Highlights from 2013

Article about psychology professor Jessi Smith’s work on the Montana’s Equal Pay for Equal Work Task Force. The task force, appointed by Gov. Steve Bulllock, is confronting that issue and plans to come up with some policy recommendations. KPAX.com (12/26/13)

David Parker, policital science, is quoted in this article about the implications of U.S. Sentor Max Baucus’ decision to resign his senate seat to become the U.S. Ambassador to China. Billings Gazatte (12/18/13)

Article about philsophy professor Sara Waller’s research into differences between how urban and rural coyotes communicate. By understanding what the vocalizations mean, playing back coyote vocalizations could provide ranchers with a way to keep coyotes away from livestock. That would be significant considering that in Montana ranchers last year reported 13,900 sheep and lambs killed by coyotes, according to figures compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Billings Gazette (11/17/13), The Missoulian (11/18/13)

David Parker, political science, is quoted in this article about the political fallout of the October 2013 govern11/18/13)ment shutdown. Parker noted that the shutdown shouldn’t have long-lasting negative impacts on the U.S. Congressman Steve Daines’ U.S. senate campaign. The Missoulian (10/26/13)

D. Mark Anderson, economics, is quoted in this The New York Times article about the social and economoc impacts of the cultivation of marijuana in California. The New York Times (10/26/13)

Tomomi Yamaguchi, sociology, is quoted in this article about demographic change in Japan. Japan’s under-40s appear to be losing interest in conventional relationships. Research shows that 45% of Japanese women aged 16-24 are not interested in or despise sexual contact and more than a quarter of men feel the same way. The Guardian (10/19/13)

Article about ecology professor Wyatt Cross’ participation in a research project focused on the food webs in the Grand Canyon. For the past three years, Cross has made quarterly visits to the canyon to examine the ecosystems below the dam. The Missoulian (8/31/13)

David Parker, political science, is quoted in these articles about the Montana Democrats’ search for a candidate to run for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Max Baucus. Ravalli Republic (9/5/13), The Montana Standard (9/6/13)

Article about research finding by Nicholas Yunes and Kent Yagi, physics. They’ve dscovered a trio of properties, which explain how fast a neutron star spins and how easily its shape deforms, are universally related and linked. Because of this, astronomers can now better understand the physics inside neuron stars’ cores and determine these stars from quark stars, their even uncanny cousins. Headline and Global News (7/25/13)

Franke Wilmer, political science, provides comments about possible female candidates for the senate seat currently held by Max Baucus. Baucus has announced that he will retire at the end of his current term. Great Falls Tribune (5/3/13), Helena Independent Record (5/3/13)

David Parker, political science, has been widely quoted regarding the recent annoucement that Max Baucus, US senator from Montana, will retire after his current term is over. Parker believes that former Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer would be a shoo-in for the Democratic nomination should he decide to run. USA Today (4/23/13), Washington Post (4/24/13), Ravalli Republic (4/23/13), USA Today (4/24/13), Great Falls Tribune (4/27/13), Helena Independent Record (4/25/13)

Articles around a research project by David Varricchio, paleontology, examining a small, bird-like North American dinosaur that incubated its eggs in a similar way to brooding birds, bolstering the evolutionary link between birds and dinosaurs. The results of the study were published in the journal Paleobiology. Phys Org (4/18/13), EarthSky (4/19/13), Business Standard (4/19/13), International Business Times (4/21/13), Voice of America (4/22/13), Sci-News.com (4/25/13)

Two nice articles about Wayne Stein, a professor of Native American studies, who recently retired. Stein came to MSU in 1989 and was a professor and department head in NAS. Bozeman Daily Chronicle (4/11/13), Indian Country (4/11/13)

John Miller, cell biology and neuroscience, is mentionned in this article about a research project by Emma and Elizabeth Carlson. Dr. Miller has mentored the sisters throught he Montana Bioscience program, which includes three three-month modules that partner science professors and grad students with kids from around the state as they work on various research projects. Helena Independent Record (4/3/13)

Laura Burkle, assistant professor in the Department of Ecology, had a paper published in the journal Science that received a lot of media attention. Burkle and her co-authors compared the bees and flowering plants that existed in 2009 and 2010 with those that existed in the late 1800s and early 1900s around Carlinville, Ill. They discovered that the area has lost many species of bees and flowering plants over the past 120 years. MSU News (2/28/13), NPR (3/1/13), Mother Jones (3/5/13) and NBC News (2/28/13)

Article about English instructor Jill Davis’ "Tuesdays with Morrie" project. For 10 weeks of Davis’ College Writing II class, 10 students met with 10 seniors from Bozeman Lodge, an assisted-living home. Students visited seniors once a week and interviewed them about their life. At the end of the semester, the students woite a paper and presented it to their senior partner. Bozeman Daily Chronicle (1/15/13), Gillette News Record (1/5/13)