College News
College Faculty, Staff to be Presented University Awards
University awards have been announced for several College faculty and staff. They will receive the awards at this fall's university convocation. Award winners include:
- Rameshwar Kanwar, agricultural and biosystems engineering, named Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Amy Andreotti, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology, ISU Award for Mid-career Achievement in Research
- Henry Taber, horticulture, ISU Award for Outstanding Achievement in Extension or Professional Practice
- Andrew Manu, agronomy, James Huntington Ellis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Introductory Teaching
- Brad Skaar, animal science, James Huntington Ellis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Introductory Teaching
- Mary Wiedenhoeft, agronomy, Louis Thompson Distinguished Undergraduate Teacher
- Terry Besser, sociology, Margaret Ellen White Graduate Faculty Award
- Eun Joo Lee, animal science, P&S Outstanding New Professional Award
- Maneesha Aluru, genetics, development and cell biology, and electrical and computer engineering, P&S Outstanding New Professional Award Lester Wilson, University Professor, food science and human nutrition, Regents Award for Faculty Excellence
- Eugene Takle, agronomy, geological and atmospheric sciences and aerospace engineering, Regents Award for Faculty Excellence - Allen Christian, animal science, Regents Award for Staff Excellence
- Ed Adcock, agriculture and life sciences communications service, Regents Award for Staff Excellence.
Veishea: Recognition Ceremony Honors Martin
Robert Martin, chair of the agricultural education and studies department, was presented a Faculty Recognition Award at the 2009 Veishea Leadership and Faculty Recognition Ceremony. He was nominated by students in the College for his dedication and concern for students.
Veishea: Ag Studies Student Wins Cyclone Idol Award
Neil Hewitt, sophomore in agricultural studies, won the Cyclone Idol People's Choice Award as part of the Veishea competition. His singing performance took second place in the contest.
Distance Education Team Wins Innovators Award
The College's Distance Education Team in the Brenton Center received the Innovators Award from the Iowa Distance Learning Association April 17 at the 2009 Iowa Connections Conference. The Innovators Award recognizes contributions to distance learning through teaching; program design and development; innovations in methods, technique, and technology; and advocacy. The Iowa Distance Learning Association is a nonprofit association formed to promote the development and application of distance learning to education and training.
Honors from American Meat Science Association
The American Meat Science Association recently recognized Steven Lonergan and Elisabeth Lonergan, both animal science. Elisabeth Lonergan received the 2009 Distinguished Research Award. The award will be presented at the Reciprocal Meat Conference in June. Steven Lonergan was elected to the AMSA board of directors and also will serve as the AMSA 2011 program chair.
Harms Joins College Development Office
Ryan Harms began Feb. 12 as director of development in the College's development office. He previously served as director of development for the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy. Harms earned a bachelor's degree in kinesiology in 2000 and a master's degrees in leisure studies in 2002, both from the University of Illinois. He grew up on a dairy and grain farm near Fairbury, Ill.
Student Raising Money for Children at Ugandan Hospital
Amanda Chung, a junior in animal ecology, is seeking donations to raise funds for hospital and medical supplies for a hospital in Uganda. Donations will go towards helping children served by Mulago Hospital and UCRM Medical Centre in Kampala by purchasing mosquito nets and cancer treatment drugs. Chung plans to deliver the donations this summer while on a College service learning program. Donations can be dropped off or mailed to 124 Science II. Contact Amanda Chung, achung@iastate.edu.
Manu Named George Washingtno Carver Chair
Andrew Manu, associate professor of agronomy, has been named the George Washington Carver Chair. (Also, see Internal Voice item below.)
Science With Practice Seeks Mentors for Students
The College's Science With Practice program coordinators are seeking mentors for the fall semester. The program provides opportunities for students in the College to learn and work experientially with faculty and staff in university research laboratories, farms, greenhouses and other units through a planned education and work experience program. SWP is a two-credit course students take in which they complete biweekly journal entries, attend monthly seminars, create a final portfolio and participate in a poster presentation about their experience. Students are allowed to work up to 15 hours per week and SWP pays half of their wages up to $10 an hour. Those interested in being a mentor are asked to contact the swpteam@iastate.edu.
Iowa State Gives Non-Farm Agriculture Students On-Farm Experience
Not all students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences are "farm kids." In fact, many have never set foot on a farm, let alone a working Iowa farm. But each semester, groups of students get some quality on-farm time as participants in the Agriculture Weekend Experience program.
Swine Nutrition Research Meets Economic Value at ISU
The way Iowa State animal science associate professor John Patience sees it, pork producers who don't include nutrition and diet information as part of their whole farm plan are missing the boat.
Plant Sciences Institute Awards Funds to Seven Projects
The Plant Sciences Institute has awarded grants to seven new research projects to bolster the productive efforts of its five research initiatives and focus on plants and climate change.
Plant-Insect Interactions Topic of Symposium April 27-28
Iowa State and regional plant scientists, their students and the public can learn more about how plants respond to insect attacks at the 27th annual Loomis Lecture and Interdepartmental Plant Biology Mini-Symposium April 27-28 in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union.
Agricultural and Food Traceability Conference June 9-10
Registration is open for the Agricultural and Food Traceability Conference, jointly sponsored by the ISU Extension Value-Added Agriculture program, Iowa Beef Center and Iowa Grain Quality Initiative. The conference will be held June 9-10 at the Renaissance Savery Hotel in Des Moines, with a workshop June 11 for those interested in specifics of the profitable integration of traceability protocols into food and agricultural businesses. Program content will emphasize: the risks and rewards of adopting traceability in business operations; standards, legislative actions and other compliance factors related to traceability; and processes and management strategies which could assist businesses in the implementation of traceability protocols. More: http://www.ucs.iastate.edu/mnet/traceability/home.html.
