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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Newsletter
Iowa State University
Aug. 23, 2010 No. 616
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COLLEGE NEWS
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OPEN FORUM SET SEPT. 8 FOR PRESIDENT'S AND PROVOST'S VISIT
President Gregory Geoffroy and Executive Vice President and Provost Elizabeth Hoffman will visit the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Sept. 8. Faculty and staff are invited to an open forum at 4:10 p.m. in the Curtiss Hall Auditorium, 127 Curtiss.
BREHM-STECHER AWARDED GRANT FROM GROW IOWA VALUES FUND
Byron Brehm-Stecher, food science and human nutrition, received one of 10 competitive grants from Iowa State's share of this year's Grow Iowa Values Fund. Brehm-Stecher is working with Advanced Analytical Inc. of Ames to study how an instrument developed by the company can be used to quickly detect foodborne pathogens and increase food safety. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2010/aug/GIVF10
RESOURCES ON EGG SAFETY
In light of the recent egg recalls, new links have been posted on the Egg Industry Center homepage, providing an overview of ISU and other resources on egg safety and related topics. https://www.eggindustrycenter.org/
RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION FARMS HOST LATE SUMMER FIELD DAYS
ISU's Research and Demonstration Farms and ISU Extension have scheduled several late summer field days beginning Aug. 25 at the Neely-Kinyon Research and Demonstration Farm near Greenfield and the Western Research and Demonstration Farm near Castana. Field days at this time of year commonly deal with issues involving crop development including the latest weather data.
FEEDING THE WORLD SEMINAR SERIES BEGINS SEPT. 8
The international seminar series, "Feeding the World: Are We Making Progress?" will begin Sept. 8 at 12 to 1 p.m. in the Ensminger Room, 1204 Kildee Hall. The first seminar will feature Dr. Montserrat Torremorell, Allen D. Leman Chair in Swine Health and Productivity, University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Her seminar topic is "Climate Change and Animal Diseases: How will this affect our food supply?" The seminar series is sponsored by the M.E. Ensminger International Chair in Animal Science, Raymond and Mary Baker Chair in Global Agriculture, and the Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods. Dates and topics for the fall series can be found online.
RNA IN MOTION CONFERENCE, SEPT. 9-12
RNA in Motion: The 19th Annual Growth Factor and Signal Transduction Conference will be held Sept. 9-12 in Ames. During the symposium, experimental and computational scientists will convene at ISU for informal discussion and interaction and to enable collaborations. The Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, the RNA Club and the Office of Biotechnology are sponsoring the conference.
SWINE SCIENCE ONLINE OFFERING CLASSES AT ISU
The U.S. Pork Center of Excellence is launching classes at six state universities through Swine Science Online. Starting in August, courses will be offered at ISU, Colorado State University, North Carolina State University, South Dakota State University, the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Missouri.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE STUDENT RECOGNIZED AT ROTC TRAINING
Kerrie Hughes, a senior in environmental science, was one of five U.S. Army senior cadets from the Cyclone ROTC Battalion at ISU recognized for their achievements at this summer's Operation Warrior Forge training event. Hughes also received the Platoon Leadership Award for being the top cadet in her platoon. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2010/aug/ROTCtraining
ALLEN CHRISTIAN: LIVING LEGEND
Allen Christian, swine herdsman at the ISU Swine Teaching Farm for 50 years before retiring in January 2010, is described as a living legend in the August 2010 cover story of Seedstock Edge Magazine, published by the National Swine Registry. The four-page article details a lifetime of achievement.
FARM PROGRESS SHOW: WORKING TOGETHER TO CARE FOR OUR LAND
The 57th Annual Farm Progress Show will be held Aug. 31 to Sept. 2 in Boone. This year's theme is "Working Together to Care for our Land." A list of ISU exhibitors and speakers is available online.
