|
|
|
| MATR Newsletter - Fri Mar 14, 2008 |
"We are currently preparing students for jobs that don't yet exist that will use technologies that haven't yet been invented in order to solve problems we don't even know are problems yet." Anon --- "I don't see anything that will stop the rapid advance of technology." Bill Gates
I had the pleasure of meeting with a handful of University of Montana students yesterday to talk about the things they'd most need to compete in the business community when they graduate. Our discussion was far ranging and brought back to me a video I'd seen some time ago. It really hits home when you sit with a group of future leaders. Their challenges will be beyond what we can fathom now as technology, communications and competition become even more advanced. Think of how you would handle life if you were in college while you watch this. Education is the key to our future and we must do everything we can to ensure that Montana has the best education possible from pre-birth to old age. It's our future. http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Come Home Montana
Idaho National Laboratory
- Giving a Bad Name to Montana!
What can we do to revive the good name of Montana?
Montana Chamber Choices
- Idaho National Laboratory sponsors competition for 27 Idaho high schools to compete for trip to National Science Bowl
The prize is three berths at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Science Bowl in May in Washington, D.C.
Boomtown Institute
- Montana Chamber of Commerce Choices Wellness Intern to Help Small Business
"We are delighted to have Chelsea joining us with this focus on a critical issue for Montana's small businesses," noted Webb Brown, President/CEO of the Montana Chamber. "She will be able to help determine what wellness programs will work in Montana."
Missoula Children's Theatre
- The Agurban from Boomtown Institute - Responses to Leadership Agurban
Great message about the two Governors, and what really can be done with the right leadership.
Funding and Building your Business
- Little Film That Could Wins in Hollywood - "The Little Red Truck" Wins Best Feature Documentary at the International Family Film Festival
"The Little Red Truck," http://www.thelittleredtruck.com is a full-length feature documentary film from Missoula-based Tree and Sky Media Arts. In brief; when a little red truck from the Missoula Children's Theatre http://www.mctinc.org pulls into town, sixty local kids take on an impossible task - to stage a full-scale musical in just 6 days. This week will change them forever.
Education
- Bill Payne Of Frontier Angels Leads Startup Valuation Seminar, 4/24, Whitefish, Montana
The seminar is an excellent class on learning how to value a startup business. Lead by Bill Payne, http://www.billpayne.com, a seasoned angel and instructor, the faculty will include other state and regional experts.
- Business Lessons From Blue Man Group
The organization that Wink and partners Matt Goldman and Phil Stanton founded in 1988 is Blue Man Group. "Little Room" is on the founders' mind because Blue Man faces a similar conundrum: How to define their enterprise, stretch it, and reach a larger audience — without losing the things that made it special when they were starting out.
- 17 Tips For Getting Bloggers To Write About You
What makes a site blogger-unfriendly?
- Every Start-Up Is Somebody in New Mexico
Finding it difficult to land VC money for your new start-up? Here’s a bit of advice: Move to New Mexico
- Startup Tips for the Early, Early Days
1. You don't need office space:
University Business Plan Competitions
- North Carolina Student Wins $100,000 Intel Science Award
When Shivani Sud was 6, a relative developed a brain tumor. The cancer turned out to be benign, but the experience piqued the girl’s interest in cancer research.
- Panel Finds Faults in America's Math System
A presidential panel today said America's math education system is "broken" and called on schools to focus lessons to ensure children from preschool to middle school master key skills.
- Shift Happens - Think of how you would handle life if you were in college while you watch this.
"We are currently preparing students for jobs that don't yet exist using technologies that haven't yet been invented in order to solve problems we don't even know are problems yet."
University TechTransfer
- Global Venture Challenge • April 2-4, 2008
The ultimate goal is to encourage students to launch new technology-based businesses that can improve the well-being of the world. Specific areas of interest include Bioenergy, and Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energies.
Connectivity & Communications
- Vermont EPSCoR, Public TV Offer Series on State's Scientific Discoveries
Vermont is not the first state to use the media to increase citizen engagement in science and technology.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Where are we with WiMax in the U.S.?
A couple of key points to consider are that there is no way to deploy a nationwide network within the next 18 months without both Sprint and Clearwire somehow being partnered in this rumored JV.
