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The mission of the Wilderness Institute is to further the understanding of wilderness and its stewardship through education, research, and service.

College of Forestry and Conservation

Community Engagement and Service

Wilderness Issues Lecture Series
The lecture series serves as a forum for the exploration of current wilderness issues. Each year, the series brings scholars and leaders from across the country to the University of Montana to focus on a particular theme. Recent series include Native Peoples and Conservation and The Future of Wilderness in America.

patterson
Banded Peak by Neil Patterson
courtesy of The Dana Gallery
Matthew Hansen Endowment
The Matthew Hansen Endowment provides funding for historical research, creative writing, and wilderness studies projects that explore Montana's land and people. The Endowment was established in 1984 as a memorial to Matthew and his ideals.

Citizen Science
The Wilderness Institute’s citizen science program builds on a growing movement that engages citizen volunteers in monitoring the ecological and social aspects of our wildlands. Citizen volunteers help monitor conditions and trends, detect early indicators of change, and provide information to managers. Citizen science in wilderness provides an opportunity to broaden civic engagement in wilderness stewardship and develop the public’s capacity to understand and respond to ecological changes.

Student Service Learning
Throughout the year, our students engage with a wide range of conservation advocates, land managers, tribal leaders, and innovative landowners. Internships and community service projects provide an opportunity for students to work directly with community organization or land management agencies on specific projects.