Mission, Vision, Values

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Meet Our Team

SMRC Director, Suzi Taylor, poses with Champ

Connect with Us

SMRC employees pose at Science Olympiad booth

STEM Research

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Our History

 

The Montana State University Science Math Resource Center (SMRC) was established in 1970 when Robert Swenson, then a new MSU hire in physics from Temple University, persuaded the National Science Foundation (NSF), to transfer a modest award to his future institution, MSU. Part of the subsequent commitment from MSU to NSF was to establish a center for science and mathematics education to serve Montana. The original center was named the "Science Teaching Assistance Center," in recognition of teachers' primacy in affecting students' success.

In 1985, Montana became one of the original states to join the national Science Olympiad. The Science Math Resource Center hosted its first state tournament on October 15, 1985, with 10 events and 17 school districts participating. The Montana Science Olympiad state tournament has become the premiere STEM competition for Montana middle and high school students and continues to be held annually at the MSU-Bozeman campus.

Thus an unexpected gift from a young scientist over five decades ago became the seed funding for a teacher assistance center and immediately raised the University's capacity to provide STEM learning opportunities for teachers, and their students, at all levels from kindergarten to doctoral. Through the efforts of many, the origninal NSF award evolved into a multifaceted STEM resource center serving the vital mission of connecting Montana teachers, students, schools, and communities with STEM.