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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Newsletter
Iowa State University
July 12, 2010 No. 610
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COLLEGE NEWS
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DEANS TALK ABOUT CHANGES IN THEIR BUDGETS
"Inside Iowa State" talked with the deans of the seven colleges and the library to find out some of the bigger ways their units are becoming smaller, by necessity. Dean Wendy Wintersteen talks about significant changes in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
NEW ISSUE OF STORIES MAGAZINE FEATURES ANIMAL AGRICULTURE
A new issue of STORIES magazine is available and highlights the College's research and education programs in animal breeding and genetics, animal nutrition and animal welfare, plus stories on faculty, staff, alumni and students. For a print copy e-mail stories@iastate.edu.
POLICIES PAGE ADDED TO CALS WEBSITE
A new policies and guidelines page has been added to the CALS website under "Faculty & Staff" in the left hand column. The policies and documents are for CALS faculty and staff use and information, and additional items will be added as available.
IDALS WATER CHIEF HONORED AS EXTRAORDINARY PARTNER
Dean Lemke, water resource bureau chief for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, was presented the Impact Award for Extraordinary Partnership by CALS Dean Wendy Wintersteen on July 7. "Dean Lemke recognizes the importance of Iowa farmers producing food and fiber from our abundant soil and water resources, and the responsibility of doing so using sustainable methods," said Wintersteen.
GDCB FACULTY ANALYZE IMPACT OF CANCER DISCOVERY IN NATURE
Jo Anne Powell-Coffman and Clark Coffman, genetics, development and cell biology, were invited by the journal Nature to comment on breakthrough research that may ultimately lead to new treatments for cancer patients. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2010/jul/coffman
FSHN OFFERS PASTA CLASS, JULY 26-30
The Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition is offering a PASTA PASTA class on July 26-30, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in 200 MacKay Hall. The class will provide a combination of scientific instruction, demonstration and hands-on participation. More: http://www.ucs.iastate.edu/mnet/fpwpasta/home.html
ALL HORTICULTURE FIELD DAY, JULY 29
Demonstrating the newest computer applications in horticulture will be one of several presentations at the All Horticulture Field Day on July 29, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the ISU Horticulture Research Station near Gilbert.
CALS STUDENTS BLOG ABOUT SUMMER EXPERIENCES AT REIMAN GARDENS
From bugs to pesticides and educational programs to urban forestry, CALS students are sharing what they are learning through a blog on the Reiman Gardens website. The blogs emphasize the educational opportunities available at public gardens like Reiman Gardens. Samantha Blakly, a senior in agricultural and life sciences education, helps with educational programs for children. Louis Hilgemann, a junior in forestry, is learning about tree management. Renee Zbynski, a junior in agriculture and life sciences education, is expanding her understanding about good and bad insects.
WEB VIDEO AVAILABLE ON "EVALUATING YOUR CORN STANDS"
A new web video has been collaboratively produced by ISU Extension field agronomist Joel DeJong and Farmers Cooperative Society. In the video DeJong discusses corn root development and illustrates the difference between healthy versus less-than-ideal root development as corn plants transition from their seed to nodal root systems. More: http://www.farmerscoopsociety.com, then click on "Agronomy" link at the top of the page.
BIRRELL AND WHITE RECEIVE NEW PATENTS
Stuart Birrell, agricultural and biosystems engineering, was issued a patent on June 8 for "Air Movement Unit for Biomass Conveyance, Separation or Combine Performance Enhancement." Pamela White, food science and human nutrition, received a patent issued May 25 for "Terpene Ester Compounds as Autoxidation Inhibitors for Frying Oils."
MORE THAN 1,000 VISIT DAIRY FARM FOR DAIRY MONTH CELEBRATION
The ISU Dairy Farm was the site for a Dairy Month celebration on June 25. The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors who toured the farm. They enjoyed free samples of milk, cheese, yogurt and ice cream courtesy of Iowa's dairy processors. The celebration was sponsored by the Coalition to Support Iowa's Farmers, the Midwest Dairy Association, the Iowa State Dairy Association and the ISU Dairy Farm.
FARM FIELD DAY MOVES TO SCHOOL
Budget cuts are affecting schools all over Iowa. Due to budget cuts in the Maple Valley School District, the grade school's annual field trip to the ISU Western Research and Demonstration Farm in Castana was cancelled. So the farm's field day was moved to the students. Farm staff displayed pictures, progress reports, and distributed ISU wristbands and recruitment packets to 166 students and seven teachers. ISU students also brought the Iowa Learning Farm trailer to the school as part of the field day. More: Mark Honeyman, 4-4621, honeyman@iastate.edu
LATEST ISSUE OF GLOBAL UPDATE AVAILABLE ONLINE
The July-August issue of Global Update, a newsletter from CALS Global Agriculture Programs, is now available online.
