Bear Briefs

Geosciences Degree—For the first time in its history, UM will jointly offer a degree with partner universities in Europe. Geosciences Professor Marc Hendrix said the University has been awarded a four-year, $408,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education to establish a bachelor’s degree program in international field geoscience. The degree will be issued jointly by UM, the University of Potsdam in Germany and University College Cork in Ireland. Students pursuing the degree will take classes and do fieldwork at all three universities before they graduate. “Our goal with this program is to give our students some international experience,” Hendrix said. “We also want them to spend a significant amount of time in the field actually looking at geology and geoscience processes in different parts of the world.” He said the grant will allow 24 UM students to study geosciences in Germany and Ireland during the next four years. In return, 12 German and 12 Irish students will come to Montana to study.

Native Labs—UM announced recently the establishment of two Native American Research Laboratories dedicated to training Native students in basic sciences and biomedical sciences. The laboratories are the first research labs at any university in the nation developed specifically to provide hands-on cross-disciplinary research training opportunities for Native American undergraduate and graduate students. The labs will provide a cultural “comfort zone” where Native students can learn how to use state-of-the-art research instrumentation and modern laboratory techniques to study research questions. UM has contracted Michael Ceballos, a research assistant professor in the Division of Biological Sciences, to help develop the laboratories. A former tribal college science faculty member, Ceballos is a member of the National Science Foundation Quality Education for Minorities Network Native American Leadership Development Institute and the NASA Astrobiology Institute. Ceballos is concurrently completing his doctoral studies in the integrative microbiology and biochemistry program. “This is an excellent opportunity for Native students to realize their educational dreams in a non-intimidating environment,” Ceballos said.“It’s time that we indigenous people cease being only the subjects of research and become part of the community doing the research. We often forget that indigenous people of the Americas were at the pinnacle of global scientific discovery and engineering achievement when Europe was in the Dark Ages. Science is a part of our Native heritage that needs to be revived.”

New Exhibits—“Sacks Appeal: Designs on the Shopping Bag” and “Everyday Objects in Art: Works from the Permanent Collection” are on display at UM’s Montana Museum of Art & Culture. The exhibits opened Oct. 30 and will run through Dec. 22. “Sacks Appeal” is at the museum’s Meloy Gallery; a special window display also can be viewed at Macy’s department store at 110 N. Higgins Ave. in Missoula. “Everyday Objects in Art” is in the museum’s Paxson Gallery. “Sacks Appeal” features some of the finest shopping bag designs of the 20th century. Included are dazzling bags with designs by artists such as Roy Lichtenstein, David Hockney, Keith Haring, Barbara Kruger and Annie Liebowitz. “Everyday Objects” are works reflecting development in modern art originating with Marcel Duchamp’s ready-mades to assemblage and contemporary trends that blur the boundaries between art and life.

Handel’s ‘Messiah’—The University Theatre will again ring with the hallelujah refrains of Handel’s “Messiah” at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25. It will be the 12th Habitat for Humanity benefit at UM and will feature four UM voice faculty soloists: Anne Basinski, Kimberly James, David Cody and Stephen Kalm. Ron Willcott will conduct. More than $100,000 has been raised over the years through the performances, which have helped fund construction of more than 30 homes in the Missoula area. Singers in the chorus raise money through pledges. The concert is free and open to the public, although donations are welcomed. For more information, contact Nancy Cooper, UM adjunct assistant professor of music, at 406-243-2080.

Dino Dollars—UM paleontologist George Stanley was featured in a 16-minute segment on “Dateline NBC” titled “Dino Dollars,” which aired Aug. 22. The piece described how many landowners in Montana and throughout the West are earning extra money by selling ancient remains on their property to commercial fossil-hunting companies. Stanley spoke out against selling to such fossil brokers, who often are more concerned with making money then preserving the remains for science. “What is the money value of a fossil?” Stanley asked. “You can’t put a value on it. The value to me is the value to science.” The entire story can be viewed on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ay6EKYrjio.

Better Payers—The latest statistics show fewer UM students are defaulting on their student loans. UM’s federal fiscal cohort default rate fell from 4.4 percent in 2004 to 2.6 percent in 2005 – a one-year decrease of 40.9 percent. “This is great news,” said Mick Hanson, director of UM’s Financial Aid Office. “No. 1, it suggests an improved job market for students, helping them repay their loans. No. 2, it shows the Student Assistance Foundation in Helena, which services the majority of student loans in Montana, continues to improve its services for students when it comes to repayment.” Hanson said institutions such as UM also have improved credit counseling for students as they exit college for the working world.

Christmas Bricks—With Christmas just around the corner, shoppers might want to consider the gift of a Centennial Circle brick for friends, loved ones or even themselves. The bricks are placed in UM’s Oval near the Grizzly sculpture. The cost is $150 a brick. The deadline for buying bricks for the spring engraving is April 16, 2008. For more information call University Relations at 406-243-2523 or visit http://www.umt.edu/urelations/bricks.htm.