Vision 2019 University of Montana Research, Innovation & Imagination

Welcome to another edition of Vision, the magazine of research and creative scholarship for the University of Montana. Once again, research continues to grow at the University as measured by the expenditures from our awarded grants and contracts. This past year, our expenditures reported to the National Science Foundation were $90.6 million, which has jumped from the $55 million reported in fiscal year 2014. Of course, the real joy in seeing our research portfolio grow is the amazing research and creative outcomes of those projects and the impact they have — both socially and economically — on our region and state.

Of particular note, Dr. Jim Elser, the director of our Flathead Lake Biological Station, recently was elected to the National Academy of Sciences. Elser is only the second Montana University System faculty member to receive this honor. He joined UM in 2016 as the Bierman Professor of Ecology, and his research focuses on mountain lakes of western Montana and western China. Congratulations to Dr. Elser! I am convinced that more members of our amazing faculty will be so honored.

Innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development continue to be major themes at UM. The fourth annual InnovateUM conference further blurred the lines between the city and the University with the development of an “innovation corridor.” The keynote talk was given by Rachel Reilly with the Economic Innovation Group about the Opportunity Zone program. This year the Mansfield Center held the inaugural InnovateHS, bringing innovation to over 250 area high school students. Key speakers were Larry Simkins, CEO and president of the Washington Companies, and Mathew Wendell, IBM Global Garage leader. Part of this exciting event was held at our new Innovation Factory — a physical space in the University Center where we foster innovative problem solving and design. IF is a collaborative effort of the Broader Impacts Group, the Blackstone LaunchPad, and Schools of Art and Media Arts working collaboratively with community partners.

In the areas of entrepreneurship and economic development, the University recently received an NSF Innovation-Corps award. Our business incubator, MonTEC, was one of seven entities across the United States selected to receive an award from the U.S. Small Business Administration for innovation cluster development. We also received a federal University Center Economic Development award for rural economic development. Finally, we partnered with the University of New Mexico and Virtici on a Small Business Technology Transfer grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.

Read on to learn more about the exciting adventures and opportunities undertaken by our UM researchers and scholars.

Scott Whittenburg
UM Vice President for Research and Creative Scholarship