Digital Commons Network^™

Msw Portfolio: Falling Into Place, Rebecca P. Whitesell

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

From Steps To Strides: My Evolving Journey Into Social Work, Lacresha N. Ffrench

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This paper reflects on my journey, shaped by my heritage as a first-generation Jamaican-American and my experiences in education. The narrative begins with the story of my parents, Desmond and Pauline Ffrench, who immigrated from Jamaica with the hope of providing me with greater opportunities. Their sacrifices and unwavering support have been instrumental in my success. My career in education began in 2019, where I transitioned through various roles, from an educational assistant to the restorative practices coordinator. These experiences, coupled with my deepening commitment to advocating for students, led me to pursue a master's in social work. Encouraged by …

July 2024 News Releases, University Of Montana--Missoula. Office Of University Relations

University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present

No abstract provided.

Cycles Of Change: Msw Portfolio, Paul T. Everett

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this portfolio is to share my experience with these cycles from the individuals I have worked with, to families, groups and my community, implementing Just Practice’s own core process cycle of cultivating social justice through an integrated approach to practice. Relying on examples from my coursework and practicum opportunities, I offer critical self-reflection of my own values and assumptions shaping my ethical and professional behavior, demonstrating my growth as an advanced integrated practitioner. Incorporated are the theoretical approaches I have utilized in bringing historical, cultural, and political perspectives towards understanding difference, oppression, and social-justice oriented action. I …

The Public Trust Doctrine And Wildlife Management In Montana: A Primer, Martin Nie

Public Land & Resources Law Review

No abstract provided.

Co-Stewardship In Practice: Yellowstone Bison, Patrick J. White

Public Land & Resources Law Review

No abstract provided.

Exemplary Brief For Petitioner, Eames Armstrong, E. C. Bell

Public Land & Resources Law Review

No abstract provided.

Exemplary Brief For Respondent, Skylee James, Lauren Bretz

Public Land & Resources Law Review

No abstract provided.

June 2024 News Releases, University Of Montana--Missoula. Office Of University Relations

University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present

No abstract provided.

Social Work - Acting In Love, Dawn Rain Lyga

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

The Literary Imagination In A Post-Natural World, Kat L. Jackson

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

Environmental Writing Workshops Community Engagement Project - Kat Jackson

The Environmental Craftsfolk: Making Things In A World Full Of Stuff, Zoey Ballard

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This Civic Engagement Project (CEP) proposes a transformative approach to addressing the complex challenges of environmental degradation and disconnection from nature through the establishment of the Eco-Craft Cabal in Missoula, Montana. The project seeks to reframe environmental consciousness through the lens of craft, fostering improved connections with the local environment and promoting community resilience. By repurposing both natural and artificial materials in inclusive, accessible crafting activities, the Eco-Craft Cabal aims to empower participants to confront feelings of despair and hopelessness with tangible, meaningful actions.

Corporate Environmental Responsibility: Navigating Policy, Impact, And Equity, Tyler Halligan

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This master's portfolio, "Corporate Environmental Responsibility: Navigating Policy, Impact, and Equity," explores the profound impact of corporations on environmental degradation. It comprises three key pieces:

The first piece, "Understanding Factors Shaping Corporate Environmental and Social Responsibility: Navigating a Path Towards Greater Accountability," examines seven critical areas influencing corporate conduct: legal frameworks, global trade, multilateral development banks, international investment laws and agreements, corporate lobbying, transparency and environmental accountability, and economic growth priorities. The analysis covers historical contexts and contemporary challenges, advocating for robust regulatory measures and ethical business practices.

The second piece, "Treatment as a State (TAS) under the Clean Air …

Autonomy, Compassion, And Connection: Msw Portfolio, Lucy Elizabeth Chadwick

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Contributors, Honorable Mentions, Sponsors

The Oval

No abstract provided.

(De)Composition: Earthen Storytelling For Collective Liberation, Priya Subberwal

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This interdisciplinary portfolio is an investigation into ecological communication through pedagogical design, online collaborative learning spaces, digital and print media, and creative writing. Braiding lenses of queer ecology, decolonial studies, anarchism, and collaborative and creative practice, this work hopes to explore the field of environmental communication through avenues that are reciprocal, community-driven, and oriented towards environmental justice and collective, intersectional liberation. Through the three distinct components of 1) the creation and facilitation of an online learning community, the Spiritual Ecology Study Club at Advaya, 2) the editing and production of two issues of Camas Magazine, an environmental literary magazine based …

May 2024 News Releases, University Of Montana--Missoula. Office Of University Relations

University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present

No abstract provided.