FARM PROGRESS SHOW: SHARING SCIENCE-BASED INFORMATION
The Farm Progress Show is an opportunity to engage producers from Iowa, the Midwest and the world. From the ISU building to the Hospitality Tent, from precision agriculture demonstrations in nearby fields to agribusiness displays, ISU faculty, researchers and specialists will be sharing science-based information, including: "¢ Jesse Randall, a forester with ISU Extension, is running programs on turning maple sap to syrup from the mobile ISU sugarhouse. "¢ Elwynn Taylor, agronomy professor and Extension climatologist, speaks twice a day on the current physical environment influences on crop production, protection and marketing. "¢ Kelvin Leibold and Steve Johnson, Extension farm management specialists, will discuss crop marketing, harvest, and handling and storage strategies during the noon hour each day. "¢ Mike Owen, agronomy professor and Extension weed science specialist, will discuss the evolution of herbicide-resistant weeds each day. "¢ Linda Naeve, Extension value-added agriculture specialist, will share information about high-tunnel production of vegetables and fruits. A complete list of Iowa State and ISU Extension personnel at show venues will be available at the ISU exhibit building. Wallaces Farmer, August 2010 issue, "ISU experts abound at show," pg. FPS54.
FARM PROGRESS SHOW: RESEARCH FARMS OFFER TOURS
ISU Research and Demonstration Farms are cooperating with the Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau for half day organized ISU farm tours during the Farm Progress Show, Aug. 31 to Sept. 2. Groups may choose from three predetermined tour bundles: Biomass (BioCentury Farm and Ag Engineering/Agronomy Farm); Livestock (Animal Science Teaching Farms and Dairy Farm); and Horticulture and Horses (Hort Station, Reiman Gardens and campus horse barns). Each visitor will get an information sheet listing faculty contacts for more in-depth information. More: Haley Cook, Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau, 956-4601, haleyc@amescvb.com.
FARM PROGRESS SHOW: ANNIE'S PROJECT
Annie's Project, an educational program dedicated to strengthening women's roles in the modern farm enterprise, is offering a seminar at the Farm Progress Show. "Farm Women's Role in Farm Transitions" will take place each day from noon to 1 p.m. in the Rural Life Tent. The seminar focuses on developing communication for the female farm business partner to initiate farm transition planning. ISU Extension assists the coordination of Annie's Project in Iowa.
FARM PROGRESS SHOW: COMMITMENT TO HEALTH AND SAFETY
The health and safety of Iowans involved in agriculture is a priority for several ISU Extension specialists who will offer research and educational materials at the Farm Progress Show, Aug. 31 to Sept. 2. Information will be available on the Agricultural Health Study, as well as the Iowa State Tug-of-War with Grain display.
DEADLINES AND REMINDERS
Aug. 25: Register for ISU tours to be held during Farm Progress Show
Sept. 7: CALS Fall Convocation, 4 p.m. in the Sun Room, Memorial Union.
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EXTERNAL FUNDING
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TIPS ON APPLYING FOR NIH GRANT FUNDING
The National Institutes of Health offers a "New Investigator Series" of articles on what it takes to be ready for an independent grant, how to choose a grant type and topic, and the resources needed to conduct the research. The most recent article in the series presents an expected timeline from preparation through review, which is normally between 12 and 21 months if a proposal is funded on the first attempt. These articles and other information about applying for NIH grants are posted online.
VPR/ED 2010-2011 FACULTY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM KICKS OFF SEPT. 9
The first session of the VPR/ED's 2010-2011 Faculty Development Programs will feature Mary Ann Leung, program manager at the Krell Institute, to discuss DOE's Computational Science Graduate Fellowship program. This DOE fellowship program provides outstanding opportunities and benefits to students pursuing a PhD in scientific or engineering disciplines with an emphasis in high-performance computing. The session will be held on Sept. 9, noon to 1:30 p.m. in The Gallery, Memorial Union. All interested faculty, staff, post-docs and senior grad students are welcome. Registration is not required.
VPR/ED REQUESTS CONCEPT PAPERS FOR BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND GRANT PROGRAM
The Office of the VPR/Ed is accepting concept papers for the Burroughs Wellcome Fund "“ Investigators in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease program. The program provides grants totaling $500,000 ($100,000 per year for five years) to accomplished investigators early in their careers to pursue new avenues of inquiry and higher-risk research projects that hold potential for advancing the biochemical, pharmacological, immunological and molecular biological understanding of how infectious agents and the human body interact. Concept papers must be submitted via email to Dorothy Pimlott by close of business on Sept. 7 for internal review. The selected candidate(s) will be announced in mid-September. For more information, contact Dorothy Pimlott.
FUNDING INFORMATION, OPPORTUNITIES AND DEADLINE REMINDERS
Dates listed are application deadlines. Contact: Roxanne Clemens, rclemens@iastate.edu
Sept. 14: NSF International Research Fellowship Program; 30 to 35 awards, $3.5 million total anticipated funding per fiscal year. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5179&WT.mc_id=USNSF_39&WT.mc_ev=click
Sept. 14: NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. $100,000 to $600,000, 100 new awards, $70 million total anticipated funding; one submission allowed per college.