DEADLINES AND REMINDERS
July 23: Retirement reception for Linda Schultz, 9:30 to 11 a.m., 142 Curtiss Hall
July 23-24: BBMB 50th Anniversary Celebration, http://www.bbmb.iastate.edu/
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EXTERNAL FUNDING
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FUNDING INFORMATION, OPPORTUNITIES AND DEADLINE REMINDERS
Dates listed are application deadlines. Contact: Roxanne Clemens, rclemens@iastate.edu
Aug. 13: Triple Bottom Line Accounting Competition: A Method for Identifying Impacts of Economic Development Initiatives on Regional Economies; one award, $500,000 for one year, cost sharing required.
Aug. 13 (preapplication required): DOE Early Career Research Program; 50 awards, $6 million total anticipated funding.
Aug. 16 (preproposals): Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Summer 2010 Request for Preproposals.
Aug. 16: EPA Forum on Environmental Measurement, Support to Develop Measurement Tools, Accreditation Standards and Technical Support; one award, $750,000 for up to five years.
Aug. 27: New York Stem Cell foundation Early Career Investigator Awards for Innovative and Translational Stem Cell Studies; $300,000 per year for up to five years. More: http://www.nyscf.org/innovator_awards/innovator_awards.html
Sept. 28: EPA Cooperative Training Partnership in Aquatic Toxicology and Ecosystem Research; $400,000 per award, $1.8 million total anticipated funding.
Oct. 5: NIFA Fellowships Grant Program; two-year awards, $75,000 for pre-docs, $130,000 for post-docs.
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COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE ARCHIVE ON THE WEB
Current and archive issues of Ag and Life Sciences Online, the weekly newsletter published by CALS, are available on the web at: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/agonline/
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INFOGRAZING
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CAMPUS MAIL CHANGES TOOK EFFECT JULY 1
Effective July 1, ISU postal and parcel services eliminated a campus delivery route (going from four routes to three). The net effect is different delivery times for some buildings and nearly an elimination of twice-a-day deliveries.
IOWA WOMEN IN AG CONFERENCE, EARLY REGISTRATION DEADLINE JULY 20
The Fourth Annual Iowa Women in Ag Conference will be July 27 at Kinze Manufacturing Inc. at Williamsburg. Speakers and topics will help women sharpen their financial, legal and communication skills. Early registration deadline is July 20. More: http://www.iowawomeninag.org/
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INTERNAL VOICES
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I'VE KISSED A PIG
"I've kissed a pig. I'll admit it. The squeaky-clean little porker was my show-and-tell subject in kindergarten. He was adorable. Our family had a small swine operation. My father did chores two five-gallon bucket loads at a time. I learned many lessons following behind Dad with a small pail of feed, among them basics of livestock production and care and welfare for animals." Melea Reicks Licht, editor of STORIES, writing in the new issue, which focuses on animal agriculture. STORIES is the CALS alumni magazine.
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EXTERNAL VOICES
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ISU NAMED BEST BUY IN 2011 FISKE GUIDE TO COLLEGES
"Love for Iowa State University runs as deep as its Midwestern roots. Strong programs in engineering, business and agriculture attract students from around the globe." Edward Fiske, New York Times educator editor and author of The Fiske Guide to Colleges. The 2011 Guide features more than 300 of the best and most interesting colleges and universities in the U.S., Canada and Great Britain. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2010/jul/fiskebestbuy
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MARGINALIA
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MANY YOUNG SCIENTISTS WANT TO DO A BETTER JOB OF COMMUNICATING
This spring, the Center for Communicating Science at State University of New York at Stony Brook, held workshops for students, postdoctoral researchers and faculty members on improving communication skills. In a workshop called "Distilling Your Message," participants worked "“ wrestled mightily in some cases "“ to come up with short, clear, conversational statements about what they do and why it matters. Last year actor Alan Alda led a series of workshops for science graduate students that used improvisational theater games to help them connect more directly with listeners. The goal was not to make them actors, but to help them become responsive partners in a conversation, rather than presenters to an audience. More: http://chronicle.com/article/Many-Young-Scientists-Want-to/66140/?sid=a…
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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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EDITOR
Julie Stewart, jstewart@iastate.edu
Phone: (515) 294-5616 Web site: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/
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