Montana Kaimin, April 25, 2024, Students Of The University Of Montana, Missoula

Montana Kaimin, 1898-present

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.

Contemporary Mythology: Poems Of Creatures And Grievances, Zane G. Segal

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Urban legends and modern folklore have never been popular subjects in the canon of serious poetry, despite their more ancient counterparts being frequently coveted content. In a post-science world, the uncanny hearsay of yesteryear has lost its star power, and the act of believing in such myths has been relegated to an embarrassing pastime of drunk uncles and gullible dimwits. However, Contemporary Mythology is a collection of poems which are not afraid to be embarrassed. By entertaining the lovable qualities of unlovable monsters, these poems seek the resonance which keep urban legends comfortably lodged in the backlogs of American culture. …

The Effect Of Livestock Grazing On Sharp-Tailed Grouse Nesting, Abigail I. League

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

This past summer, I worked for Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks on the first reintroduction effort of sharp-tailed grouse to western Montana following their extirpation from the region in the late 2000s. I was monitoring nest success, specifically in the Blackfoot Valley, and it was apparent that the nest survival rate was considerably low. Researchers do not know the exact reason sharp-tailed grouse were originally extirpated from the region. However, it has been hypothesized that the use of proper livestock grazing practices could be an important factor in increasing the probability of successfully establishing a population. For this project, I …

A Comparison Of Mammal Detection Methods: Hair Snares Vs Wildlife Cameras, Rayne G. Mccollough

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

This study presents findings from a multi-year mammal inventory project conducted by the Bosque School Field and Community Science Programs and partners. The research compares the efficacy of wire brush hair snares and camera traps as mammal detection methods within a 9-hectare property recently acquired by the City of Albuquerque Open Space Division, known as the Bosque. This study was prompted by the request of Albuquerque Open Space biologists and planners to conduct a comprehensive wildlife inventory of the Property and its adjacent public open space. Through rigorous methodology and data analysis, this research sheds light on the comparative effectiveness …

Earlier Snowmelt Adversely Affects Alpine Plant Reproduction, August Lawson, Megan Demarche, Meredith Zettlemoyer

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Alpine ecosystems, a high-elevation habitat found above treeline, are experiencing rapid rates of climate change. Climate change results in warmer, drier conditions and increasingly early snowmelt. However, we have a limited understanding of how climate change affects alpine plant population dynamics, including flower, fruit, and seed production. Recent evidence suggests that seed production declines as snow melt occurs earlier. In summer 2023, we monitored populations of three alpine plants, Minuartia obtusiloba, Phlox condensata, and Silene acaulis. These three species are long-lived, low-growing cushion plants commonly found in alpine habitats across the globe. We quantified fruit production of these …

Understanding The Role Of Maternal-Fetal Tissue Communication In The Evolution Of Genomic Imprinting And Disruption Of Placental Development, Ashlin K. Slanger

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Understanding the role of maternal-fetal tissue communication in the evolution of genomic imprinting and disruption of placental development

Ashlin Slanger¹, John Statz¹, Fernando Rodriguez¹, Jeff Good¹

¹Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana

The placenta is a fast-evolving organ in mammals and has been hypothesized to be a hotspot for the evolution of genomic imprinting. Imprinted expression is a form of gene regulation by which some genes show parent-of-origin dependent allelic expression bias and is critical for successful mammalian development. Studies of placental gene expression in hybridizations between mouse species have shown disruption of placental expression in several genes including …

Evolution Of Thermal Performance In A Geographically Widespread Marine Cyanobacterium, Nathan Ryan Miller

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Temperature is one of the most important factors that affect the growth and activity of organisms. Temperatures of coastal marine environments, in particular, vary greatly based on latitude and the local environment (i.e., bays, estuaries, water depth). The Chlorophyll d-producing cyanobacterium, Acaryochloris marina, is widely distributed in shallow, intertidal marine environments enriched in far-red light, but our understanding of its temperature preferences is limited. In this study, we investigated how different temperatures affect the growth of nine A. marina laboratory strains that were isolated from locations that experience distinct differences in mean sea surface temperature. We hypothesized that the …

