College News
ISU MANRRS Named National Chapter of Year
The Iowa State Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) Chapter was selected National Chapter of the Year, announced April 1 at the closing banquet of the national conference in St. Louis. The award is based on building membership, leadership development, community service, promotion of the national organization and its plan of work or calendar of events. Aurelio Curbelo, graduate student in agricultural education and studies, was elected vice-president of this region. Agronomy graduate student Aaron Jeffries, MANRRS graduate student president, was recognized for his contribution to the organization and the conference.
Dairy Science Students Claim North American Title
The Iowa State Dairy Challenge Team won its division at the fifth North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge Contest held March 30 to April 1 in Twin Falls, Idaho. Twenty-seven teams competed. ISU's student team was in a division that was comprised of nine teams. The event challenges students to put their textbook and practical problem-solving knowledge to the test by analyzing dairies. Student teams do a walk-through at dairy operations, followed by questions of the owners and analysis of farm-specific data. Student teams then develop management recommendations and conclude by presenting their management recommendations to a panel of dairy industry judges. Team members were Kayla Hotvedt, senior, agriculture education, and dairy science seniors Emily Miller, Katie Zumbach and Sarah Mullen. Each team member received a plaque and a $200 scholarship. The team was coached by Lee Kilmer, animal science, and assisted by dairy science senior Sharon Green. In 2007, ISU will host the national contest.
Ag College Presents 11 Scholarships at Science Fair
The College of Agriculture presented 11 high school students with $500 scholarships at the Iowa State Science and Technology Fair on March 24 at Hilton Coliseum. Associate Dean David Acker and a team of six Agriculture Ambassador students judged 60 exhibits to determine students qualified for the scholarships. The Ag Ambassadors were: Kyle Mowrer, junior, agricultural business, Guthrie Center; Kate Dion, senior, animal science, Columbus Junction; Adam Ebert, sophomore, agricultural business, Washta; Melissa Nasers, senior, agricultural education and studies, Bigelow, Minn.; Kim Miller, freshman, agricultural business, Anamosa; and Meg Smith, senior, food science, Beaman.
Student BBMB Symposium Dedicated in Memory of Student
The Iowa State Undergraduate BBMB Club hosted its first Biochemistry Micro Symposium over the weekend in the Molecular Biology Building. The 2006 Stupka Memorial Symposium was dedicated to Iowa State molecular biology student Robert John Stupka, 21, who died from injuries sustained when he was struck by a vehicle on campus last November. The symposium covered a wide range of topics in biochemistry and genetics research.
Food Safety Institute Symposium Set for April 19
The first annual symposium of Iowa State's Institute for Food Safety and Security will include food safety and security experts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, Animal Health Institute and International Food Information Council. The symposium, "Safe and Secure Food for Public Health and National Security," will be held from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 19, at the Comfort Suites Hotel, 2609 Elwood Drive.
Students Help Raise Money for Military Mail Call Drive
College students are involved in a Military Mail Call supply drive to collect items for Iowa Army National Guard and Iowa Army Reserve units stationed in Iraq. Students are requesting snack-sized foods that don't melt, drink mixes, small toys and games, playing cards, baby wipes, bug spray, sunscreen, toiletries, batteries, laundry detergent and Ziploc bags. Collection boxes are located at 1126 Agronomy Hall, 23 Curtiss Hall, 201 Curtiss Hall, 119 Kildee Hall and 303 East Hall. Donations will be picked up on Friday, April 7. A "Military Mail Call 5K Fun Run" was held Friday, March 31, organized by several College of Agriculture student organizations and students in the agricultural education and studies 315 course to raise funds for shipping. Contacts: Michael Cooley, cooley@iastate.edu, or Val Krumm, krummv@iastate.edu.
College Staff Elected to P&S Council
The P&S Council elections ended March 24 and 10 new members will be seated on the council at the June meeting. New members from the College include Ann Bugler, instructional support specialist for the Brenton Center and Pam Owenson, administrative specialist in the agricultural education and studies department. They join Cathy Good, program coordinator in the Ag Experiment Station, who will serve as the 2006-07 council president; Tom Hillson, system support specialist for the Ag Experiment Station, who was elected last year; and Brenda Van Beek, administrative specialist in the natural resource ecology and management department, elected in 2002. The P&S Council represents about 2,300 staff members. More: http://www.pscouncil.iastate.edu/
College Forum to Discuss Outcomes Assessments
The College of Agriculture Outcomes Assessment Committee and the Curriculum Committee are co-sponsoring a College Forum from 4:10 to 6 p.m. April 13 in 13 Curtiss Hall. The forum will assess the relevance of the College's set of outcomes and discuss additional outcomes. Contacts: Wade Miller, wwmiller@iastate.edu, or Tom Polito, tpolito@iastate.edu.
Proposals Sought for Instructional Uses of It
About $60,000 is available for College proposals that are innovative uses of information technology and involve students. Proposals are due to Associate Dean David Acker's office by April 14. The Call for Proposals are available online. Proposals from previous years as well as funding awarded can be viewed at the Technology Advancement Committee website. Contact: Philip Spike, plspike@iastate.edu.
