Category: Event

Outreach, marketing, conference

CESTICC Announces Summer Workshop

Posted on May 1st, 2017

CESTICC Workshop Flyer Header

The Center for Environmentally Sustainable Transportation in Cold Climates (CESTiCC) will hold its annual Summer Workshop on Thursday, August 10 in Pullman, Washington at Washington State University. The workshop will provide an opportunity for exchange on each of CESTiCC’s research thrusts and will feature a student poster competition and lectern sessions on a variety of topics related to environmentally sustainable transportation issues and research. If you would like to submit an abstract for presentation or a poster title, please follow the instructions on the event’s flyer. Registration for this is event is free; all attendees and presenters should register online on the CESTiCC Workforce Development Page. For more information on the workshop, please click here. WTI hosted last year’s popular workshop in Bozeman; for questions, you can also contact Laura Fay.

Bozeman Commuter Challenge starts today!

Posted on May 1st, 2017

Logo for Bozeman Commuter Project with sub text "Rethink Transportation" Text overlays on arrows pointing in opposite directions, imply directions of commute. Background graphic of mountains.Got your bike, walking shoes, or bus schedule ready? May 1 is the first day of the Bozeman Commuter Challenge. Special thanks to the Montana State University News Service for highlighting the event last week in a story on the MSU website.  WTI will use Bike Walk Montana’s Commuter Challenge website to keep track of miles and compete both statewide and locally. It’s not too late to sign up at www.mtcommuterchallenge.org  Look first for the WTI Team and register yourself with our team. The Challenge is open to anyone working in the greater Bozeman area, there is no cost to enter, and participants are eligible to win great prizes from some of Bozeman’s best local businesses. WTI’s Dani Hess was featured in KBZK’s coverage on the event last week. For questions, email Dani Hess at daniellehess@montana.edu

WTI Co-hosts “Dream Big” Film Event in Bozeman

Posted on April 5th, 2017

On Saturday, March 4, students and families had the opportunity to experience a free showing of Dream Big: Engineering Our World at the Ellen Theatre in downtown Bozeman as part of the Bozeman Film Society Science on Screen Film Series. The film showcases the creativity, commitment and compassion of four engineers through an exploration of amazing engineering accomplishments around the world. Dr. Michael Berry, Assistant Professor in the Civil Engineering Department and KLJ Engineer Shari Eslinger, Vice-President of the Montana Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers introduced the film by sharing their personal stories of becoming engineers. After the film, MSU Engineering students led fun, hands-on projects for kids, such as building domes out of marshmallows and toothpicks. The MSU robot that competed in the NASA Robotic Mining Competition also made an appearance!
The film screening in Bozeman was a community initiative, co-sponsored and co-organized by the Bozeman Film Society Science on Screen program, the Montana section of ASCE, KLJ Engineering, WTI, West Region Transportation Workforce Center, MSU Extended University, and the Montana Girls STEM Collaborative. The MSU units involved offer pre-college science and engineering outreach programs that introduce students to potential careers in these fields. “Many students have never considered engineering as a career only because they have no idea of the vast array of opportunities that engineering encompasses,” said WTI Education and Workforce Program Manager Susan Gallagher. “Events like these can open their ideas to a new world of exciting possibilities and we were thrilled to be a part of this collaborative effort.”

WTI at TRB 2017

Posted on January 10th, 2017

Thanks to the WTI staff members who shared photos from the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting, held in Washington, D.C. last week. Numerous staff facilitated workshops, presented their research, or submitted posters.

Natalie Villwock-Witte presided over a TRB session on “Workforce, Millennials, and the Implications of Baby Boomer Retirement.” Session presenters included (from left to right): Dr. Stephanie Ivey (Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Memphis), Joan M. McDonald (most recently former New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner), Natalie, and Yvonne Lopez-Diaz (Human Resources Director and Vice President at HNTB).


Alex Roy (left)  and Dan Brooks (right) present posters on alternative transportation on federal lands. Alex and Dan are Transportation Scholars through the Public Lands Transportation Institute.

