UM Named a Top-50 College for Advancing Women in STEM Careers

UM Named a Top-50 College for Advancing Women in STEM Careers

Sep. 26, 2013

MISSOULA – The Online College Database recently ranked the University of Montana 43rd on its “50 Colleges Advancing Women in STEM” list. UM offers 66 science, technology and math programs, and the 450 women enrolled in them make up 56 percent of STEM students.

The list identifies public, fully accredited higher education institutions that graduate a high number of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields and successfully encourage female students’ participation in a variety of STEM programs. UM is the only Montana university on the list.

“This listing in the top 50 colleges nationwide is a testament to the high quality of our science, mathematics and technology programs at UM, and it is extra special since we do not have undergraduate engineering programs, which are a major factor for many of the other universities on the list,” said UM Provost Perry Brown. “We are proud of the many female students who have chosen to pursue degrees in the STEM fields, and to do it in the challenging programs we have at UM.”

View the full list online at http://www.onlinecollegesdatabase.org/50-colleges-advancing-women-in-stem/. The Online College Database uses demographic information from the Integrated Post-Secondary Education Data System when compiling its rankings. Data includes college majors, enrollment status, financial aid awarded, race, ethnicity, gender and more.

For more information call Brown at 406-243-4689 or email perry.brown@mso.umt.edu.

UM Boasts Efforts in Cybersecurity and Big Data

Several new Information Technology related initiatives were announced during the recent Montana Economic Summit. The Summit, organized by Montana Senator Max Baucus featured an impressive line-up of speaker CEO/COO/CIOs from the technical industry including: Google, Facebook, Tesla, Conoco-Phillips, Boeing, Oracle, Ford, and HP. These industry leaders spoke on topics covering economic growth, job creation, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

In a related development, the University of Montana announced a new facility that will allow students to learn about cybersecurity and use “big data” to solve real-world problems. The Cyber Innovation Laboratory is a collaboration with state technology companies. The lab is an outgrowth of UM’s programs, research and technology, and it will be funded initially through donations from private tech companies. “The Cyber Innovation Laboratory at UM will be a place where students are given real-world experience and learn the technical skills that employees require in this dynamic and growing industry,” stated UM president Royce Engstrom. Cybersecurity is a proposed new plan of study offered at Missoula College.

Missoula Economic Partnership (MEP) President James Grunke’s focus at the summit was spreading the word and making connections to help boost the organization’s Big Data Alliance, focused on creating educational and business opportunities in the big data and cybersecurity industries in Missoula.


Complete details are available from the Missoula and Summit Websites: Gruenke | Cyber Innovation Lab | Montana Economic Summit

Energy Technology grad, Brandon Heuscher quoted at the 2013 Clean Energy Fair in Butte.

Jay Moore and Mark Hansen cited in a recent install

Energy Technology students Jay Moore and Mark Hansen were both mentioned in a Billings Outpost article for their role in a recent photovoltaic installation.

New online course as part of professional certificate in Cybersecurity

The ACE Department is pleased to offer a new course on Securing Desktop & Mobile Devices as part of our new Network and Information Security (NIS) Professional Certificate.  ITS 291.50 (CRN 75630) will be offered online this fall as the first of four courses required for the credential. 

PV under the Big Sky

Energy Technology Alum, Mark Hansen '13 and current student, "Jay" Moore recently had the opportunity to assist Orion Thornton on several PV installations. Here's a shot Jay took of Mark sporting his Griz cap as he aligns a panel near Georgetown Lake.

2013 Wind Farm Visit

During the 2013 Energy Technology Practicum, we had the opportunity to suit up and spend a day with Energy Technology alumnus, Robert Potts '12.

It was a great day for making wind energy, and we all gained new-found respect for these modern-day Don Quixotes! Thanks to Professor Bowe for the great photo!

Energy Technology Practicum Videos Now Available

The 2013 Energy Technology Summer Practicum was another resounding success this year. Students completed three projects which included building a mobile wind turbine, a solar forge, and an e-waste recovery strategy.

Jesse, Tim and Kadin pose with their 1 kW mobile wind turbine. Major innovations include the ability to erect the tower by hand, charge their battery bank, and produce 110 V AC with an integrated charger/inverter.

Grant poses with the solar forge. Major innovations included the ability to adjust the intensity of the solar energy, and to make metallic casts.

Nick shows the before and after of a few CPUs. Major achievements included the recovery of over $1000 worth of precious metals and the diversion of all computer parts from the landfill stream.

Msla College Professor Presents on Health IT

Applied Computing & Electronics Professor, Tom Gallagher, delivered the presentation Building an Education Program to Develop Qualified IT Professionals for the Clinical Health Environment to students and faculty at the School of Engineering and Advanced Technology (SEAT) at Massey University in New Zealand. The seminar provided a brief overview of Health IT developments taking place in the United States and the successes and challenges at UM in developing a new program of study for educating individuals for careers in Health IT. The presentation was delivered from the Palmerston North campus and simulcast to the Auckland and Wellington campuses. Professor Gallagher has been working from Massey's Palmerston North campus throughout Spring Term.

Missoula College Professor Bradley Layton Discusses Energy Technology on Talk Back

Layton gives interview on KGVO's Talk Back. 

