There is a large cultural disconnect between humans and natural areas, and the utilization of natural resources is rarely reciprocal. In addition, opportunistic (commonly called invasive) plants can outcompete native species if they are not managed, though this management typically involves heavy chemical use. There is also a deficit in resources surrounding other management strategies such as foraging for non-native species. To address these issues, our group has explored the potential uses of opportunistic plants. Initially introduced to novel areas both intentionally and unintentionally, these plants can serve as food, medicine, and art materials. We aim to reduce chemical use while maintaining opportunist management and fostering human-land connections by foraging opportunistic plants. We will create a pamphlet detailing opportunistic plants, their uses, and guidelines for harvesting them. To promote this knowledge, we will host tabling events sharing products made from opportunists, teaching the public about ways to use these plants. Our project aims to create a framework for students who are interested in foraging and advanced foragers that expands knowledge on these species, enabling global communities to apply these principles in their practices. Through this project, we seek to provide resources for foraging opportunists, make foraging more accessible, and inspire greater human-land connectedness. Success will be evaluated by gauging interest from students and active native plant foragers.

Over the last several decades, climate change has had a drastic impact on the planet on a biological, political, and socioeconomic level. The excessive consumption of natural resources and human-induced pollution, along with other environmental challenges, have contributed to global climate change including rising temperatures, intensified weather patterns, and an increase in natural disasters (Nations, 2019). This has led to high levels of eco-anxiety and grief in younger generations, driven by psychological factors, misinformation, and governmental resistance to meaningful change which has influenced inaction in individuals (Hickman et al, 2021). In order to address these growing concerns, we have created a rewards program for our campus community to encourage eco-positive behavior. Missoula EcoPaws is based on successful European programs such as those in Copenhagen, Denmark and Edinburgh, Scotland. In practicing sustainable behaviors, users have the opportunity to increase their awareness of the importance of these actions and the needs of the planet. Moreover, the app’s incentives for rewards help spread this conscientiousness to those who wouldn’t otherwise take the effort to be sustainable. The goal of Missoula EcoPaws is to promote community involvement, education and everyday environmentalism. Some choices we hope to incentivize are attending events on climate change, using alternative transportation methods, and recycling. Rewards for these actions come from local businesses to encourage community involvement. This is an environmentally focused solution with local economic benefits. Missoula EcoPaws hopes to raise awareness of climate change and inspire environmental action in both our local and global communities.

Textile waste, including that produced by the outdoor industry, is a huge environmental and social problem. An incomprehensible number of items are discarded each year, many of which end up contributing to pollution across the globe. Some of this equipment is costly, both in terms of the externalities of production and disposal and the price tag consumers see, the latter of which poses an issue of accessibility to many people. We have worked to address these challenges by facilitating an opportunity as well as a space in which people can repair and repurpose worn gear and textiles so as to give them new life. This project has been intended to reduce waste entering our landfill—making our economy more circular—as well as save consumers money. By collaborating with the UM Makerspace to host this project, we have laid the groundwork to provide the knowledge and skills to UM students, faculty, and staff, to join us in making our closets and gear stashes more environmentally conscious. We have researched similar efforts and ways of repairing and reproposing common items and focused on these in our workshops and dissemination of information. We believe that shifting how we treat and maintain our possessions can lead to a reduction in our negative impact on the planet, while also making it easier to experience the environments that need us to be active participants in their protection, and issue that is important now as ever.

This research examines the impact of the rental housing market in Missoula, Montana, on the well-being of undergraduate students at the University of Montana and Missoula College. As rental prices rise and housing options become increasingly limited, students are encountering significant challenges in securing affordable housing. This has a direct effect on their financial stability, mental health, and overall life satisfaction. This study aims to better understand these challenges by surveying students about their current housing situations, financial stress, and mental health concerns. The survey results will provide insights into the specific factors contributing to housing difficulties and their broader effects on student well-being.