Yu Presented Best Paper Award
Tun-Hsiang "Edward" Yu received the Agricultural and Rural Transportation Best Paper Award at the Transportation Research Forum 47th Annual Meeting in New York. His paper title was "The Influence of Transportation Rates on Grain Prices: A Dynamic Analysis." Yu is an associate scientist at the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development and an analyst with the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Center.
National Barley Project Involves Iowa State Researchers
Researchers at Iowa State have been chosen to participate in a $5 million, four-year project designed to improve the barley varieties available to producers.
Iowa State Professor Named to National Committee
Levon Esters, assistant professor in agricultural education and studies, has been appointed to a national committee to organize a leadership summit focused on helping universities attract, retain and prepare students for careers in agriculture and science.
Celebrate Aldo Leopold's Iowa Legacy in April
Gov. Tom Vilsack has proclaimed April as Aldo Leopold Month. The resolution honors Leopold's lifetime contributions to natural resource management philosophy and practice and to the science of wildlife management. Learn more: http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/newsreleases/2006/leopoldmonth_0328…
VEISHEA Co-Chairs, Geoffroy on 'Talk of Iowa' Wednesday
VEISHEA co-chairs Eric Peterson, an agricultural business junior, and Jessica Lecy, a food science senior, will join President Gregory Geoffroy on WOI Radio's "Talk of Iowa" Wednesday, April 5. The one-hour, call-in show begins at 9 a.m. on WOI-AM.
Faculty Member Sought for Committee
The College of Agriculture seeks a faculty member to serve on the Faculty Senate Committee on Faculty Recognition and Development beginning in September. This committee meets about four times during the academic year for one hour. The committee oversees and acts upon policies and programs related to faculty professional development. It makes recommendations to the provost for recognition and awards, travel grants, leaves and other grants. Interested faculty should contact David Acker, dacker@iastate.edu, by June 1.
Deadlines and Reminders
April 4: AgComm workshop, noon, Room 8 Curtiss Hall, RSVP Cheryl Abrams at 4-5872 or cabrams@iastate.edu
April 4: Gamma Sigma Delta Initiation and Awards Ceremony, 5 p.m., Sun Room, Memorial Union
April 6: John Pesek Colloquium on Sustainable Agriculture, 6 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. seminar, Benton Center, Scheman Building
April 18: Biosafety Institute for Genetically Modified Agricultural Products (BIGMAP) Symposium, Gateway Center, more: http://www.ucs.iastate.edu/mnet/bigmap/home.html
April 19: "Safe and Secure Food for Public Health and National Security" symposium, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Comfort Suites Hotel, 2609 Elwood Drive, contact: Gail Stecker, 4-4781
April 28: Spencer Award nominations due, more: http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/newsreleases/2006/spencer_022706.htm
Communications Kiosk
Remember to Give Credit for Funding on Journal Articles
Journal paper articles should have a phrase acknowledging funding received from the experimentation station or federal entities. If you have a project number include it if not delete that portion. Since the papers are no longer numbered the phrasing should read: "This journal paper of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames, Iowa, Project No. _____, was supported by Hatch Act and State of Iowa funds." If you have a project number include it, if not delete it.
Infograzing
ARS Research Leader Named NADC Director
Kurt Zuelke has named director of the National Animal Disease Center (NADC). Zuelke serves as research leader, Biotechnology and Germplasm Laboratory in Beltsville, Md. He is expected to relocate to Ames to assume his new responsibilities in June. Ron Horst, Iowa State animal science collaborator, continues to serve as the acting director of the NADC.
Biotechnology Proposals Sought by June 1
The Illinois-Missouri Biotechnology Alliance has $962,000 available to fund subcontracts on corn and soybean biotechnology and related socio-economic issues. An RFP for this year's grant competition can be found online. The deadline for proposals is June 1.
External Voices
Wooden's Method of Measuring Success
"Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability."
John Wooden, retired basketball coach of University of California, Los Angeles
Marginalia
Wild Game on Menu at Annual NREM Banquet
Ostrich and bison will be among the menu choices at the Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management’s Recognition Banquet on Saturday, April 8. About 200 students, faculty, staff, alumni and their families are expected to attend. The event will recognize scholarship recipients, graduating seniors and animal ecology and forestry students’ scholastic and leadership achievements. The banquet is sponsored annually by the department and its nine student clubs. It includes a silent auction and raffle.
Spring is Here: Planting Begins on ISU Research Farms
Corn planting began March 24 for a seed-coating study at the Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm near Nashua. The farm also seeded oats and its oat variety plot on March 29. The Central Iowa Research and Demonstration Farms had 21 acres of oats seeded last week in Ankeny. Meanwhile, the Western and McNay research and demonstration farms have been planting grass seed to restore pastures and waterways.
Next issue: April 10
Ag Onlnie
Editor: Ed Adcock, edadcock@iastate.edu
Phone: (515) 294-5616
Web site: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/
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