- Video Road Hogs Stir Fear of Internet Traffic Jam
For months there has been a rising chorus of alarm about the surging growth in the amount of data flying across the Internet.
Incubators and R&D
- Nerve-tapping neckband allows 'telepathic' chat
"We can differentiate between when you want to talk silently, and when you want to talk out loud." That could be useful in certain situations, he says, for example when making a private call while out in public.
- The Smart Goggles that could make lost keys, mobile phones or iPod a thing of the past
In fact, the only thing it can't help you find are your glasses.
- Bill Gates: Expect 'rapid advance' in technology
"I don't see anything that will stop the rapid advance." Bill Gates
Regional Business
- 12 Universities Join $15M Border Security and Technology Initiative
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced the recipient universities to conduct security research through five new Centers of Excellence.
- Siebel's $9M gift will boost stem cell work at Cal and Stanford
The two schools, rivals on the sports field but partners in many academic efforts, will set up the Siebel Stem Cell Institute, a joint research program.
- Rocky Mountain Laboratories Updates Hamilton, Montana on Facility Plans
Facility plans for Rocky Mountain Laboratories are running along smoothly, according to detailed reports by RML officials.
Developing Funding Opportunities in Montana
- Medical device company, Pulse Health lands $2.15M in angel funds from Keiretsu Forum
The company is best known for a product that measures health markers through a simple breath test.
Montana Business
- Toasting Wisconsin's angel and VC imagination
This is the kind of creative thinking needed to create new companies and new jobs at a time when traditional manufacturing companies have been scaling back.
Montana Economic Development
- Bozeman-based Telecommunications Contracting Services, Inc. Accelerates in Record Time
We want to take care of the little guy just as much as the big guy.” That may be why Telecommunications Contracting Services, Inc. has that 0 to 60 thing going on.
- Billionaire Blixseth Misses $20 Million Payment to LeMond Group - the Yellowstone Club
Blixseth, has told the group he can't pay them until he closes the sale of the club.
- Golden Triangle Area Qualifies for Carbon Offset Credits
Once the credits are sold producers earn income based on the acres they have enrolled. Carbon has been selling at a rate of $4.50-$5.00/ton.
- Climate denial is persistent in Montana. The U.S. Chamber's Position on Global Climate Change
Republicans on the Environmental Quality Council, which was considering suggestions in a state global-warming report, were calling the very concept of global warming caused by carbon emissions into the atmosphere a “lie” that has been “politicized” by forces insisting that industrial pollution is to blame.
- W. R. Grace Agrees to Pay $250 Million in Montana Asbestos Suit. Jury awards $20 million to SF couple in asbestos case
Hundreds of residents in the town, which used to mine vermiculite, have been sickened and killed by asbestos-related diseases.
- Worked Over in Whitefish, MT
A controversial corporation brings foreign students to Whitefish and other cities, giving them menial jobs for lousy pay. Is this any way to see America?
- Montana Manufacturing Center - University Technical Assistance Program - Winter 2008 Newsletter
What we see happening in the Montana economy, especially in manufacturing, is exciting. Manufacturing output topped $8 billion last year up from $5 billion just a few years ago.
- Kids UP Inc. of Belgrade, Montana builds pediatric wheelchairs
"When a child sits in a traditional wheelchair, they're trapped,"
Regional Economic Development
- Expert cheers Helena's branding effort
Although he spent only a few hours in Billings before his breakfast speech, Baker said his initial impressions were one of surprise that there wasn't more feel of the Western cowboy culture.
- Bitterroot Resort Economic Impact Analysis
The economic analysis proceeds from the assumption that one of two resort scenarios will be developed in the area: (1) a smaller-scale resort on private land, or (2) a destination Resort that covers the private land as well as entitlements to recreational use on adjacent public land.
- Montana Department of Commerce Announces New Application Cycle for the Montana Main Street Program
"The Main Street Program helps preserve the heart and soul of a community,"
- Ag Development Council selects Growth Through Agriculture projects - Next Application Deadline is April 30, 2008
The goal of the GTA program is to provide grants and loans to develop new products or innovative ideas that enhance our state's agricultural industry.
- Turning On the Off-Season: Opportunities for Economic Progress in the Yellowstone-Teton Region
Help Spend $100,000 on Economic and Transportation Planning for Greater Yellowstone
Government Technology
- Losses Stall Affordable-Housing Projects
Affordable housing is the latest victim of the credit crunch that is reverberating through financial markets.