Based on the findings, a user-friendly website will be developed to offer personalized housing recommendations tailored to students' unique needs. The goal is to help students more effectively navigate Missoula’s competitive housing market, providing them with a practical tool to find affordable living options and improve their quality of life. Additionally, this research contributes to the broader conversation on housing affordability, highlighting the challenges faced by students in similar urban environments. By addressing the intersection of housing, financial stress, and mental health, this project seeks to not only improve the housing search experience but also raise awareness about the pressing need for more affordable student housing in cities with similar growing issues worldwide.

Our project is about reducing friction for the re-entry of previously incarcerated, emerging adults. To contribute to the solution of the issues facing emerging adults returning from incarceration in the Missoula community, we will implement three workshop events to foster a sense of community and belongingness in the returning citizens population. The goal of these workshops is to aid in a smoother transition back into society, integrating components of social, personal, and community-based skill sets. We have found through surveying individuals who are currently or previously incarcerated in our targeted age range of 17-25 that a majority of those surveyed feel there is an overwhelming need for “soft skills”. Soft skills refer to psychosocial and interpersonal skills, as there is already a relatively adequate number of resources for general need-based opportunities and “hard skills,” which refer to the more technical and practical knowledge. These workshops will focus on fostering both of these skills. Our first workshop will consist of connecting returning citizens with a mentor. This mentor is a previously incarcerated individual who owns his own business, a barbershop. Our first event will take place at his barber shop, where he will give free haircuts to returning citizens. This event will also connect attendees with community resources through tabling. Our second event will take place at freecycles, where a local musician will lead a drum circle. Our target population indicated wanting to make music upon release, so this event will serve to connect community members over a shared interest. Our last workshop will be a community celebration in Bonner Park, to cultivate connection in an outdoor space.

Research laboratories are a major but often overlooked source of energy consumption and waste in universities. Labs rely on single-use plastics for sterility and energy-intensive equipment, resulting in a substantial environmental impact. Globally, laboratories consume significantly more energy than the average household and generate millions of tons of plastic waste yearly. To address this, many universities worldwide and in the United States have adopted sustainable initiatives through “Green Lab” programs, which have been found to successfully reduce resource consumption while maintaining research integrity. Despite the University of Montana's commitment to sustainability, no university programs or regulations address lab sustainability, even as research activity grows following our R1 designation. To address this gap, we created the Grizzly Green Labs program. In the spring semester, we ran a pilot of this program, which assessed lab operations on campus, provided personalized recommendations for change, assisted with implementation, and created a timeline for future assessment of results. Seven labs participated, across various fields and housed in various buildings on campus. Following the pilot, we organized long-term management of the program through the Office of Sustainability, ensuring continued progress. We assisted with advertisement and recruitment for next semester, and created a management plan for the program to use. Implementing sustainable lab practices will be essential to achieving the University's Climate Action Plan goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and eliminating waste by 2050. More than this, it is a vital step in addressing climate change. If we fail to integrate sustainability into our own scientific practices, we undermine the very solutions we work to develop.

This project aims to address the unique needs of LEGBTQ+ survivors of sexual violence, through the enhancement of social support and resource accessibility for this marginalized group, particularly reaching those in rural settings like Montana. Existing literature highlights significant failures to understand the intersectional vulnerabilities and resilience factors impacting recovery and outcomes among LGBTQ+ individuals. Often, studies neglect specific subgroups, including transgender individuals, bisexual persons, and nonbinary survivors, and do not implement comprehensive, intersectional frameworks that capture the diverse experiences within the LGBTQ+ community. In rural areas, LGBTQ+ individuals face systemic issues, such as restricted access to supportive healthcare, social isolation, and discrimination, which become even more intensified for those who have survived sexual violence. This project aims to fill these gaps through two key deliverables—an 8-episode podcast series and a web-based resource map. The podcast will function as a platform to elevate the voices of LGBTQ+ survivors, specialists, and advocates, exploring topics like trauma, resilience, and systemic obstacles to care. The web resource will connect LGBTQ+ survivors in Montana to support services, such as trauma-informed healthcare providers, advocacy organizations, and educational resources to aid in every stage of recovery. By providing readily available resources, this initiative seeks to enhance the well-being of LGBTQ+ survivors of sexual violence, diminish stigma, and strengthen community support—particularly in rural areas—to ensure that LGBTQ+ survivors receive the support they need for healing and recovery.