Dr. Aaron Thomas, Professor at the University of Montana, speaks at the 2018 Scholars Program on his Native past in higher education and efforts towards Native education in Montana reservations

1. Native Journeys with Indigenous
Communities
Aaron M. Thomas
Indigenous Research and STEM Education
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
University of Montana

6. General Theory
Species Carrier
TAYLOR-ARIS DISPERSION IN
OSCILLATING FLOW

7. Periodic Flow Setup

8. Three Major Parameters
 Diffusion Coefficient (D) - indication of the response of
the mass transfer of a species in the presence of a
concentration gradient
 Kinematic Viscosity () - indication of the response of the
fluid to mechanical perturbations
 Periodicity (w)- the amount of time it takes to complete
one cycle
 Transport of species dependant on species ability to
remain in faster moving fluid regions.
 Can be used on Microscale for biological separations.

9. Indigenous Research and STEM
Education
 Mission: Indigenous Research
and STEM Education (IRSE)
is dedicated to the
advancement of Native
American, Alaskan Native,
Native Hawaiian, and First
Nation students in science,
technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM)
academic disciplines and
professions.

10. Directed Activities
 Graduate Degrees in STEM for Native Americans
and Alaska Natives
 Native STEM education – K through Gray
 Build relationships with tribes and tribal colleges
 Work towards the betterment of Indigenous
peoples

11. Montana Reservations

12. Working in Tribal Communities
 Building Relationships takes time – could take
years.
 What are your intentions?

13. 4 R’s
 Respect
 Working with sovereign nations. Have generational knowledge.
 Relationships
 Need to Build Trust. What are your intentions? Are you in, and then quickly
out?
 Responsibility
 Need to take community in context. Are you in, and then quickly out?
 Reciprocity
 What can the tribes teach you? What are you providing to them? Working
together.

14. What to do?
 So what should you do first? - Road trip!
 Find a way to take a visit to a tribal community.
 Begin conversations. Listen to their needs.
 You may determine that the project you had in
mind needs modification based on these
conversations.

15. Middle School

16. Science is
Cool Montana
(SICM)
During summers 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017 IRSE
partnered with Montana GEAR UP and IOE (for cost
match) to host one-week STEM camps to middle
school students in the following communities:
Browning, Harlem, Hardin, and Lame Deer. Among
the daily activities students particularly enjoyed were
rocket builds/launches, DNA extraction, roller coaster
builds, and hot air balloon construction/launches.

18. Middle School Computer
Build
Conducted at Ronan, Arlee, Rocky Boy,
Great Falls, and Poplar middle schools.
Piecing together mother boards, cases,
drives, fans, etc., each student assembled
a computer, installed an OS and Office
software, and claimed ownership for the
computer they built from individual
components. Must pass Algebra 1 by 9th
grade.

19. American Indian Traditional Science
Experience
 Science Fair Projects with Middle School students
on Flathead Reservation (Charlo, Polson, Ronan,
and Hot Springs)
 Mentors needed to assist students with their
projects.
 Meet with students 1-2 times a month.

20. High School

21. Summer Bridge
Program:
Hosted by IRSE, 7 Native American
recent high school graduates attended
math, writing, and study skills classes
for 3 weeks during summer 2014, 2015,
and 2016. Additionally, the students
benefitted from college readiness
presentations, lab investigations, field
trips, and guest presenters. Funded by
INBRE.

22. Undergraduate

23. Undergraduate Research
 The IoE has provided
funding for Native
undergraduate researchers
through IRSE.
 IRSE is helping implement
an REU in environmental
chemistry with an Indigenous
focus and 16/18 Native
students summer of 2015,
2016, and 2017.

24. Graduate

25. Ranalda Tsosie
• A member of the Dine’
Nation
• Miss Northern Navajo -
a title bestowed on
Dine’ women who
demonstrate cultural
knowledge, traditional
practice, and language
fluency.
• PhD in Interdisciplinary
Studies - studying water
quality and remediation,
specifically as it relates
to Uranium and heavy
metal mining in the
Navajo reservation.

26. IRSE Research Lab
Currently IRSE is actively marketing the research lab to
Native students, undergraduate and graduate, enrolled in
STEM fields that require access to lab facilities.

27.  Sloan Indigenous Graduate Partnership – funding for
Native graduate students in STEM. UM, Tech, MSU,
Purdue, Arizona, and Alaska.
 Pacific Northwest Alliance: Collaborative Opportunities
for Success in Mentoring of Students (PNW-COSMOS).
NSF AGEP Grant with Tech, MSU, SKC, Washington
State, University of Idaho, Heritage University. Mutual
Mentoring Program.

28. Tribal College
 Build relationships with Tribal Colleges
 Tribal College Faculty Professional Development
(NSF Funded – Summer 2015, 2016, and 2018)

29. Acknowledgements

30. Thank You.