Issue: 580

................................................... COLLEGE NEWS ................................................... FINALISTS NAMED FOR ASSOCIATE DEAN/ANR EXTENSION DIRECTOR Two finalists have been selected for the position of CALS associate dean and Extension to Agriculture and Natural Resources director: Robert Burns, agriculture and biosystems engineering professor, extension manure management specialist and Agricultural Waste Management Laboratory director; and John Lawrence, economics professor, extension livestock economist and Iowa Beef Center director. Each candidate will present a 30-minute public seminar followed by a 30-minute question and answer session. The seminars, which also are available online through Adobe Connect, are scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 2, 11 a.m. in 9 Curtiss Hall (John Lawrence), and Dec. 8, 11 a.m. in 13 Curtiss Hall (Robert Burns). MAIZE GENOME SEQUENCE NOW COMPLETE ISU researchers played a key role in the now complete maize genome sequence. Patrick Schnable, agronomy, and lead author for the maize genome sequence publication, coordinates a team of researchers now using these data to address multiple biological questions. His team developed methods for the assembly of maize genome sequence data and conducted much of the ongoing functional analysis work as part of a multi-institutional, $29.5 million National Science Foundation-funded effort. HARRIS SHIPS H1N1 VACCINE FOR INFECTED SWINE HERD Hank Harris, animal science, developed the only swine vaccine available for the H1N1 virus this summer, and has been shipping preventive doses to swine producers in Iowa, Kansas and Illinois. For the first time, the vaccine has been sent to a producer in Indiana that had the pandemic flu diagnosed in the swine herd. KENEALY EARNS USDA EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AWARD Douglas Kenealy, animal science, received the annual USDA Food and Agricultural Sciences Excellence in Teaching Award on Nov. 11 in Washington, D.C. The award is based on teaching quality, philosophy and methodology; service to the profession and students; and professional growth and development. More COLLABORATION BUILDS NEXT GENERATION OF RESEARCH FACILITY FOR SWINE Ken Stalder and Anna Johnson, animal science, are among ISU researchers who recognized a need to evaluate a broader range of impacts on swine when studying health or performance. The new Swine Intensive Studies Laboratory at the College of Veterinary Medicine, a one-of-a-kind, state-of-the-art facility, allows researchers to measure changes in animal behavior, performance or health simultaneously during any research trial. STUDENTS PRESENT SERVICE LEARNING EXPERIENCES DEC. 1 The fourth seminar in the international seminar series, "Feeding the World: Are We Making Progress?" will be held Tuesday, Dec. 1, 12 to 1 p.m. in the Ensminger Room, 1204 Kildee Hall. Students will share their experiences from the 2009 Uganda ISU Student Service Learning Project. HORTICULTURE CLUB POINSETTIA SALE DEC. 1 The Horticulture Club will hold its annual poinsettia sale in Curtiss Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The club offers many unique and classic cultivars. The poinsettia range in price from $5 to $25. FACULTY MENTORS NEEDED BY DEC. 4 FOR CARVER INTERNS Faculty members interested in serving as mentors for the George Washington Carver Internship Program the summer of 2010, need to contact Mary de Baca, mmdb@iastate.edu, and fill out a form by Friday, Dec. 4. Mentors propose a research project that is put on the GWC Internship application Web site and from which applicants select their top three projects. IOWA ORGANIC CONFERENCE DEC. 4-5 The ninth annual Iowa Organic Conference will be held Dec. 4-5 at the Scheman Building. Keynote speaker will be Jerry DeWitt, Leopold Center director, whose work at ISU helped establish the nation's first organic research program at a land-grant university. FORESTRY CLUB CHRISTMAS TREE SALES DEC. 4-13 The Forestry Club Christmas Tree Sales will continue this Friday through Sunday, Dec. 4-6, and Dec. 11-13, at the Reiman Gardens parking area. Hours are Friday, 3 to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, 12 to 6 p.m. For more information: Tom Isenhart, 4-8056. SCIENCE WITH PRACTICE OPEN HOUSE DEC. 9 An open house and reception for Science With Practice participants will be held Dec. 9, 3:30 to 5 p.m. in the Kildee Hall Atrium. Science With Practice provides opportunities for students in CALS to learn and work experientially with faculty and staff in laboratories, farms, greenhouses and other units. CALS EXCEEDS ISU/UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN GOAL ISU's United Way campaign is now at 102.71 percent of its goal. CALS has collected $60,279, which is 103.22 percent of its goal. Donations are still being accepted. More: contact Carla Persaud, cpersaud@iastate.edu. PIONEER HI-BRED JOINS CORN AND SOYBEAN INITIATIVE PARTNERSHIP Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, has joined the Corn and Soybean Initiative. Through this partnership, Pioneer will help deliver ISU corn and soybean research information to growers. PROPOSALS FOR CAC INITIATIVE FUNDS DUE FEB. 12 The Computation Advisory Committee is searching for projects that will have a broad impact on student computing and represent innovative uses of technology for instruction at ISU. Student involvement in the development of proposals is encouraged. Proposals are due Feb. 12 to David Acker, dacker@iastate.edu. Please submit both an electronic copy and a signed copy. BLOCK AND BRIDLE CLUB RECEIVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION The Block and Bridle Club received national recognition at the 90th Block and Bridle National Convention, held Nov. 12-14, in Louisville, KY, in conjunction with the North American International Livestock Exposition. The club received first place for its Web site, first place for its annual yearbook, and third place in the club activities division. Club president Justine Hosch also received second place in the outstanding junior competition. More DEADLINES AND REMINDERS Dec. 1: Bioeconomy Conference Dec. 12: Applications due for Borlaug Scholar Award and Internship, David Acker, dacker@iastate.edu, 4-6614. Dec. 