Research roundup at MSU-Bozeman-Two-name river-Summer research-Codfish of Montana-Parenting, again

Two-name river

One result of the Lewis and Clark Expedition is that a river in northern Montana became known as the Milk River, says Walter Fleming, director of Native American Studies at MSU-Bozeman. Before that, the river was known as "The River that Scolds the Other." Noting that Native Americans sometimes call the Lewis and Clark Expedition the "Coups of Discovery" or "Corpse of Discovery," Fleming said the explorers called the river the Milk River because it resembled tea with a considerable amount of milk mixed into it. Native Americans gave it the earlier name because the river travels parallel to the Missouri River for a short distance before giving up its identity and flowing into the larger river.

Summer research

Almost 200 undergraduate students will work on research projects at MSU this summer, says Anneke Metz, program coordinator for Complex Biological Systems. Some are Montana natives who normally attend MSU. Others are Montanans or out-of-staters who attend other institutions during the regular school year. MSU offers at least 15 programs that bring undergraduates to Bozeman for summer research projects. The programs are good recruiting tools for graduate school. They also set students apart and help them get jobs after graduation. Metz says students who have research experience in their field are much more marketable than students who work at jobs that have nothing to do with their major.

Codfish of Montana

Ever caught a cylindrical eel-like fish with a long anal fin and wondered, before tossing it back, what the heck that thing was? It might have been a Burbot, the only true freshwater member of the ocean-dwelling codfish family. It’s found in cold waters around the world from the North Pole as far south as 40 degrees North latitude, said Christopher Guy of the Montana Cooperative Fishery Research Unit at MSU. In Montana, not much is known about how well the fish is doing, and Guy is heading a study to find out. The fish, also known as ling, is gaining in popularity among anglers, so state fisheries managers want to know more about the native species. The project is funded by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Parenting, again

Since 1990 there’s been a 30 percent rise in the number of grandparents raising their grandchildren in the United States. In Montana, about 6,000 grandparents have sole responsibility for their grandkids, not including those in Native American communities, said Sandra Bailey, MSU Extension family and human development specialist. Bailey has helped start a number of support groups for grandparents around the state. She’s also doing research on which method of support and information delivery works best for which grandparents. Montana grandparents said their most pressing needs are for financial assistance, medical insurance for the children and general information on parenting. Grandparents are thrust into parenting again for a number of reasons including teen pregnancies, the death of one or both parents, and drug and alcohol abuse.

Contact: Annette Trinity-Stevens, (406) 994-5607 or [email protected]

http://www.montana.edu/commserv/csnews/nwview.php?article=946