Bones" by Jesmyn Ward, had an eloquence and power that the panel just couldn't forget, and McNamer had the honor of announcing it as the 2011 fiction winner at the National Book Awards Ceremony, held Nov. 16 in New York City.

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MMAC celebrates work of Montana artists

The works of two of the state's most prominent early 20th century artists will be on display at the Montana Museum of Art & Culture at UM starting Friday, Dec. 2.

The major exhibitions feature the work of Fra Dana and Frances Carroll Brown, two significant females who played a compelling role in Montana art history. The exhibitions, "Fra Dana: American Impressionist in the Rockies" and "Frances Carroll Brown: Bitterroot Portraits," will reveal new research recently uncovered on each artist.

MMAC will host an opening reception for the exhibitions from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2, in the Performing Arts and Radio/Television Center lobby. The museum's Meloy Gallery will feature the Dana exhibition, and the Brown exhibition will be located in the Paxson Gallery. Both exhibitions are free and open to the public and will run through Feb. 25, 2012.

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Soundscape study offers new approach to river science

A new study co-written by a UM researcher may provide unique clues on the impact river soundscapes have on biodiversity.

The study, published in the most recent edition of the journal Limnology and Oceanography, examined the soundscapes of five rivers in North America and Europe, including the Middle and North forks of the Flathead River. The more complex rivers -- those that had experienced the least human impact -- tended to have more complex soundscapes.

Mark Lorang, an associate research professor at UM's Flathead Lake Biological Station, and his co-authors say these underwater acoustic signals act as important information sources that allow aquatic organisms to adapt and survive in their environments. The fewer acoustic clues, the less likely an organism is to find suitable habitat niches, which can affect a river's biodiversity over time.

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GSA commits $500,000 to athletic facility upgrades

The Grizzly Scholarship Association's State Board of Directors voted unanimously at its recent meeting to commit $500,000 in matching funds to the athletic facility improvement project at UM.

"Beginning now and continuing through the annual spring football game in mid-April, the GSA is asking Griz fans everywhere to commit to this project," said Mike Persha, president of the board. "The GSA will match all new donations to the much-needed facility improvements up to $500,000."

The athletic facility improvement plan calls for the construction of a new student-athlete academic center, renovation of the weight room and locker room, and the installation of lights at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. A fundraising goal of $6 million has been set, with nearly $2 million already collected and pledged.

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Contemporary American Indian author to speak at UM

Gyasi Ross, author of "Don't Know Much About Indians (but i wrote a book about us anyways)" will speak at UM from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29, in The Payne Family Native American Center's Bonnie HeavyRunner Gathering Place.

Ross provides a fresh, new voice among Indian writers, and his debut collection of stories and poems describes the lives of contemporary Natives. The unique characters in his 18 stories and poems are "regular Indians" -- people who have day jobs, college students, insecure folks and kids in love -- who defy stereotypes and are as diverse as the rest of America.

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Raffle tickets available for student-built custom home

Raffle tickets are now on sale for a student-built home in Missoula. Tickets cost $100, and 4,000 are available for the drawing to be held in the fall of 2012.

The home is being built by participants of the Building Futures Program, a community partnership bringing together the Missoula Building Industry Association, the UM College of Technology and the Flagship Program to teach area students the construction profession.

The custom home, located at 4860 Jeff Drive, is valued at $300,000. The single-level home will have three bedrooms and two full bathrooms within 1,558 square feet. There will be a spacious foyer, a living room with vaulted ceilings and a large kitchen with a cook-top island. The home is scheduled for completion this spring.

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UM grad receives prestigious award to study in Ireland

UM graduate Ashleen Williams has been named the University's first Mitchell Scholar.

Selected from more than 300 applicants, Williams is one of 12 students who will pursue postgraduate studies at universities across Ireland and Northern Ireland during the 2012-13 academic year. Williams, who currently is a U.S. Fulbright English teaching assistant in Bahrain, will study peace and conflict studies at the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland.

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Presentation to address impact of new patent law

UM invites local researchers, entrepreneurs and business owners to a presentation on how to navigate provisions of a recently enacted federal patent law.

The presentation, "Understanding the Impact of the 2011 America Invents Act," will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, at the Montana Technology Enterprise Center, located at 1121 E. Broadway St. in Missoula. It will feature the expertise of Tim Worrall and Jennifer Lane, patent attorneys from the global law firm Dorsey & Whitney.

