New ‘ResilienceMT’ Exhibit at Missoula Library

beaver dam on a river in montana — Part of the “ResilienceMT” exhibit, this image of a beaver dam on the Fort Belknap Indian Community illustrates nature’s resilience to drought and flooding.

UM Discovery Area Hosts New ‘ResilienceMT’ Exhibit at Missoula Library – The University of Montana’s spectrUM Discovery Area is hosting a climate resilience exhibit called “ResilienceMT” at its museum location on the second floor of the Missoula Public Library.

“ResilienceMT” is an environmental literacy education project funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It works with rural and tribal communities in Montana to build resilience to wildfires, smoke, drought, flooding and extreme heat. Visitors of all ages can view and interact with the exhibit through mid-March. Admission is free for all.

“This exhibit has been teacher and kid-tested,” said Robin Saha, the project’s principal investigator and a UM Environmental Studies professor. “There is something for everybody!”

The hands-on exhibit includes a display that turns air-quality data into music, a do-it-yourself home air filter demonstration, a beaver dam flood engineering table, a “nature’s superpowers” display, climate resilience story maps and short videos titled “Beavers and Climate Resilience in the Fort Belknap Indian Community” and “Reducing Wildfire Risk in the Bitterroot Valley.”

The exhibit will offer a free public event titled “Cultivating Community Climate Resilience Through Storytelling” from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, in the Missoula Public Library’s Cooper Room A on the fourth floor. Speakers will include UM’s Justin Angle talking about his “Fireline” podcast and Laure Garber of Homestead Organics speaking about superpowers in nature. The event will be hosted by spectrUM, the UM Environmental Studies Program and Families for a Livable Climate, with assistance from MCAT.

The exhibit recently visited Hamilton and Corvallis middle schools, where spectrUM hosted students and teachers for in-school field trips to explore the exhibit, as well as a family science night open to students and their families. Later this spring, the exhibit will head to the Fort Belknap Indian Community and the Blackfeet Nation to engage with high school and tribal college students.

School groups are welcome to visit “ResilienceMT” through early March. Email spectrum@mso.umt.edu to schedule a field trip.

“ResilienceMT” also is partnering with Montana communities to plan and lead community resilience forums, and the project website has teacher guides and resources for students and communities. For more information visit tinyurl.com/ResilienceMT.