Brainstorms! is a monthly e-newletter with STEM opportunities for educators and students (e.g., workshops, events, grants, and free educator resources).

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Recent archives

2026

July -  STEM Summer Institute (Aug. 3-5, 2026; New NASA Summer STEM activities available; summer STEM activities; Summer Fun Poll; results of our June survey; stop-motion animated short from Cooke City School; NASA offers FREE TechRise Challenge; Science is Cool 16: Science in the Hawaiian Islands; GTCC offers Teaching Smarter with AI: Learning, Literacy, and Time-Saving Tools

June - survey about hypothetical spending $50, $500, or $5,000; STEM Summer Institute; free intro to quantum kits for grade 4-8 classrooms; subscribe to newsletter by Montana Citizen Science Network; Gallatin College helps youth gain carpentry and construction skills; feature about recent Education graduate feature; SAE International provides FREE resources; Native American Code Writers Collaborative helps educators who serve Native youth; MentorMT will train 70+ experienced Montana educators as mentors; Golden Triangle Curriculum Cooperative offers summer courses

May - Congratulations to our graduates!; STEM Summer Institute (August 3-5, 2026); MCubed Conference (August 3, 2026); MSSE Program Summer Course Registration is Open!; celebrate International Day of Light May 21; MSU Bozeman Hosts STATE Days July 30-31 for rising seniors; STEM mini grants available from Montana Space Grant Consortium; apply for Space Weather UnderGround Program for Science Teachers ASAP; Apply for MEEA's Get 'Em Outside Mini Grant and for MEAA mini grant; NorthWestern Energy provides FREE teaching resources; USFS Offers FireWorks, wildland fire curriculum and Missoula workshop; take national AI survey

April - Citizen Science Month, quantum science events and educator trainings, STEM grants and free courses, summer programs for teachers and students, accessibility‑focused STEM experiences, SMART FIRES classroom resources, and multiple April deadlines for fellowships, camps, webinars, and public science talks in Montana and beyond.

March - STEM Summer Institute (August 3-5, 2026), World Quantum Day virtual event (April 8, 2026), QCaMP (June 22-26, 2026), and other summer camps

February - Tribute to former SMRC Director Elisabeth Swanson, calls for presenters and applicants for multiple STEM opportunities, upcoming educator events across Montana, new statewide STEM and cybersecurity resources, and numerous programs supporting teachers, students, and community engagement in STEM.

January - A paid summer research experience for elementary teachers, multiple STEM opportunities including scholarships, free courses, posters, and team events, plus classroom resources, mini‑grants, educator awards, and free NASA and science outreach programs across Montana.

2025

December - A fully funded geospatial skills camp for rural high schools, quantum and data‑science resources, free courses and posters, Science Olympiad and math competitions, elementary STEM kits and research experiences, statewide professional events, scholarships, NASA and AI programs, and celebrations of outstanding teachers and students.

November - Upcoming math and Science Olympiad competitions, free STEM kits for early‑elementary classrooms, fully funded geospatial and photonics opportunities for teachers and students, paid research experiences for elementary educators, partner programs like NASA SPOT and the National STEM Festival, and additional grants, clubs, and innovation programs for Montana schools

October - Survey and giveaway for a new Instrument Lending Library, Science Olympiad coaching and competition details, MSU pre‑service teacher travel and stories, MFPE conference opportunities including a SMART FIRES fire‑science tour, multiple STEM programs and grants from statewide partners, free air‑quality sensors for schools, and a wide range of workshops, clubs, and STEM outreach opportunities for Montana educators.

September - Upcoming Science Olympiad and AMC math competitions, new quantum and STEM initiatives at MSU, MFPE conference opportunities including a SMART FIRES fire‑science tour, statewide STEM program listings, and numerous partner‑led opportunities such as free air‑quality sensors, NASA resources, SparkAlpha career‑connected projects, workshops, grants, and hands‑on STEM events for classrooms and communities