News Archive
CFC grad student appointed Wyss Scholar
Congratulations to grad student Haley Wiggins, who just won a Wyss Scholarship to support her graduate research and a summer internship/research project. This prestigious award supports future conservation leaders like Haley.
Study abroad in Zambia this summer
Learn about conservation and community development in Zambia this summer and earn 6 credits. Five $2,000 fellowships available for UM students. Information session Thurs., March 5 at 12:10 p.m. in UC 223.
Are treeline habitats a refuge from mountain pine beetle for whitebark pine?
PhD student Colin Maher was awarded a competitive grant from the Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation for his research on the whitebark pine survival along the treeline edge.
CFC students win prize for business idea to turn wood waste into fuel
Congratulations to forestry students Stephen Jenkins and Jena Trejo for winning second place in the Barrett Foundation Business Concept Challenge, sponsored by the National Forest Foundation, for their business plan to convert logging slash to methanol and liquid C02.
UM helps NASA map soil moisture from space
The NASA Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission was successfully launched from Vandenburg Air Force Base on January 31. UM scientists Steve Running and John Kimball helped make it happen.
Wakimoto wins presidential faculty award from UM
Congratulations to Professor Ron Wakimoto - he's being honored with the George M. Dennison Presidential Faculty Award from UM during Charter Days on Feb. 12.
Professor's contributions lead to new planning rule
Professor Martin Nie served on the federal advisory committee that helped develop the U.S. Forest Service's new planning directives. He was the only faculty member on the 20-member Federal Advisory Committee.
Wilderness Lecture Series
Join the Wilderness Institute's spring series on Wild Lab: Weaving stories through wilderness research. Lectures free and open to everyone; available for one credit for UM students.
Apply now
Scholarships available for both undergrads and grads in all five of our majors. Applications due Feb. 17.
Study Abroad
Study conservation, sustainable tourism and more in Zambia or India this summer in one of our study abroad programs. UM students are eligible for an International Sustainability Fellowship to support these trips.
Wolf control measures in Alberta will not save caribou
Wildlife biology professor Mark Hebblewhite's recent paper on how the Alberta government's wolf control efforts are doing little to protect dwindling caribou populations compared to habitat loss from oil and gas development is featured in this Nature news story.
SNOTEL data artificially inflates temps in higher elevations
Montana Climate Office researcher Jared Oyler found that while the western U.S. has warmed, recently observed warming in the mountains of the western U.S. is likely not as large as previously supposed.
Students win awards for AGU presentations
Graduate students Anna Bergstrom and Zachary Hoylman received awards for their presentations at the American Geophysical Union meeting in December.
UM students studying climate change in Vietnam
Thirteen UM students and instructor Nicky Phear spent three weeks in Vietnam, learning about its history, geography, culture and how the country is meeting the challenges of a changing climate. Read more on their blog.
Recent numbers from our tourism research institute show impact of visitors to Montana
Recent data from the Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research shows that out-of-state visitors spent nearly $4 billion in Montana in 2014.
CFC grad students at AGU fall meeting
CFC grad students Anna Bergstrom and Zach Hoylman are at the AGU fall meeting this week with advisor Kelsey Jencso; both presented on hydrology research conducted at Lubrecht.
Students help build a house in three days with Montana wood
In October, forestry students and professor Beth Dodson helped Montana Society of American Foresters and Habitat for Humanity build a house for a local family in three days using wood from Montana forests.
PTRM alum found his passion for the outdoors at UM
PTRM graduate Jeff Ozimek has his dream job, directing an outdoor recreation program on Bainbridge Island. He got there by following his passion and with his PTRM degree from UM.
Professor Lisa Eby on PBS NewsHour
Professor of aquatic vertebrate ecology Lisa Eby was interviewed in this PBS NewsHour story about illegal fish dumping in Montana. The practice of adding non-native fish to Montana's waterways threatens native fish populations.
Climate Change Studies Internships
Climate change studies students have great internships opportunities this coming spring semester at City of Missoula, Home Resource and other local sustainability organizations. A climate change studies minor can be added to any UM degree!
Professor Nelson helps Kuwait restore arid lands
Professor of restoration ecology Cara Nelson just returned from Kuwait where she worked with scientists at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research to develop effective strategies for restoring arid land ecosystems.
Hands-on Learning
Our students learn by actively doing. One student said this after a weekend at our Lubrecht Forest for Forestry Field Skills class: "I honestly had one of the best weekends since I've been in Montana. There was so much to learn and it was all so interesting. It was really cool to be outside and see how exactly managing the forest directly impacts it."