Deadlines and Reminders
April 20: Deadline for proposals for information technology projects to support instructional programs within the College.
April 21-22: Biosafety Institute for Genetically Modified Agricultural Products (BIGMAP) symposium on "Food and Fuel Crops: Issues, Policies, and Regulation," 1:30 to 6:30 p.m.
April 21 and from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 22, Gateway Hotel and Conference Center
April 22: Science With Practice students' poster session, 3:30-5 p.m., Kildee Hall atrium
April 29: Graduate Program in Sustainable Agriculture Symposium, 3 to 6 p.m., Sun Room, Memorial Union
April 29: Task Force on the Future of Academic Programs to consider the report, "Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World," 3:10 to 5 p.m., Room 13 Curtiss Hall
April 30: "Theirs and Ours; Implication of How Today's Students Process Information Into Knowledge and the Impacts on Classroom Dynamics" seminar on teaching in the digital age, 3 p.m., Ensminger Room, 1204 Kildee Hall
External Funding
Funding Information, Opportunities and Deadline Reminders
Dates listed are application deadlines. Contact: Roxanne Clemens, rclemens@iastate.edu
- April 27: RFI for Avian and Pandemic Influenza and Zoonotic Disease Program PREDICT; bidders conference planned for April 29. $75 million to fund one award.
- April 27: RFI Avian and Pandemic Influenza and Zoonotic Disease Program RESPOND; $185 million to fund one award; bidders conference planned for April 29.
- May 1: PI Workshop for Basic Research to Enable Agricultural Development (live Webcast or in person). More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503403&org=DBI
- May 1: EPA Research Training Program for College and University Students; $600,000 per award, $1.8 million available.
- June 1: The Paul L. Busch Award, Environment Research Foundation Endowment for Innovation in Applied Water Quality Research; $100,000.
- July 28: Air Force Fiscal Year 2010 Young Investigator Research Program; $360,000 per award, $10.8 million to fund 30 awards. More: https://sam.gov/content/opportunities
- Sept. 15: Developing Global Scientists and Engineers - International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) and Doctoral Dissertation Enhancement Projects (DDEP). $2 million available to fund up to 14 IRES awards; $100,000 to fund up to 10 DDEP Awards. More: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/nsf04036/nsf04036.htm#toc
Communications Kiosk
Use "and/or" Sparingly
This Janus-faced term can often be replaced by and or or with no loss in meaning. Where it seems needed, "take a sleeping pill and/or a warm drink," try "or ... or both," "take a sleeping pill or a warm drink or both", or think of other possibilities, " take a sleeping pill with a warm drink." Only in nonliterary contexts where it unambiguously means or ... or both and where elegance must give way to economy should a writer resort to and/or. (The Chicago Manual of Style, 15th ed., 2003)
Infograzing
Summer Survival Guide Part of Wellness Workshop
The Nutrition Clinic for Employee Wellness will have a wellness workshop April 29 that will include a summer survival guide. It is schedules for noon in Room 8 Curtiss Hall. Contact Sally Barclay, 4-9625 or barclay@iastate.edu, to reserve a seat.
Participants Sought for Exercise Research Study
A graduate student in ISU's kinesiology department seeks volunteers who are planning to start an exercise program to lose weight and get fit. Male and female participants 18 to 35 years old and currently inactive are sought for the study investigating the psychological and physiological effects of exercise. Compensation will be provided. For more information: Shenbaga SoundaraPandian, 4-5418 or shenbaga@iastate.edu.
ISU Ranks 99 Among Federal Research Funds in 2007
The Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences of the National Science Foundation has published an Info Brief showing that federal agencies obligated a total of $25.4 billion in Fiscal Year 2007 for science and engineering research and development. Iowa State ranked 99th with $74 million. The tables indicate the top 100 colleges and universities receiving the largest amounts, ranked by the total amount received, and the amount by federal agency.
Internal Voices
Manu's Vision for the George Washington Carver Chair
"It is my vision that the George Washington Carver Chair will be used as a vehicle to promote excellence in teaching, research and service which will lead to the development of young professionals who will be leaders in their fields, to explore soil and plant life to produce enough food to feed the ever-increasing population of the world, as Dr. Carver did; take care of the natural resources to protect human health again, as Dr. Carver did; and develop energy from plants and other sources to wean us from our dependence on fossil fuel, as Dr. Carver would do." --Andrew Manu, new George Washington Carver Chair and agronomy associate professor, at the Medallion Ceremony April 14 honoring the endowed chair
Marginalia
Research Farm Hosts Farm Publication's Tractor Test
The Ultimate Utility Tractor Test, completed at the Iowa State Ag and Biosystems Engineering/Agronomy Research Farm, was the cover story of the November 2008 Successful Farming magazine. The test, an evaluation of utility tractors (50 to 65 horsepower) from six manufacturers, was conducted last summer at the farm. Richard VanDePol, farm manager, was one of 11 evaluators. Matt Darr, assistant professor in agricultural and biosystems engineering, helped oversee the evaluation. The article compared the various tractors and included color photos of the research farm, the evaluators and the tractors in action.
Ag and Life Sciences Online
Editor
Ed Adcock, edadcock@iastate.edu
Phone: (515) 294-5616
Website: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/
Subscribe
Ag and Life Sciences Online, the newsletter for faculty and staff in Iowa State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is e-mailed every Monday. To subscribe, send your name, e-mail address and the message "Ag and Life Sciences Online subscribe" to edadcock@iastate.edu. To unsubscribe, send "Ag and Life Sciences Online unsubscribe."