College News
Jungst to Become Department Chair July 1
Steve Jungst, natural resource ecology and management, will become interim department chair July 1. His term will be for up to two years, while a directed search for a chair is conducted. From 1985 to 1995 Jungst served as chair of the forestry department, which combined with the animal ecology department in 2002 to form natural resource ecology and management. Jungst earned bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees in forestry from Iowa State and joined the Iowa State faculty in 1974. He takes over for Rick Hall, natural resource ecology and management, who has been serving as interim chair since 2008.
Biopolymers/Biocomposites Researchers to Exhibit at International Plastics Show
Iowa State researchers who believe there is a future in making plastics from crops or byproducts of crops processing are taking their show on the road. Members of the Biopolymers and Biocomposites Research Team will exhibit at an international plastics showcase June 22-26 in Chicago.
Agronomist Featured for Helping the Hungry Feed Themselves
Mark Westgate, professor of agronomy, talks about being director of the Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods in the Two Minutes web feature.
Iowa State Agronomy Master's Program Reaches Milstone
The Iowa State Master of Science in Agronomy distance education program reached a milestone this spring with the graduation of its 60th student.
Researcher Identifies Genetic Pathway Responsible for Plant Growth
Researchers at Iowa State University have discovered a previously unknown pathway in plant cells that regulates plant growth.
Researcher Identifies Genetic Plant Growth Pathway
Researchers at Iowa State have discovered a previously unknown pathway in plant cells that regulates plant growth. Yanhai Yin, genetics, development and cell biology, examined signaling mechanisms of a plant hormone called brassinosteroids. The hormone controls the growth of cells.
Economists Assess Recession's Impact on Wages, Immigrant Workers
The country's serious economic downturn may not have hit rock bottom yet and two Iowa State economists have been studying what that's actually meant to workers.
Deadlines and Reminders
June 1: Spencer Award for Sustainable Agriculture deadline
June 3-5: 75th anniversary celebration of Iowa State statistics
June 9-10: Agricultural and Food Traceability Conference, Renaissance Savery Hotel, Des Moines, http://www.ucs.iastate.edu/mnet/traceability/home.html
June 21-23: North Central Division American Phytopathological Society meeting, Reiman Gardens
External Funding
Funding Information, Opportunities and Deadline Reminders
Dates listed are application deadlines. Contact: Roxanne Clemens, rclemens@iastate.edu
- June 9: Energy Audits and Renewable Energy Development Assistance Grants; 30 awards, $2.4 million available.
- June 19: Midwest Advanced Food Manufacturing Alliance (MAFMA) Proposal Competition; $50,000 requires 1:1 industry match.
- June 23 (letter of intent): National Security Science and Engineering Faculty Fellowship (NSSEFF). White paper due July 7, proposals due Oct. 16; $4.25 million per award, $42.5 million available.
- June 26 (letter of intent for planning grant): Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers Program. Proposals due Sept. 25; $6,000 to $200,000 per award, $10 million available.
- June 26 (notice of intent): Research Opportunities in Space Life Sciences: Fundamental Space Biology - Animal Physiology. Proposals due August 26; funding level not yet specified.
- July 28: Multicultural Scholars Grants Program; $20,000 to $480,000, $981,000 available.
- Aug. 5: Exploring Linkages Between Health Outcomes and Environmental Hazards, Exposures, and Interventions for Public Health Tracking and Risk Management; five regular awards ($500,000 each), two early career awards ($250,000 each).
- Aug. 17: Advancing Public Health Protection through Water Infrastructure Sustainability; $300,000 to $600,000, $6 million available.
- Oct. 13: Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DOE-EPSCoR) Implementation Awards. Funding level not yet specified.
Communications Kiosk
An Allusion is Not an Illusion
"Allusion" means an indirect reference, as in, "The allusion was to his opponent's war record." "Illusion" means an unreal or false impression, as in, "The scene director created the illusion of choppy seas." (The Associated Press Stylebook, 42nd ed., 2007)
Infograzing
Many Ways to Get to Parks Library
When it's inconvenient to get to Parks Library, consider getting online questions answered anytime. Click the "Ask A Librarian" link at the top of the Library's homepage (http://www.lib.iastate.edu) and the page will guide you through using Instant Messaging a librarian, which works from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday; chatting with a librarian, which is available around the clock through the 24/7 Academic Cooperative and the Greater Western Libraries Alliance; or by emailing, with a response within one to two business days. Or you can call 4-3642 during business hours. (Your Library Newsletter, May 13)
External Voices
Commencement Speaker Urges Time Without Computers and Cell Phones
"Turn off your computer. You're actually going to have to turn off your phone and discover all that is human around us. Nothing beats holding the hand of your grandchild as he walks his first steps."
Eric Schmidt, Google's chairman and chief executive, in his commencement address at the University of Pennsylvania (May 19, Chronicle of Higher Education)
Marginalia
"Walking the Farm" Starts Standford Tradition
The past few springs have renewed the rural tradition of walking the farm to the "former horse farm known as Stanford University," according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. Instead of checking fences, groups of faculty and students take a 23.5-mile "moving seminar" around the perimeter of the 8,200-acre Stanford property. Water was the theme of last year's walk, and this year's hike looked at biodiversity and habitat.
Ag and Life Sciences Online
Editor
Ed Adcock, edadcock@iastate.edu
Phone: (515) 294-5616
Website: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/
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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."