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COLLEGE NEWS <br>
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AG EDUCATION AND STUDIES RANKS HIGH IN NATION<br>
The department of agricultural education and studies ranked highly in a study of the top 10 agricultural education programs in the nation, according to a paper in the American Association for Agricultural Education conference proceedings. The distinguishing characteristics of ISU's program were faculty, graduate program and international emphasis. More
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ENTOMOLOGISTS EARN TWO NATIONAL AWARDS<br>
Researchers at ISU and other land-grant universities have worked for many years to develop and implement management programs for soybean insect pests that are economically and ecologically sustainable. This fall, those efforts resulted in two national awards for a coalition of soybean researchers around the country, including ISU entomologists Matthew O'Neal and Erin Hodgson. One award is the 2009 National Excellence in Multistate Research Award from the American Public Land-Grant Universities. The other is the 2009 Integrated Pest Management Team Award from the Entomological Foundation. More
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LANSDALE TO SPEAK AT INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR SERIES NOV. 17<br>
The third seminar in the international seminar series, “Feeding the World: Are We Making Progress?” will be held Tuesday, Nov. 17, 12 to 1 p.m. in the Ensminger Room, 1204 Kildee Hall. Guest speaker is Jeffrey Lansdale, Chief of Party, USAID/MIDEH Project, National Education and Assessment Development in Honduras.
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STUDY EXAMINES RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MODERN PLANT SCIENCE AND DARWIN<br>
Aaron Gassmann, entomology, has co-authored a paper for the November issue of Pest Management Science journal focusing on the evolutionary analysis of herbivorous insects in natural and agricultural environments. A section of the journal is devoted to the relationship between modern pest science and the work of Charles Darwin. November marks the 150th anniversary of Darwin's work, On the Origin of Species. Herbivorous insects offer a remarkable example of the biological diversity that formed the foundation for Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection. The ability of insects to rapidly evolve resistance to insecticides and host-plant resistance present a continual challenge for pest management. The paper considers how genetic constraints, host-plant availability and evolutionary trade-offs affect the evolution of herbivorous insects in natural and agricultural environments. It also examines the extent to which lessons learned from studying natural systems may be applied to improve insect resistance management in agricultural systems. The paper also discusses how pest management capabilities can be advanced by learning from natural systems.
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CIANCIO SCHOLARSHIP AUCTION THIS WEEK<br>
Starting today and running through noon on Friday, Nov. 20, the Dairy Science Club will be sponsoring their seventh Internet auction to raise funds for the Alison Ciancio Memorial Scholarship. This year, the auction includes art, crafts and collectibles, historic agricultural books, jewelry and many other fun items.
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HOGBERG TO SPEAK AT THINK TANK ON ANIMAL AGRICULTURE NOV. 30<br>
Maynard Hogberg will present “Trends and Direction of Animal Science Departments in the Future” at the monthly Think Tank venue that begins with a social at 6 p.m., dinner at 6:30 and the presentation at 7 at The Broiler. For more information and to register: Julie Roberts (jrober@iastate.edu) on or before noon, Nov. 25. <br>
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CROP ADVISER INSTITUTE RECEIVES ASA EDUCATIONAL AWARDS<br>
Fifteen modules available through the Crop Adviser Institute received an award from the American Society of Agronomy Educational Awards Program. Twenty-one faculty and staff from agronomy, extension, plant pathology, USDA-ARS, and ag and biosystems engineering helped develop the modules. The Crop Adviser Institute has been making self-study courses for 10 years for certified crop advisers and agricultural professionals.
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DAIRY PRODUCTS EVALUATION TEAM WINS FOURTH PLACE<br>
The newly re-established Dairy Products Evaluation Team won fourth place in all products and third place in cottage cheese, cheddar cheese and butter category during the 88th Collegiate Dairy Products Evaluation Contest on Oct. 31. Team coach is Stephanie Clark, FSHN. Student members are Jun Lian Yeap, Jody Lohse, Sakthi Vijayakumar, Josh Carter, Jennifer Halstead and Babu Chinnasamy. It has been 34 years since ISU last had a Dairy Products Evaluation Team.<br>
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HORSE JUDGING TEAM PLACES IN NATIONAL CONTESTS<br>
Three students competed at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress and at the Arabian Horse Nationals during October. At the Congress, Angela Balduchi placed third in the halter division and finished seventh overall. McKenzie Wallace placed 13th in the halter division and 17th in reasons, allowing her to place 24th overall. At the Arabian Nationals, Wallace finished ninth in the performance division with Kole Schwarte placing 18th. Schwarte, Wallace and Balduchi finished 23rd, 25th and 27th overall. In both contests, the ISU threesome was the highest scoring three-person team. <br>
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DEAL LECTURE BY CHARLES MANATT NOW AVAILABLE AS PODCAST<br>
Charles Manatt, former U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, presented "Preparing Leaders to Meet Future Global Challenges" on Oct. 27 for the 2009 William K. Deal Endowed Leadership Lecture. Audio of the lecture is now available as a podcast on the ISU Lecture Programs website.
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THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE NOV. 16 TO 20<br>
The Association of Graduate Animal Scientists will be hosting a Thanksgiving food drive Nov. 16-20 to help families in the community. They would like nonperishable food items that would make up a Thanksgiving meal and/or money or gift cards to purchase perishable food items such as a turkey. Rosedale Shelter will distribute the baskets. Boxes will be in the following Kildee offices for collections: rooms 1221, 119, 201, 239, 313, 2255 and 2356. Money donations can be delivered to 1221 Kildee. <br>
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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE: NEXT ISSUE SET FOR NOV. 30<br>
Ag and Life Sciences Online will take off next week for Thanksgiving. It will resume Monday, Nov. 30. Happy Thanksgiving!<br>
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DEADLINES AND REMINDERS<br>
Nov. 17: CALS award nominations due
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EXTERNAL FUNDING<br>
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CALS LISTS PROPOSAL DUE DATES DURING WINTER BREAK <br>
Because many campus units will be operating with reduced hours and/or staff during the winter break, PIs may need to plan for additional lead time to help ensure timely preparation of budgets, routing of gold sheets, and proposal submission. To help in the planning process, CALS has compiled a list of due dates for competitive funding opportunities from several federal funding agencies.
