Montana State to present research at Red Lodge community event Oct. 6

BOZEMAN - Montanans will have an opportunity to learn about Montana State University's extensive research projects at a community event in Red Lodge.

"Bringing Research Home to Red Lodge" will be held at the Roosevelt Center, 519 S. Broadway Ave., on Tuesday, Oct. 6. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for the 6 p.m. event, which is hosted by MSU's Office of Research and Economic Development. Refreshments will be available.

Close to a dozen posters featuring student-driven research will be on display at the event. There will also be three verbal presentations focused on impactful MSU research. The topics of focus are water conservation, artificial intelligence and science communication through art.

The planned speakers are Eric Sproles, MSU associate professor in the Department of Earth Sciences and director of the Geospatial Core Facility; Jack Schnepf, a recent graduate of MSU's studio arts program and Director of MSU's Center for the Communication of Science; and Adam Sigler, assistant professor in the Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences and MSU Extension water quality specialist.

In line with the university's land-grant mission, the goal of the event series is to share MSU research with communities across the state, said Mike Veselik, MSU's assistant vice president for economic development and federal relations.

"This is an inaugural event to bring research happening on campus and in our research facilities around the state to communities throughout Montana," Veselik said. "We look forward to engaging with cities, towns and communities around the state to have conversations about MSU research and how we are impacting the lives of Montanans."

MSU strives to connect with Montanans and communicate the ways its research and outreach help people every day, regardless of if they've ever set foot on the MSU campus, Veselik said.

From holding listening sessions to develop a new strategic plan for MSU in towns across the state, to the annual bus tour that highlights how the university supports economic development in small communities, the series is yet another way for university researchers to connect with the people their work aims to serve, he added.

Additional details will be made available as the event approaches at www.montana.edu/calendar/events/58814.