Drought-Defying Blooms: Mt. Jumbo Wildflowers Accelerate Flowering In Response To Climate Change, Delia Schmidt, Peter Lesica, Meredith Zettlemoyer

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

As our planet undergoes unprecedented climatic shifts, we are beginning to see profound impacts on ecological processes. For example, in western Montana, we expect warming temperatures, altered precipitation, and increasing drought. Both warmer and drier conditions can affect phenology, or the timing of biological events (e.g., flowering). Indeed, earlier flowering is a well-documented consequence of warming temperatures. However, evidence for phenological shifts in response to changing precipitation remains scarce. Using a 29-year dataset on flowering time in a wildflower community on Mt. Jumbo, Missoula, MT, we examined the impacts of warming temperatures and drought conditions on flowering time in species …

The Effects Of Temperature On Bromus Tectorum (Cheatgrass) Seed Germination, Patrick White, Abby Mcmurtry, Akasha Faist

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Bromus tectorum (Cheatgrass) is an invasive winter annual grass from Eurasia that heavily impacts the intermountain west of North America. B. tectorum invades and changes the fire cycle by making it more intense and frequent by adding continuous fuels to the landscape. This study explores how heat from seasonal fire paired with extreme cold temperatures impacts B. tectorum germination. The hypothesis is that extreme cold temperatures and temperatures simulating grassland fires will impact B. tectorum seeds by decreasing the germination rate and ultimately affecting abundance. When seeds experience cold and heat treatments independently, a lower germination rate is expected relative …

Deeply Rooted: The Role Of Indigenized Research Approaches In Camas Restoration Ecology, Tessa Grace Jarden

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Despite being one of the most culturally significant and historically abundant native plants of the Pacific Northwest, common camas (Camassia quamash (Pursh) Greene) has undergone a precipitous decline across its range. This decline, driven primarily by agricultural land-use conversion and wetland drainage, has disproportionately impacted Indigenous peoples for whom camas is a cultural keystone species. For thousands of years prior to colonization, tribes across the Pacific Northwest relied on camas bulbs as a first food and managed camas prairies using Traditional Resource Management (TRM) practices. Camas restoration has emerged as a widespread management priority in recent years, particularly among …

Effects Of Temperature On The Pison Neural Monitor, Andrew C. Engellant, Alejandro H. Rosales, Jessica L. Moler, Alice L. Held, P. James Straw

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

INTRODUCTION: The Pison Neural Monitor is a wrist worn biosensor that detects neuromuscular signals in the forearm. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of temperature on the accuracy and false positive rate (FPR) on the neural monitor. METHODS: Participants (n=6, 28.3±8.9 years, 179.3±9.6 cm, 80.7±15.5 kg, 17.0±2.0 cm wrist circumference) were assigned to either hot (2 males, 1 female) or cold (2 males, 1 female) and completed 6 trials at each temperature in a randomized and counterbalanced repeated measures design. Participants rested in a seated position at three different temperatures in either the heat (35°C, …

Creation Of A Database And Website For Genome Sequencing Data, Jacqueline Wisdom Olexa

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

As the field of computational genomics continues to expand in both potential and application, it is imperative now than ever to ensure that massive genetic sequencing datasets are properly stored in an accessible manner. This project sought to establish a practical, user-friendly, secure full-stack system for a genomics research lab (the Good Lab; thegoodlab.org) at the University of Montana. A MySQL database and connected web application was ruled the best configuration to maximize utility and accessibility for the lab’s researchers. Building the logical framework for the database, creating the server, and sourcing data occurred over several months. The data ranged …

Once A Loser, Always A Loser: Effects Of Social Defeat In Fruit Flies, Erin Szalda-Petree, Deanna Cuello, Wyatt Ploot

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Animals often behave in ways that align with the underlying social structure of their species. Existing lower in the social hierarchy can have negative consequences for health and well-being, including changes in appetite and depression-like symptoms (Becker et al., 2008). In Drosophila melanogaster, the male social hierarchy is determined by aggressive encounters in which one fly becomes a dominant winner and one becomes a submissive loser. Interestingly, flies that have previously lost a fight are more likely to lose the next one (Yurkovic et al., 2006). This adoption of a “loser” phenotype in turn affects other behaviors such as courtship …