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FUNDING INFORMATION, OPPORTUNITIES AND DEADLINE REMINDERS<br>
Dates listed are application deadlines. Contact: Roxanne Clemens, rclemens@iastate.edu<br>
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Nov. 30: Chemistry of Life Processes. More: <a href="http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503417&WT.mc_id=USNSF_39">http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503417&WT.mc_id=USN…; <br>
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Dec. 8: East Asia Pacific Summer Institutes for U.S. Graduate Students; 195 awards, $1.95 million total anticipated funding. More: <a href="http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5284&WT.mc_id=USNSF_39">http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5284&WT.mc_id=USNSF…; <br>
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Jan. 14: USDA/NIFA Specialty Crops Research Initiative; minimum $250,000 for standard research and extension projects, $2 million per year for Coordinated Agricultural Projects, $2 million per project for Regional Partnerships for Innovation, $500,000 for eXtension projects, $47.3 million total anticipated funding.
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Feb. 5: 2010 National Network for Environmental Management Studies Fellowship Program; associate, undergraduate or advanced students, 30 to 40 fellowships, $400,000 total anticipated funding.
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COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK<br>
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SEND YOUR INPUT ON AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE BY NOV. 20<br>
If you have not provided your input yet on the weekly Ag and Life Sciences Online newsletter, please fill out the survey at the link below by Friday, Nov. 20. It should take less than two minutes to fill out and the answers are anonymous. Please let us know how we can serve you better.
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ADD LITERARY FLAIR TO YOUR WRITING WITH QUOTATIONS<br>
Quotation websites have sprung up all over the Internet, but few provide the actual source of the quote. In many cases, the context of the quote can change the meaning from how it has become used in modern day. Scientific quotations with the proper source cited can be found in the following references at the Parks Library: Oxford Dictionary of Literary Quotations, Oxford Dictionary of Scientific Quotations and The Yale Book of Quotations.
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INFOGRAZING<br>
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ADVANCE WORKSHOP ON FACULTY FLEXIBILITY NOV. 17<br>
Mary Harris, Natural Resource Ecology and Management, will present ISU resources and policies that support faculty flexibility to balance work/life demands during an ADVANCE workshop on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 12 to 1 p.m. in the Gallery, Memorial Union.
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NOMINATIONS FOR LIVE GREEN EXCELLENCE AWARDS DUE DEC. 15<br>
Nominations for Live Green Excellence Awards are due Dec. 15. These awards are to recognize ISU faculty, staff and students who are making an impact on the campus' sustainability efforts by generating awareness and interest through initiatives that focus on teaching, research, outreach and/or operations.
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POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES RELATED TO <br>
BIORENEWABLE CHEMICALS AND FUELS<br>
Two post doctoral research associates are sought to work on a project assessing the sustainability of biobased chemical and fuel production systems. Applications are due Dec. 18. The Biosystems Analysis Group in the department of biosystems engineering and the Center for Biorenewable Chemicals are conducting the search. CBiRC is a multi-institutional Engineering Research Center funded by the National Science Foundation. For more information: Robert Anex, rpanex@iastate.edu, 4-6576. <br>
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IOWA 4-H YOUTH CONFERENCE PROPOSALS DUE JAN. 6<br>
"Set the Stage" is the theme for the 2010 Iowa 4-H Youth Conference, to be held June 29-July 1 on the ISU campus. One goal for the conference is to showcase the university and help in recruitment efforts. With 1,000 high school students from across Iowa attending, it is an opportunity for departments to share what they have available for potential students and make connections with future careers. Workshop proposals are due to Brenda Allen by Jan. 6, 2010, bsallen@iastate.edu, 4-1567.
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INTERNAL VOICES<br>
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SWENSON ON BEST PERFORMING CITIES<br>
“At least for a year, those Top 10 folks are going to be able to put that on their economic development brochures and go, `Woo hoo!'” said Dave Swenson, economics, in response to the Milken Institute's study on Best Performing Cities of 2009. The study assessed 124 small cities nationwide, and ranked Iowa City 22nd, Dubuque 44th, and Waterloo/Cedar Falls 84th. Dubuque Telegraph Herald, Nov. 13
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MARGINALIA<br>
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MIRROR, MIRROR, ON THE PEN…<br>
In the current issue of Animal Behaviour, researchers present evidence that domestic pigs can quickly learn how mirrors work and will use their understanding of reflected images to scope out their surroundings and find their food. The researchers cannot yet say whether the animals realize that the eyes in the mirror are their own, or whether pigs might rank with apes, dolphins and other species that have passed the famed “mirror self-recognition test” thought to be a marker of self-awareness and advanced intelligence. More: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/10/science/10angier.html?_r=1&em">http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/10/science/10angier.html?_r=1&em</a&…; <br>
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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE<br>
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EDITOR<br>
Julie Stewart, jstewart@iastate.edu<br>
Phone: (515) 294-5616
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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 jstewart@iastate.edu. To unsubscribe, send "Ag and Life Sciences Online unsubscribe."<br>
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Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. veteran. Inquiries can be directed to the Director of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, 3210 Beardshear Hall, (515) 294-7612.<br>
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