View Alex’s Poster Alex Roy_TRB Poster-Parking AlternativesL

View Dan’s PosterDan Brooks_TRB Poster-Reducing Barriers to ATS

WTI hosts Summer Workshop for Environmentally Sustainable Transportation in Cold Climates

Posted on September 29th, 2016

Attendees of CESTiCC workshop on field visitThe Center for Environmentally Sustainable Transportation in Cold Climates (CESTiCC) held its annual summer Workshop in Bozeman on August 12. Participants and presenters represented multiple organizations including University of Alaska – Fairbanks, Washington State University, University of Wisconsin – Platteville, University of Texas-San Antonio, University of Tennessee – Knoxville, Michigan Tech, KC Harvey Environmental, and Montana DEQ. The workshop hosted presentations, updates, and a poster session on CESTiCC projects, followed by tours of the MSU campus and WTI labs. On Saturday, Rob Ament and Marcel Huijser hosted field visits of three CESTiCC projects in the Gallatin Valley. Participants were then taken to Yellowstone National Park to visit Old Faithful to cap off the workshop. Special thanks to Laura Fay and her Fairbanks cohorts for organizing a successful workshop.

National Working Summit tackles an “Epidemic on Wheels”

Posted on September 28th, 2016

The National Center for Rural Road Safety (Safety Center), led by WTI, hosted the National Working Summit on Transportation in Rural America last week, drawing 120 enthusiastic participants from around the country. Participants worked together for three days to identify issues and strategies to reduce injuries and fatalities on rural roads and highways.

Group photo of participants at the National Working Summit on Tranpsortation in Rural AmericaHeld in Denver, Colorado from September 7 – 9, the Summit encouraged collaboration among a broad range of agencies with an interest in enhancing safety on rural roads: departments of transportation, first responders, law enforcement, commerce/freight organizations, economic development/tourism agencies, public health agencies, local/county governments, and tribal agencies. The Summit was a huge success – participants appreciated the problem solving format and the effectiveness of the breakout sessions.

The complete findings and recommendations from the summit will be compiled into a white paper later this fall, which will guide future action. The Safety Center’s November 2016 webinar will recap the summit and highlight the outcomes of the white paper. To register for the webinar visit http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07ed7kghph21e9dec1&llr=ngyyawuab .

For more information on the Summit and specific presentations, please visit: https://ruralsafetycenter.org/news-events/moving-rural-america-summit/

Moving Rural America Summit

Posted on August 2nd, 2016

The National Center for Rural Road Safety, sponsored by FHWA and headquartered at WTI, is excited to announce a national summit in 2016 on rural transportation. “Moving Rural America: Advancing Safe Transportation Systems to Enhance Economic Development and Quality of Life” will be held September 7-9, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. This summit will be all-inclusive, bringing together key leaders and grassroots stakeholders to articulate important safety and transportation issues that impact quality of life and economic prosperity in rural areas. It will also identify collaborative opportunities to advocate for and implement initiatives that advance the deployment of a safe, efficient, seamless, and financially sustainable rural transportation network. Registration is now open! For more information, go to http://ruralsafetycenter.org/news-events/moving-rural-america-summit/

WTI’s Taylor Lonsdale assists with Road Etiquette and Bike Safety Workshop

Posted on July 25th, 2016

Special thanks to Taylor Lonsdale who assisted Case Managers at the Human Resources Development Council (HRDC) and the Bike Kitchen with a Road Etiquette and Bike Safety Workshop for youth in Bozeman last week. The workshop sessions included bike safety, bike maintenance and repair, and a trip down the local city trails. Some of the youth participants were awarded free bikes for attending the workshop.

Sustainability Outreach Event – Green Drinks at WTI

Posted on July 20th, 2016

The Small Urban and Rural Livability Center (SURLC) at WTI will sponsor and host a “Green Drinks” event on Wednesday, July 20, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 in the WTI Classroom. These events allow various organizations from the Bozeman area to connect with others about social, economic, and environmental sustainability issues and initiatives. Beverages and snacks will be provided (but please bring your own reusable cup, mug or glass!). Please contact Rebecca Gleason (Rebecca.Gleason1@montana.edu) if you are interested in attending or making a brief presentation about work in your program area. More information about the Green Drinks program is available at http://greendrinksbozeman.org/