Research on state's elk management plan
Research by Libby Metcalf and Alex Metcalf on actions local residents would support to manage elk and prevent the spread of brucellosis is part of the state's elk work plan and was used in decisions made recently by the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission.
Solving the Bitterroot elk mystery
UM's wildlife biology professor Mark Hebblewhite helps solve the mystery of declining numbers of elk in the West Fork of the Bitterroot. Mark and his graduate students worked with MT FWP over the past three years to collar elk, study vegetation in the area and document calf mortality to figure out what's killing the elk. Download the article (pdf)
UM's ecology scientists top the nation
UM's ecologists are the most influential and productive of any from universities in the U.S. and Canada, according to new research compiled by restoration ecology professor Cara Nelson, research assistant Megan Kelville, and UM ecology professor Ric Hauer.
Forestry students selected as finalists in business challenge
Stephen Jenkins and Jena Trejo are finalists in the Barrett Foundation Business Challenge for their propsoal to convert forest slash into methanol!
Forestry alums win awards at national SAF convention
Forestry alums Scott Kuehn ('81) and Amy Helena ('04) won awards at the 2014 Society of American Foresters national convention. MSU Extension Forester Peter Kolb, based here in Missoula, also won an SAF award.
UM's forestry school makes list of 100 Missoula icons
We made it into the Missoulian newspaper's list of 100 Missoula icons! We're proud of our traditions and excited for the future.
PTRM student spends summer as wilderness ranger
PTRM student Joe Zimmerman spent the summer working as a wilderness ranger in the 80,000-acre proposed Scotchman Peaks wilderness, building a trail and serving as an ambassador for the roadless area on the Montana-Idaho border.
Montana Forest Products Week
Join us in celebrating Montana Forest Products Week. Forestry alum Buck Fullerton from Boise Cascade will be here Friday, Oct. 17 to speak about his role managing NE Oregon timberlands for the company. His talk begins at 4:10 p.m. in ISB 110.
Impact of Global Change on Forests Worldwide
Professor Andrew Larson is co-author on a new paper showing changes to the world's forests from drought, permafrost loss, nitrogen pollution and other changes. Larson is part of the Smithsonian-led Center for Tropical Forest Science-Forest Global Earth Observatory, which released the report this month.
Student clubs in action
PTRM students recently attended a professional conference in Butte and wildilfe biology students built non-invasive hair tubes to help MT FWP look for northern bog lemmings. Find out what student clubs are up to here at the CFC.
Celebrating alumni and new murals
On Friday, Sept. 26 we unveiled progress on three new murals for the Forestry bldg. and celebrated distinguished alumni Jim Durglo, Russ Graham, Peter Leech and Zane Smith
The economic impact of bicycle touring in Montana
A recent study coauthored by the college's Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research highlights the important economic impact of bicycle tourists visiting Montana.
50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act
It's the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act this fall. Learn about local celebrations and read more about the act's future in two articles featuring thoughts from professor Martin Nie.
International Sustainability Fellows
Students: join a cohort of new international conservation leaders. Learn more about our new International Sustainability Fellows program.
CFC student clubs
The CFC has student clubs for every interest and major. Learn more about when and where each club meets and find one that fits you.
Wildlife biology student studies Glacier National Park's goats
Wesley Sarmento is helping the park understand how humans impact the park's iconic mountain goats. Read more in Montana Magazine. Check out the Wildlife Biology Program.
Professor Nie appointed to federal advisory committee
Professor Martin Nie was appointed to the Planning Rule Federal Advisory Committee by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in Aug. 2014. The committee provides guidance and recommendations on management of America's national forests on Planning Rule implementation of the 2012 Planning Rule. The Planning Rule continues to guide stewards of national forests and grasslands in developing, revising or amending land management plans. Nie joins 20 other members as the sole representative of the scientific community.
International land managers visit Montana
The 15th annual CFC-led training of international land and natural resource managers visited a fire lookout in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness.
Fire season 2014
Wildfires are burning in Montana and across the West. Learn more about our research and education on this issue.
How do recreationists feel about the Blackfoot River?
The Blackfoot River attracts a variety of recreation users. How satisfied are they with their experience on the water?
Montana Conservationist Bud Moore
We're celebrating the legacy of Montana conservationist Bud Moore and the opening of his papers at UM's Mansfield Library.
Professor Steve Running listed among "world's most influential scientific minds"
UM Regents professor of ecology Steve Running is recognized by Thomson Reuters as one of the "world's most influential scientific minds."
CFC part of largest research award in UM history
CFC faculty members Winsor Lowe, Libby Metcalf and Cara Nelson are part of a recent $45 million award from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Professor honored with lifetime achievement award
Fire science professor Ron Wakimoto received the Biswell Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Fire Ecology this spring.
