Montana Tech THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA
Research 1998 Report

Research 98

Back to Past Research Activities Page

In This Issue

Chemical, Physical,
and Biological
Interaction at
the Berkeley Pit,
Butte, Montana
by Daniel K. Dysinger

In-Depth Look at
Berkeley
Pit Lake
by Steve Anderson

Young Researchers
Get Boost From
Montana Tech’s
Undergraduate
Research Program
by Dave Carter, Ph.D.

NASA-Montana
Tech Joint Venture:
Calculating the
Shortest Path
for a Robot
to Follow In
Space by
Keith B. Olson, Ph.D.

Geologic Maps
for Montana
by Karen Porter, Ph.D.

Environmental
Design Team:
Two-Year Champions
by Butch Gerbrandt,
Ph.D.

Research Activity
at Montana Tech
by Joseph F
Figueira, Ph.D.

Chemistry Building
Renovation by
Joseph F.
Figueira, Ph.D.

________________

Montana Tech RESEARCH
is published by the
Office of the Vice
Chancellor for
Research & Graduate
Studies, Montana Tech,
1300 West Park Street,
Butte, MT 59701-8997.
Phone: (406) 496-4102
Fax: (406) 496-4334.

Student Production
Teams—

Design &
Production Team:
Mick Gray, Eileen
Torpy, Patsy Harris,
Gregg Swanson,
Penny Goldberg,
Bruce Darvial,
Ryan Mulcahy,
Melissa Butala,
Amy Wolfe,
Rocko Mulcahy,
Sherri Chatriand,
Carol Burgett,
Jackie Haller.
Special thanks to
Nancy Favero and
the rest of the
Information Services
Staff at MBMG.

Editing Team:
Dee Dee Berger,
Kay Eccleston,
Bobbi Stauffer,
Christina Foley,
Ruthmeri Gleason,
George Groesbeck,
Jackie Haller,
Tara James,
Carl Johnston,
Don Orlich,
Gary Steele,
Debbie Sorenson,
Eileen Torpy,
Todd Trigsted.

Research Activity at Montana Tech

Joseph F. Figueira, Ph.D.
Office of Research and Graduate Studies

Expenditures by the campus for Organized Research activities continued to grow in 1997. Figure 1 shows the growth trends since 1985. In 1985 the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology (MBMG) conducted most of the research activity on the campus. Since 1992 research growth by the MBMG and the campus faculty have contributed to a 23% annualized growth rate over the six-year period. Current projections indicate that the research volume will be in excess of $5,300,000 for the fiscal year ending in July 1998.

This growth in research volume by the faculty and staff continues to have a major impact on the overall campus financial picture. Figure 2 shows the distribution of income sources that comprise the Montana Tech operating budget. In 1997, the combined research efforts of the campus and the MBMG accounted for nearly 25% of the overall campus budget of $30,000,000.

The campus research environment continues to mature and develop. Senior faculty and staff have been joined by new faculty hires to produce a growing resource for the student body and the region. As we expand our presence in national research competitions, we become more successful. My congratulations to all involved in this growing enterprise.

Figure 1. Historical growth in organized research expenditures from 1985 to 1998.

Figure 2. Distribution of income sources for Montana Tech for 1997. Research comprises grant and contract income for the campus plus the direct state appropriate to MBMG. Other income includes auxiliary enterprises.