Year 4 Highlights 2022

March 20, 2023

Table of Contents

Year 4 CREWS Highlights (2022) Overview of project progress, milestones, and research focus areas Director’s Update Reflections on Year 4 achievements, in-person collaboration, and future outlook CREWS by the Numbers Key statistics on participants, publications, funding, and partnerships Project-Wide Highlights

• First In-Person All Hands Meeting Since 2019
• Growth of collaborations and new funding opportunities

Research Highlights by Team Upper Clark Fork River (UCFR) Nutrient–metal interactions, sensor deployments, and ecosystem modeling Judith River Watershed (JRW) Groundwater–surface water linkages, nitrate dynamics, and modeling efforts Powder River Basin (PRB) Sulfate contamination, groundwater sampling, and lab-based geochemical studies Cross-Cutting Research Teams Systems Ecology and Earth Sciences (SEES) Modeling solute transport and biogeochemical processes Environmental Sensors, Synoptics, and Signals (ESSS) Sensor deployment, modeling approaches, and hyperspectral imaging Molecular Engineering and Environmental Science (MEES) Nanoparticle research, photocatalysis, and contaminant removal technologies Natural Resource Social Science (NRSS) Community surveys, resilience studies, and stakeholder engagement Workforce Development & Innovation

• Undergraduate Research, Workforce Development, and Commercialization Internships
• Professional development for educators and STEM training opportunities

Outreach and Education

• Camps, workshops, and K–12 engagement activities
• spectrUM Discovery Area programming and mobile outreach
• Development of a STEM-focused educational video game

Diversity and Inclusion

• Indigenous STEM initiatives and student support programs
• Montana Girls STEM Collaborative and national partnerships

Major Grants and Recognition

• $24M Montana Tech rare earth elements research program
• Leadership highlights and collaborative achievements

Partners and Collaborators

• Research, outreach, and institutional partners
• CREWS team members and contributing organizations

Acknowledgments Recognition of contributors, partners, and continued project impact