15: Nominations due for Live Green Excellence Awards Dec. 16: Proposals due for On-Farm Research and Demonstration Grant Program, <a href="http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/newsreleases/2009/103009_onfarm.html">http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/newsreleases/2009/103009_onfarm.htm…; ................................................... EXTERNAL FUNDING ................................................... PREPROPOSALS FOR ISE GRANTS DUE DEC. 7 Preproposals are being accepted for the International Science and Education Competitive Grants Program. Grants of up to $150,000 per award support research, extension and teaching activities to enhance capabilities to conduct international collaborative research, extension and teaching. Preproposals are due to the college of the lead PI by Dec. 7. Faculty split between two colleges may choose and submit to only one college. For CALS, send preproposals electronically to colletti@iastate.edu. EDUCATION FOCUS OF VPR/ED WORKSHOP ON DEC. 8 Education is the topic of a workshop on Dec. 8, 12 to 2 p.m. in the Gold Room, Memorial Union. The workshop will cover the Department of Education and the National Science Foundation as funding sources, and include presentations about the ISU Research Institute for Studies in Education and the Center for Excellence in Science, Math and Engineering Education. To register, contact Laurie Engleen, lengleen@iastate.edu. CALS LISTS PROPOSAL DUE DATES AND OSPA OFFICE HOURS DURING WINTER BREAK 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. The list and winter break schedule for the Office of Sponsored Programs Administration can be downloaded online. SOLICITATION OF HOSTS FOR 2010 GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM The 2010 Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program is soliciting host applications. The program provides opportunities for graduate master's level study in the United States to citizens of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. A single response for ISU will be submitted. Please respond to Roxanne Clemens (rclemens@iastate.edu) by Jan. 11 if you are interested in participating in this program. FUNDING INFORMATION, OPPORTUNITIES AND DEADLINE REMINDERS Dates listed are application deadlines. Contact: Roxanne Clemens, rclemens@iastate.edu Dec. 18: USDA/NIFA Assistive Technology Program for Farmers with Disabilities: State and Regional AgrAbility Projects; 10 to 13 new awards, $150,000 to $180,000, $4.3 million total anticipated funding (includes $2.3 million for new projects). Jan. 7: Bioengineering Research Grants (R01); no funding levels specified. Jan. 15: USDA/NIFA Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program; $35,000 regular proposals, $50,000 joint proposals, $1 million total anticipated funding. Feb. 9: USDA/NIFA Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI); awards range from $50,000 per award for conference and planning projects to $3 million per award for integrated projects, $19 million total anticipated funding. ................................................... INFOGRAZING ................................................... TOMORROW'S TABLE AUTHORS TO DISCUSS FUTURE OF FOOD DEC. 3 Pamela Ronald, plant biotechnologst, and Raoul Adamchak, organic food educator, will speak at ISU on Thursday, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m. in the Sun Room, Memorial Union. Authors of a book on the potential combination of biotechnology and sustainable farming methods, Ronald and Adamchak will talk about "Tomorrow's Table: Organic Farming, Genetics and the Future of Food." Their presentation is free and open to the public. FAO OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO GAIN INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has Volunteer and Associate Professional Officer programs available for young persons interested in gaining experience working in international organizations. Volunteers must be 18 years old and preferably have an academic interest in the mandate and subjects of the organization. ................................................... INTERNAL VOICES ................................................... ROTHSCHILD ON HIS WORK AS A SWINE GENETICIST "I've always thought that we should do jobs that matter in the world. If we can help feed people, that has a long-term effect." Max Rothschild, animal science, quoted in a story published in the November 2009 issue of Pork Exec, a supplement to Pork Magazine ................................................... EXTERNAL VOICES ................................................... AG INDUSTRY OFFICIALS: HIGH DEMAND FOR SCIENCE GRADUATES Agriculture industry officials say demand for science graduates outstrips supply. Monsanto, the St. Louis agribusiness that makes seeds, pesticides and an array of other farm products, can't hire enough. "We find it really hard to find people in science, in particular, because they tend to get snatched up by medical and health care related things," said Monsanto spokesman Darren Wallis, adding that it has openings for 100 researchers in St. Louis. ................................................... MARGINALIA ................................................... CALS ALUMNUS NAMED 2010 YOUNG SOYBEAN LEADER Matt Danner, agricultural systems technology and agronomy alumnus, has been named a 2010 ASA/Pioneer Young Leader by the American Soybean Association, the Iowa Soybean Association and Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc. Danner was chosen to represent Iowa in a program involving producer participants from 21 other states and Canada. A fifth generation farmer, Danner and his brother raise corn and soybeans on their Carroll County farm. More: <a href="http://wallacesfarmer.com/story.aspx?s=33213&c=9">http://wallacesfarmer.com/story.aspx?s=33213&c=9</a> ........................................................ AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE ........................................................ EDITOR Julie Stewart, jstewart@iastate.edu Phone: (515) 294-5616 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 jstewart@iastate.edu. To unsubscribe, send "Ag and Life Sciences Online unsubscribe." 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.