- The Other Energy Crisis. Bill Gates Addresses House Science and Technology Committee
Right now, the U.S. is failing that mission. The investment in R&D from the federal government is less than one day of revenues for Exxon, added John Doerr. The budget for renewables is only $1 billion.
- SBA Newsline Eight March 2008
Idaho Business
- Real ID program repugnant, indeed. Baucus, Tester ask Secretary to scrap REAL ID deadline
Thirty-two states have discussed resolutions refusing to comply. Idaho was one of the first states to reject Real ID and will likely join Montana in legislating that rejection. New Hampshire has called Real ID "repugnant."
Washington State Business
- Credit Suisse seeks foreclosure of Idaho's Tamarack Resort
The lawsuit was the latest financial blow to the central Idaho ski resort.
- Idaho-Israeli business summit set for Boise in April
A delegation of Israeli investors, businesses, and government officials will travel to Idaho the first week in April.
Careers
- Spokane based Next IT expects to double in size
Next IT derives about 90 percent of its revenue from its ActiveAgent Web-based software, which uses cartoonish virtual guides to interact with Web-site visitors and customers.
- Advantage IQ adds clients, employees in Spokane, WA
Spokane company hires 70 workers in 2007, doubles sales in three years
- Venture Capital: Washington State University spin-out, Recodagen Corp. gets an Accelerator cash infusion
Carl Weissman, president of Accelerator, declined to disclose the specific amount. But he said the money was within the $2 million to $5 million range that it typically invests in early-stage companies.
Energy
- EU Says "Geeky" Tech Jobs Need New Image
EU Commissioner Viviane Reding said stereotypes that IT careers are "boring and too technical" for women need to be overcome because few young women are taking engineering and technology degrees despite huge demand. The field will need 300,000 qualified workers by 2010 in Europe alone, according to EU estimates.
- Miners Top MBAs as Metal Boom Makes Geologists Scarce
Brittan Jones passed up a $100,000- a-year job at a mining company last December when he finished his degree in geology. The 24-year-old Canadian said he's confident he'll get a better offer.
Montana Education Excellence
- Biomass Ambassador Curriculum Available Through InterfaceSouth
Looking to teach your community about woody biomass' role in generating electricity? InterfaceSouth has developed a Biomass Ambassadors guide for educating your community and state on the potential of woody biomass as an energy feedstock.
- Cost of climate policies waiting to be addressed
When polled, the majority of Americans say climate change is occurring and that something needs to be done about it, said Dave Wheelihan, chief executive officer of the Montana Electric Cooperatives Association.
Leadership Montana
- Montana State University faces challenges to cut energy use
Jeff Davis and Bob Lashaway are working to find a way to meet the governor's challenge of reducing the university’s energy use by 20 percent in two years. Lashaway said the goal represents a significant challenge.
- University of Montana class lectures available online through iTunes U
It’s a new Web service launched by The University of Montana this semester that records class lectures and posts them on the Internet that same evening.
- Montana's rural women needed for chronic illness study
"We rural people are sometimes isolated from the real world. It was great to be part of something that not only helps yourself but others as well."
- 2007/2008 University of Montana School of Business Administration “STARS” Announced!!!
STARS stands for Students Taking an Active Role in Success and was designed to recognize the top ten students within SoBA each year.
- Montana high school students, teacher zero in on way to purify biofuel
They may have found an answer.
- University of Montana's Adams Center apologizes to Missoula AIDS Council
The Adams Center administration, after keeping quiet over a $75,000 donation effort for the Elton John AIDS Foundation, apologized to the Missoula AIDS Council last week for not being more open about its activities.
- Montana State University Billings steps into the future with dedication of new health sciences building
"The world is more connected and competitive than ever before," he said. "One of the things we need to understand is that the playing field is leveling."
- The Interagency Committee for Change by Women (ICCW) is accepting nominations for the 2008 Excellence in Leadership Award to recognize exemplary leaders in Montana.
Established by the ICCW in 1999, this statewide award honors three individuals for exemplary leadership and achievements or for outstanding efforts to assist women to excel in the workplace.
To subscribe or unsubscribe from the free weekly MATR newsletter, please visit our list info page
