BOZEMAN -- A national program that enhances research in rural states has given Montana scientists another $9 million to continue doing work that is "regionally relevant and nationally significant."

Montana State University officials learned last week that the National Science Foundation's EPSCoR program in Montana was renewed for another three years. EPSCoR refers to the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research.

Researchers in the MSU system, the University of Montana system and seven tribal colleges will share the latest grant, said Mark Young, an MSU researcher who will administer the grant with Chuck Thompson from the University of Montana.

Montana scientists will use the grant to hire new faculty members and students for two main projects, Young said. One project focuses on large river systems and the other on hydrogen. The river researchers will study headwater issues for the Missouri and Columbia river systems to learn more about the human effect on them. The hydrogen researchers want to learn how nature metabolizes hydrogen. They may be able to adapt that knowledge so hydrogen can be used as an alternative fuel.

Montana's grant will also be used to promote science and technology to Montanans, particularly students in kindergarten through 12th grade, Young said.

The grant will run through 2010.