2006

MESSAGE FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT
UM science reveals an interconnected world.

QUICK LOOKS
A rundown of the past year's research stories.

BLAZING THE FOSSIL TRAIL
The University's new Paleontology Center and its partnership with Eastern Montana.

Sidebar: New center lands big grant

UM WOMEN OF SCIENCE
Five diverse female scientists advancing the frontiers of knowledge.

THE BUSINESS BUILDERS
UM's economy-boosting business school and its innovative programs.

STUDENT SCIENTIST Q & A
Dynamic undergrad helps explore Saturn and its moons.

THE INVADERS
Exotic species continually alter Montana's landscape and creatures.

LIVING WELL
UM institute a leader in studying people with disabilities.

ARCHIVE
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000

Cover: UM paleontologist George Stanley holds a rhinoceros jaw fossil in the storage room of the University’s paleontology research collection. Found in Montana, the fossil is from the Miocene epoch, which extended from 23 million to 5.3 million years before the present.

Vision is published annually by University Relations and the UM Office of the Vice President for Research and Development. It is printed by UM Printing & Graphic Services.

PUBLISHER: Daniel J. Dwyer. MANAGING EDITOR AND GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Cary Shimek. PHOTOGRAPHER: Todd Goodrich. CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Brianne Burrowes, Alex Strickland, Judy Fredenberg, Erik Leithe, Rita Munzenrider and Patia Stephens. WEB DESIGN: Patia Stephens. EDITORIAL OFFICE: University Relations, Brantly Hall 330, Missoula, MT 59812, 406-243-5914. MANAGEMENT: Judy Fredenberg, Office of the Vice President for Research and Development, 116 Main Hall, Missoula, MT 59812, 406-243-6670.

Hilary Martens has started her fourth year at UM, but it’s hard to say when she will graduate since her academic interests appear boundless. A physics major with minor concentrations in music composition and math, she’s also finishing premed requirements and hopes to be accepted into the College of Forestry’s Wilderness and Civilization program next year. Born and raised in Missoula, Martens is a Presidential Scholar in the Davidson Honors College and this year received a prestigious Goldwater Scholarship for promising young scientists.

By Caroline Kurtz

Q: So, what are your academic plans?
A: Well, I’m planning on sticking with physics, but I like keeping options open. I’m definitely on the five-year plan (at UM) and not ready to consider grad school yet. I’m very lucky my parents tell me there’s no rush.

Q: What kind of research have you been doing in physics?
A: I’m interested in plasma physics and how particles interact with a planet’s magnetosphere. My adviser, Dan Reisenfeld, landed me an internship at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory in England, helping one of the scientists involved with instruments on the Cassini spacecraft that’s orbiting Saturn right now. My part was trying to define the electric potential of the spacecraft itself so we could separate that from the emissions coming from Saturn and its moons. Dan also is involved with Cassini, and for him I’ve been working on summing data from many spacecraft orbits so we can see trends over time -— not just the results of a single orbit. We’ll be presenting a poster on it at a planetary science meeting in Pasadena in October.

Q: What has the Cassini mission discovered so far?
A: The mission is supposed to be a long-term, in-depth study of the planet, just gathering basic information. There really hasn’t been much intensive exploration of the outer planets; the only other close-up of Saturn was taken 25 years ago when Voyager passed by on its way through the solar system. As far as plasma goes, we now know that Saturn’s moon Enceladus is a major source, as well as Titan.

Q: Astronomy is a small professional community, isn’t it?
A: Yes, I already feel like I know a lot of people. I just got back from camping with a post-doc student I met in England who’s now working at Johns Hopkins. She wanted to see some of the country while she’s here, so we went to the Tetons.

Q: A lot of astronomers are sci-fi fans. Are you?
A: Well, I’m the only person I know who’s never seen any “Star Wars” movie in its entirety. And I never liked “Star Trek.” I love the more true-story movies like “Apollo 13” and “October Sky,” though. I find them inspiring.

Q: Do you have a favorite space object?
A: Hmmm. I guess I’d say the Andromeda Galaxy, our galactic neighbor. Maybe there’s a planet there, like Earth, with life on it. It captures my imagination.

Q: What is your dream?
A: I have many; some small, some big. I’d like to be part of a great exploration. Physics has always been an escape for me. When I get stressed out with everyday life, I like to look at the big picture -— the really big picture. Thinking about space and all the secrets it holds helps me put things into perspective. It’s refreshing to step back and think about the endless possibilities for discovery that exist all around us. In the time that humans have been on Earth, we have learned a lot about ourselves, our world, our universe, but we still have so much more to discover. I find great motivation in my dream to be part of this exploration.

Cary Shimek, Managing Editor
Judy Fredenberg, Office of the Vice President for Research and Development
The University of Montana-Missoula
32 Campus Drive | Missoula, MT 59812
phone 406-243-2522 | fax 406-243-4520
Copyright 2007 The University of Montana