Springboard into science at Hamilton Middle School by bringing the outside world to the students. Science Radio Program Entertains, Educates Young Montanans

“These kids are our future,” Leavell said. “They are our scientists and our inventors. I am trying to bring in adults who will inspire them.”

In order to stimulate her students’ minds, a Hamilton Middle School teacher brings a little of the outside world into school.

Each month, Hamilton SPECTRA coordinator Jane Leavell pulls in a guest instructor or speaker to meet with her gifted and talented students.

Patrick Boylan, a development associate with GlaxoSmithKline, performed science experiments for nine sixth-graders Wednesday.
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The emphasis of the program is on math and science, Leavell said. “These guys need to know that (those) careers can be fun,” she said of her 80 students in the fifth through eighth grades.

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Do you have an expertise in math or science that you could discuss with the students? Jane Leavell would like to talk with you.

Phone: (406) 363-2121

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by PERRY PEARSON – Ravalli Republic

Full Story: http://www.ravallirepublic.com/articles/2006/02/09/news/news01.txt

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Related Story: Rob and Terry Ryan’s STARS initiative ( Science and Technology At ouR Schools) Gifts Computers to Math Lab at Hamilton High School. http://www.matr.net/article-17912.html

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Creativity class

By ALANA LISTOE – IR Staff Writer

Michael Kershner explained how to use his book holder to Cole Hunter, during the Hawthorne Elementary School’s annual ‘Invention Convention’. Kershner spent four days building his invention, which by the way was for sale for only $21.96.

The third-grade student body at Hawthorne Elementary showed off its scientific creativity during the invention convention Wednesday morning.

Sidney Burgess, one of the third-grade teachers, said the event is the result of the students studying simple machines for the past few weeks in science class.

Sonia Bosch said she has already tested her invention, the “automatic cat toy,” successfully entertainining her own furry friends, Shadow and Jack.

The device uses a pulley system that not only attracts felines to its swaying, but once the toy on a string is caught and tugged, a box opens up and reveals a plethora of cat toy options.

Noah Strizich used his love for the Montana State University Bobcats in his creation.

Full Story: http://helenair.com/articles/2006/02/09/helena_top/a01020906_01.txt

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Science Radio Program Entertains, Educates Young Montanans

The interactive radio program "Science is Cool" promotes scientific exploration using experiments that children can perform easily at home while adults are available for assistance and discussion.

The segment airs every other Saturday morning during the two-hour "Children’s Corner" program on KUFM public radio, which is based at The University of Montana. "Science is Cool" is hosted by UM Assistant Research Professor Katie George — "Dr. Katie" to her listeners — who invites listeners to perform experiments at home along with her "lab assistants" in the studio.

To reach wider audiences across the state, a four-compact disc set of the first "Science is Cool" broadcasts will be distributed to all Montana public libraries and elementary schools in February. The CDs can be used for entertainment at home or for instruction in the classroom.

A second set of "Science is Cool" CDs will be distributed in February 2007.

The public radio program is made possible by the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) grant awarded to UM jointly by the National Science Foundation and the state of Montana. The goal of NSF EPSCoR is to promote scientific progress nationwide.

UM’s EPSCoR program chose to fund "Science is Cool" as an outreach effort because the radio segment may inspire young people to become excited about scientific discovery and possibly choose careers in science research.

More information about "Science is Cool" and Montana NSF EPSCoR is available online at http://www.mtnsfepscor.org.

Contact: Justin Lee, UM NSF EPSCoR media and information coordinator, (406) 243-4848; Gay Allison, UM NSF EPSCoR associate director, (406) 243-2617. Call Lee for photographs, sound bites or to set up interviews.

http://news.umt.edu/index.asp?sec=1&too=100&eve=8&dat=2/7/2006&npa=1062

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Research, internships put student on career path

Tracy Ellig, MSU News Service

Hubble Werre is the first Montana State University student to win a scholarship from the national engineering honor society, Tau Beta Pi. MSU photo by Jay Thane.
Bozeman – It’s not often a student is so bright that he has a scholarship taken from him, but it happened to Hubble Werre.

After amassing enough credits to qualify as a senior after just his second academic year, Werre won a national scholarship only to have it taken away the next day. The scholarship required applicants to be in their final year of schooling, regardless of how many credits a student had earned.

"Since then, the criteria for the scholarship is much more clear on the subject," said Werre, 22, and now in his senior year of chemical engineering at MSU.

Full Story: http://www.montana.edu/cpa/news/nwview.php?article=3350