Incubators and R&D

"I think that Missoula should become notorious for small encounters among people in all different fields," Duran said. "All they bring is their brain power."

Project coordinator Kathy Voth says successful demonstrations in other areas indicate that livestock behavior can be modified — as an economical alternative to chemicals to enhance biodiversity in rangelands, restore pastures dominated by invasive plants and improve wildlife habitat.

In its formal "Record of Decision," published Thursday in the Federal Register, the agency said it had concluded after extensive study that the lab would pose no "negative effects on the environment or on the citizens of Hamilton."

The common research project is called "Mile High, Mile Deep: Imagining and Modifying Topographical and Subterranean Environments." The title suggests a focus on Butte, but Rydell said researchers will incorporate findings from Butte, Yellowstone National Park and the entire American West to understand the importance of space and place for the practice of science.

A Montana Tech professor and graduate student hope to prove algae can clean the Berkeley Pit water.

A new report assessing 2002 federal research and development (R&D) funding in U.S. universities and colleges, finds that 45 percent of all federal R&D funds went directly to the nation’s 126 medical schools. We think these might serve as another set of interesting measures for assessing a state’s position relative to other states regarding university research, research infrastructure or knowledge economy inputs.

Both labs say they rely upon the connections they make with college students as interns as a recruiting tool because if they have a good experience, they’ll become advocates for the laboratory.

Sales have picked up for two Montana inventors who displayed their creative genius at the 2004 Ag Technology Show in Billings in January.

The Billings practice is one of 15 nationwide, and one of four in the Western United States, to take part in the AIM Higher initiative. AIM stands for assessment, information and management of symptoms.

The University of Idaho Extension Service already provides advice to farmers, home gardeners and anyone who grows plants or livestock. But the agency is also moving to help small-scale commercial food producers.