Energy Technology Program Director, Bradley Layton was recently interviewed by Bob Seidenschwarz of the Montana World Affairs Council, Jon King and Peter Christian on Talk Back. During the interview, Layton had the opportunity to discuss peak oil, energy returned on energy invested, and some of the issues surrounding energy security. He also had the opportunity to tout many of the unique features of Missoula College's unique Energy Technology Program.

Missoula College Kiwi Reunion

Missoula College IT program graduate Tim Friendson (2010) and IT program director Tom Gallagher were recently reunited in Wellington New Zealand. Tim is an international exchange student at Massey University’s Wellington Campus, while Tom is stationed at Massey’s Palmerston North campus. Tim is completing media arts courses while on exchange. He will be graduating from UM in May 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in Media Arts.

Tom was in Wellington working with Massey faculty as a consultant in the use of simulation software for New Zealand extramural (online) students.

FY14 Common Course Numbering Changes

As the Montana University System (MUS) common course numbering (CCN) project continues, please note that several rubrics and course numbers have been changed in the Applied Computing & Electronics Department. These changes will impact Energy Technology, Information Technology, and Computer-Aided Design students. The CCN project is a Board of Regents mandate to establish a system of equivalency for course offered at institutions of higher education across the state of Montana. See the FY2014 updates for complete details.

Human Powered Vehicle Team arrives in San Jose

Team members Nathan Ferro (captain), Clay Cooper, Paul Sinclair, Nathan Lucas, Kristen Hoon, Michele Powers and Andres Orozco pose for a quick photo before heading to the safety inspection at the 2013 American Society of Mechanical Engineering Human Powered Vehicle Challenge.

Energy Technology Seminar Series off to a good start

Dear Fellow Sustainable Energy Technology Enthusiasts,

This year's seminar series is off to a great start. Thus far, we've hosted The University's own Sustainability Coordinator, Cherie Peacock, as well as Ryan Pitcher, Director of Idaho State's Energy Systems Technology Education Center. This week features Tom Bishop, President of Sunelco, and a veteran of sustainable Energy Technology.

The remainder of the schedule is as follows:

6-Mar	Cherie Peacock	LEED Certification, Climate Action Plan, Carbon Neutrality
13-Mar	Ryan Pitcher	College of Technology at Idaho State University
20-Mar	Tom Bishop	A View of Sustainble Energy from the Bitterroot Valley
27-Mar	Christopher Preston	Geoengineering
3-Apr	Steve Corrick	Algae and Biomass Applications in Montana
10-Apr	Marc Olsen	Strategies for Passing the NABCEP Certificate of Knowledge Exam
17-Apr	Laurie Pratti	A Perspective on Local Jobs in Energy Technology for Missoula
24-Apr	Edi Stan	An Overview of The University of Montana's Recycling Initiatives
1-May	Martin Knight	Local Employment Opportunities in the Energy Technology Sector

All talks are held from 12:10 to 1pm in HB06 on East Campus.

The University of Montana’s Energy Technology Program 2013 Spring Seminar series proudly presents:

“A View of Sustainable Energy from the Bitterroot Valley”

Tom Bishop’s perspective on where we’ve come from and where we’re headed as an industry

Wednesday, March 20^th 12:10pm – 1:00pm

HB06 East Campus

909 South Avenue West, Missoula, MT 59801

Sustainability fund underutilized by students - Montana Kaimin: News: sustainability, student fees, university of montana, krelf fund, asum sustainability center

Sustainability fund underutilized by students - Montana Kaimin: News: sustainability, student fees, university of montana, krelf fund, asum sustainability center

Energy Literacy

Follow EERE on Facebook Follow Energy Savers on Facebook

DOE Announces Webinar on the Energy Literacy Initiative January 28, 2013 The Department of Energy will present a live webcast, titled "An Energy Literate Citizenry from K-to-Gray," on Wednesday, February 6, from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The Energy Literacy: Essential Principles and Fundamental Concepts for Energy Education document provides a framework of seven essential principles every citizen should know to be energy literate. This webinar will detail the Energy Literacy Framework, its conception through multiple partners, current activities (including its translation into Spanish), and highlight other available energy education resources. Register to attend the webinar. Full story

New tool for evaluating community solar projects

After returning from the Harvesting Clean Energy conference in Corvallis, WA, it looks like it might be time to organize a large-scale PV project in Missoula:

 
 

Thank you for registering for the Community Solar Tool webinar. This email provides links to the new url for the tool, to a 3-question survey for viewers of the webinar and to a recording of the webinar.
 

• Updated link to the CST on the Bonneville Environmental Foundation site: <http://communitysolartool.b-e-f.org/>
• Webinar recording: < http://goo.gl/BeAAQ>
• Brief post-webinar survey: <http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3R3BCDY>

Please contact Sarah Mazze at sarah@trig-cli.org or 541 654 4052 with any questions about the Community Solar Tool or the webinar.

Best,
Sarah

--
Sarah Mazze
Community Energy Program Manager
The Resource Innovation Group (TRIG)
sarah@trig-cli.org
Phone: (541) 654-4052
http://www.theresourceinnovationgroup.org