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COLLEGE NEWS <br>
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VEISHEA 2010 – TODAY’S VISION, TOMORROW’S TRADITIONS<br>
Veishea 2010 is set for April 12-18, and student organizers have scheduled the week with traditional activities and new events.
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VEISHEA: FORESTRY STUDENTS REVIVE TRADITION<br>
As part of Veishea festivities, forestry students have revived a tradition from the 1960s. Forestry students will face off against civil engineering students in a Tug-of-War competition on central campus at 11 a.m., Friday, April 16. The winner will be presented with the coveted double-bit trophy that also dates back to the early years of this event. <br>
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VEISHEA: CALS HOSTS FRIDAY’S CAMPUS BARBECUE<br>
CALS will host the campus barbecue 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday, April 16. Cheese, sausage and pepperoni pizza will be served, along with cookies and lemonade. <br>
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VEISHEA: AGRONOMY CLUB FOOD STAND<br>
The Agronomy Club will be selling hamburgers, pork burgers, bratwurst, hot dogs, steak sandwiches and grilled sweet corn for Veishea. The food stand will be located in front of Science 1, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, April 16, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 17. <br>
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SAMUEL BIRD SELECTED TO BE 2010 UDALL SCHOLAR<br>
The Udall Foundation has named Samuel Bird, a second-year student in global resource systems and economics, a 2010 Udall Scholar. The foundation awards scholarships to undergraduate students committed to careers related to the environment or Native American issues.
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AWARDS PRESENTED BY ISU AGRICULTURE HONOR SOCIETY<br>
The Iowa Chapter of the Honor Society of Agriculture, known as Gamma Sigma Delta, presented awards April 8 to CALS faculty, alumni and students. Forty-two undergraduate students and 29 veterinary medicine and graduate students were included into the honor society.
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NEW SERIES ON ECONOMICS OF GROWING ALTERNATIVE CROPS<br>
A new series of crop and livestock enterprise budgets available from the Leopold Center and the Beginning Farmers Center gives farmers a quick overview of what alternative operations might work for them and how. Enterprise budgets for sweet corn, sorghum, popcorn, sheep and beekeeping are provided initially. More: <a href="http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/newsreleases/2010/040910_enterprise…">http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/newsreleases/2010/040910_enterprise…; <br>
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MYCOTOXIN FACT SHEET NOW AVAILABLE<br>
A fact sheet about mycotoxin contamination of corn is now available from the Iowa Pork Industry Center. John Patience, animal science, hopes pork producers, nutritionists and veterinarians will find the fact sheet helpful in understanding what mycotoxins are and how their presence in corn can affect swine. <br>
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SURVEY OF ISU GRADS REVEALS FACTORS THAT MAKE AN ENTREPRENEUR <br>
In early 2008, 25,000 graduates were surveyed to gather information on career paths, employment status, further education, entrepreneurial activities, community engagement and current income. Robert Jolly, economics, and others have been sifting through the responses to develop a series of papers that outline how the university experience impacted graduates’ lives. The most recent paper deals with entrepreneurial activities of graduates: nearly 20,000 businesses were created, along with 223,000 jobs. About 72 percent of the businesses were established in Iowa or nearby Midwestern states.
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FIELD AGRONOMIST VOLUNTEERS IN UKRAINE<br>
Mark Licht, ISU Extension field agronomist, recently returned from a volunteer assignment to Ukraine where he advised farmers on how to improve their practices in growing and harvesting corn and soybeans. Licht’s trip was part of a project with CNFA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people and enterprises in the developing world.
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DOUBLED HAPLOID TECHNOLOGY OFFERED AT ISU<br>
Agronomists in CALS are offering doubled haploid technology that allows corn breeders to more quickly produce inbred lines for research or private use. Thomas Lubberstedt, associate professor and K.J. Frey chair in agronomy and director of the Baker Center for Plant Breeding, has launched a Doubled Haploid Facility at ISU that can develop pure, inbred corn lines in less time than traditional methods. <br>
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SIXTH ANNUAL RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM TO BE APRIL 21<br>
The Graduate Program in Sustainable Agriculture will convene its sixth annual research symposium on April 21 in the Kocimski Auditorium, College of Design. Dr. Thomas Tomich, University of California-Davis, will make the keynote presentation. The program is free and open to the public, but participants are asked to confirm their participation with Charles Sauer, csauer@iastate.edu.
BIGMAP SYMPOSIUM TO FOCUS ON GLOBAL FOOD, FEED AND FUEL<br>
Experts from around the world will gather to share current research and perspectives on seed trade and biotechnology innovation April 27-28 at the seventh annual symposium of the Biosafety Institute for Genetically Modified Agricultural Products. “Food, Feed and Fuel for the World: Seed and Biotechnology,” will be held at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center.