Worrall and Lane will discuss intellectual property and the legislation's impact on businesses and higher-education research programs. Participants also will learn about the "first-inventor-to-file" system, how to use intellectual property as a strategic advantage and what steps must be taken to protect intellectual property and patents.

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Grad student wins national award for campus map

A UM graduate student recently won a national award for an interactive campus map he created.

Erik Samsoe took first place in the interactive category of the North American Cartographic Information Society's 13th annual Student Dynamic Map Competition. The award included $500 in prize money. Samsoe's map also is displayed on the society's website.

Samsoe worked with UM's Information Technology department to use existing data and Google Maps technology to create a next-generation map. The final version of the map is still in development, and others can contribute feedback online.

The map includes the location of art galleries, parking lots, bus stops and dining options, as well as accessibility information such as curb cuts, snow routes and automatic door locations. It will appear on the UM home page once it's completed.

Theatre & Dance presents 'You Can't Take It With You'

The UM School of Theatre & Dance will present "You Can't Take It With You" at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29-Dec. 3 and Dec. 6-10 in the Montana Theatre in the Performing Arts and Radio/Television Center. The school will present a matinee performance at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3.

The hilarious and heartwarming play tells the story of Tony, the attractive young son of the straitlaced and well-off Kirbys, who falls in love with Alice Sycamore. When Tony brings his parents to meet Alice's eccentric clan, fireworks ensue, in more ways than one. Great Depression-era issues of class, success and striving for the American Dream resonate with today's audience in this classic comedy.  

To show appreciation for their long-standing commitment and service to UM, President Royce Engstrom and the School of Theatre & Dance will provide faculty and staff one free ticket to "You Can't Take It With You." In addition, a second ticket for each performance may be purchased for $9.

Faculty and staff can redeem their free ticket by presenting their Griz Cards at the UMArts Box Office in the PAR/TV Center. Box office hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and one hour prior to performances.

Writer hosts reading, signing at UM

The UM Creative Writing Program will sponsor a fiction reading by Rick Bass, its Visiting Kittredge Writer for autumn semester, at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, in the Turner Hall Dell Brown Room.

Bass is the author of more than 20 books, including short story collections, novellas, novels, nonfiction nature writing and essay collections. "Why I Came West: A Memoir" was a finalist for the National Book Critics Award, and his latest novel, "Nashville Chrome," was a finalist for the Los Angeles Book Prize.

Several of the author's books will be for sale at the event, and Bass will be available to sign them after the reading. For more information call Karin Schalm at 243-5267, email karin.schalm@mso.umt.edu or visit the Creative Writing Program website.

Thesis exhibition opens at UM gallery

The UM School of Art will present "Seeing Red Feeling Yellow," a Masters of Fine Arts thesis exhibition by Randi O'Brien, in the Gallery of Visual Arts from Thursday, Dec. 1, through Friday, Dec. 16.

An opening reception will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1. The exhibition and opening are free and open to the public.

Highlighting the revived medium of fables, O'Brien conjures characters that reflect upon their circumstance, in search of a moral to their story. The exhibition pairs unassuming figurative ceramic forms with a complex and timeless bestiary. The sculptures' universal, even sincere subjects, along with their intimate scale, seductive colors and rough distorted surfaces, seem lovely and yet suggest dark potential. The exhibit will feature more than 15 of O'Brien's newest sculptural works.

The gallery is located on the first floor of the Social Science Building and is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays and by appointment only on Mondays.

UM to host Holiday Art Fair Dec. 1-3

UM will host the 2011 Holiday Art Fair Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 1-3, on the first floor of the University Center. The hours for the fair are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

The fair will feature unique hand-crafted art from local and regional artists, as well as live music and door prizes. The event is free and open to the public.

IRB available for consultation with researchers, students

UM's Institutional Review Board encourages faculty and students planning to conduct research involving human participants to contact the IRB office for guidance on ethical considerations and how to streamline the review process.

Proposals can be discussed in the IRB office in Main Hall Room 117, and staff members also are available to give presentations to departments on recent changes in the program.

For more information call Paula Baker, IRB coordinator, at 243-6672 or email irb@umontana.edu.