PQA PLUS® ADVISOR TRAINING AVAILABLE MAY 19<br>
Veterinarians and others in Iowa’s pork industry have the opportunity to become Pork Quality Assurance Plus® Advisors at an Iowa Pork Industry Center training to be held May 19 in the Ensminger Room, Kildee Hall. The application deadline is May 5. <br>
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CALS STUDENTS RECEIVE ICIA SCHOLARSHIPS<br>
The Iowa Crop Improvement Association recognized five agronomy students as scholarship recipients at its annual meeting on Feb. 25. Heidi Dittmer (Lacona), Daniel Gradert (Ireton), Sonia Kendrick (Cedar Rapids) and Jenna Steele (Washington) each received a $1,000 scholarship from the association. Lauren Brown (Streamwood, Ill.) was awarded the $1,000 seed science scholarship. Members of the 2010 Crops Team were also recognized. Coach Russ Mullen introduced team members and ICIA president Lee Huey presented them with a certificate.<br>
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DEADLINES AND REMINDERS<br>
April 14: Pfizer Animal Health Product Day (10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) and Research Seminar (12 to 1 p.m.), 1226 Vet Med., llorenzen@iastate.edu for reservations. <br>
April 19: CALS Student Computer Fee Proposals due
April 21: Food Science and Humanitarianism Lecture, 8 p.m., Memorial Union Sun Room More
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EXTERNAL FUNDING<br>
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CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR "GROW IOWA VALUES FUND" GRANTS COMPETITION<br>
The Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development has announced the sixth round of the grants program designed to expand the commercialization of ISU technology. The program is supported by Iowa economic development appropriations to the Board of Regents (“Grow Iowa Values Fund”). All ISU tenured or tenure-track faculty and staff at P17 or above are eligible to apply. Proposals should be submitted by email to industry@iastate.edu no later than June 1, 2010. Colleges will rank the proposals from their colleges and submit them to the Office of VPR/ED for consideration by the Commercialization Team. Application guidelines are posted online. <br>
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REPORTING AFRI LETTERS OF INTENT<br>
During the 2010 cycle of the AFRI competitive grants program, CALS administration is asking CALS PIs to notify the college as they submit letters of intent to the AFRI Foundational and five challenge area programs. The only information being requested is the name of the program to which a letter of intent is being submitted. This information will assist with potential Coordinated Agricultural Project grant development and management of the flow of GoldSheet submissions. PIs are asked to forward the information to Roxanne Clemens (rclemens@iastate.edu) and to copy their department chair or center director.<br>
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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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April 26 (preproposals): Conservation Innovation Grants; awards up to $1 million for up to three years, matching funds required (some in-kind allowed), $25 million total anticipated funding. <br>
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May 19: Targeted Watersheds Grants Program: Urban Watershed Capacity Building Grant; approximately $600,000 total anticipated funding (includes subcontracts), 25 percent cost share required. <br>
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May 20: Robert E. Shope International Fellowship in Infectious Diseases; MDs, DVMs, PhDs are eligible to apply; $25,000 for research abroad.
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June 8: Renewable Resources Extension Act – National Focus Fund Projects; $38,000 to $100,000 per award, $275,000 total anticipated funding.
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June 16: Identification and Characterization of Molecular Targets Within the mTOR Pathway with Potential to Impact Healthspan and Lifespan (R21); $275,000 (total direct costs) over two years. More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-164.html
July 7: Opportunities for Promoting Understanding through Synthesis, NSF Division of Environmental Biology; eight awards, $125,000 to $150,000 per award, $1.2 million total anticipated funding. More: <a href="http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13403">http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13403</a> <br>
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July 8: EPA Research to Improve Risk Communication Strategies During and After the Decontamination/Clearance Phase of an Intentional Biological Release; two awards, $375,000 per award up to three years, $750,000 total anticipated funding.
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July 9: Math and Science Partnership (Institute Partnerships, MSP-Start Partnerships, Phase II Partnerships, RETA Projects); 17 to 27 awards, $300,000 to $5 million per award, $42 million total anticipated funding for FY2011. More: <a href="http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5756">http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5756</a> <br>
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Sept. 16: Macrosystems Biology: Research on Biological Systems at Regional to Continental Scales; two categories of awards, 10 to 15 awards, $20 million total anticipated funding. More: <a href="http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503425">http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503425</a> <br>
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Sept. 30 (concept papers required): USAID Emergency Food Security Program; multiple awards, $30 million total anticipated funding. <br>
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INFOGRAZING<br>
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HEALTH SCIENCES RESEARCH WEEK FOCUSES ON GENETICS<br>
The University of Iowa has invited interested ISU students, faculty and staff to attend Research Week – Genetics in the Health Sciences at the University of Iowa. Events will take place Tuesday, April 13, through Thursday, April 15. <br>
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SEVERE STORM SPOTTER TRAINING RESCHEDULED FOR APRIL 27<br>
The Environmental Health and Safety severe storm spotter training has been rescheduled for April 27, 1:30 to 3 p.m. in the Gallery, Memorial Union. Presented by the National Weather Service, Des Moines, the training is open to all ISU faculty, staff and students. Departments with people working outdoors are encouraged to attend. Registrations from the original class will not carry over, so those interested will need to register again. More: ksgodfr@iastate.edu, 4-2193.<br>
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SAVE THE DATE: SYMPOSIUM SCHEDULED FOR SEPT. 15<br>
A symposium titled “Health Research: Plants, Animals and People” will be held Sept. 15. The goal is to foster transdisciplinary collaborations in the health sciences that may lead to multi-investigator federal grant proposals and eventually training grants. Participation is also sought for the planning process. Four subcommittees have been asked to work on the following sessions: regulation of cell processes (Allen Miller); animal and plant diseases impacting humans (Sue Fairbanks); prevention sciences, behavior and wellness (Diane Birt) and environmental impact on health (Jim Bloedel). More: Jim Bloedel, jbloedel@iastate.edu, 4-4415. <br>
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MARGINALIA<br>
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IOWA AND JAPAN CELEBRATE 50 YEARS OF AGRICULTURAL COOPERATION<br>
In 1959 Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, had experienced two typhoons in less than a month, devastating agricultural production in the region. An Iowan working in public relations for the U.S. Air Force in Tokyo thought that sending pigs from Iowa to the prefecture might help the agricultural industry in the area. Sergeant Richard Thomas’ idea came to fruition in Jan. 1960 when 36 meat breeding hogs, donated by Iowa farmers, were flown to Japan on a plan provided by the U.S. Air Force. The Special Collections Department of the ISU Library has papers of one of the participants in the hog lift event, Walter Goeppinger, then president of the newly created National Corn Growers Association. His collection contains a scrapbook given to him by the Yamanashi Governor. <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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