Sept. 24: David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellowship Program; salary, research and travel funding for two years. More: http://www.conbio.org/smithfellows/
Sept. 30: Agricultural Innovation in Southern Sudan; five awards, $500,000 to $2 million per award, matching funds required. Nov. 2: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Grand Challenges in Global Health, Round 6; $100,000 for Phase I grants, successful projects may receive an additional $1 million Phase II grant.
Nov. 15-22: NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program; 2,000 awards, three years of support usable over five years, $158.2 million total anticipated funding. More: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10604/nsf10604.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click
Dec. 10: Advancing Digitization of Biological Collections; one Home Uniting Biocollections award as a cooperative agreement, six to 11 Thematic Collections Networks awards, $10 million total anticipated funding. Only one proposal allowed from an organization as lead organization for each program. More: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10603/nsf10603.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click
Dec. 15: Plant Sciences Institute, Phase II Team-Enabling Grants Program for FY11.
March 11: Transforming STEM Learning; 15 awards, $500,000 to $2 million per award.
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COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
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BEYOND THE EXPERIENCE OF TODAY'S COLLEGE FRESHMAN
As professors dust off their lecture notes in preparation for the new academic year, they might want to vet their cultural references with the folks at Beloit College. Each August, Beloit publishes its Mind-Set List to bring professors and administrators in sync with the minds of today's freshmen, who were born in 1991. For the average member of the Class of 2013:
"¢ They have never used a card catalog to find a book.
"¢ Margaret Thatcher has always been a former prime minister.
"¢ The KGB has never officially existed.
"¢ Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Latvia, Georgia, Lithuania and Estonia have always been independent nations.
"¢ There has always been a computer in the Oval Office.
"¢ They have never had to "shake down" an oral thermometer.
"¢ Phil Jackson has always been coaching championship basketball.
"¢ The Green Giant has always been Shrek, not the big guy picking vegetables.
"¢ Nobody has ever responded to "Help, I've fallen and I can't get up."
"¢ There has always been blue Jell-O.
More: https://www.chronicle.com/article/beyond-the-experience-of-todays-college-freshman-johnny-carson-and-the-kgb/
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INFOGRAZING
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LAND-GRANT EXPERTISE SOUGHT FOR IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and land-grant university leaders have held conversations on how agricultural experts may contribute to the U.S. government's mission in Afghanistan and Iraq. Faculty and staff who are interested in serving abroad to help revitalize the significant agricultural economies in these countries can find out more and apply with the USDA. Specializations such as natural resource management and conservation, crop production and post-harvest management, animal husbandry and extension are vital to mentoring and building the capacity of Afghans and Iraqis in their agricultural institutions. Learn more about the work in each country by visiting the website, or by contacting Bobby Richey, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, at Bobby.Richey@fas.usda.gov or phone (202) 720-8832. To apply for jobs in Afghanistan or Iraq, visit http://www.usajobs.com/ and search under the keywords "USDA Iraq" or "USDA Afghanistan."
NEW ISU POLICY ON PROJECTS INVOLVING HUMAN PARTICIPANTS
Under the revised policy on Course-Related Student Projects Involving Human Participants, most course-related student projects (including Honors projects) no longer require IRB review. This is a significant change that should be beneficial for instructors and students, while allowing ISU to remain in compliance with the federal regulations and protect research participants.
ONE HEALTH: RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM TO BE HELD SEPT. 15
"One Health Symposium: People, Plants and Animals" is being planned for Sept. 15 in the Scheman Building. The goal is to foster transdisciplinary collaboration in the health sciences that may lead to multi-investigator federal grant proposals and eventually training grants. The symposium will include a keynote presentation by Roger Mahr, CEO of the One Health Commission, and a luncheon presentation by Josephine Briggs, director of NIH's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Faculty presentations and discussions will be interspersed throughout the day. More: Jim Bloedel, biomedical sciences, jbloedel@iastate.edu
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INTERNAL VOICES
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MILLER ON CROP PRODUCTIVITY AND LAND STEWARDSHIP
"We must see crop production as part of an ecological system. The ISU display makes it evident that crops, soil and water are inter-related. By just walking into the building and seeing the soil cores, visitors will understand that soil is a physical, chemical and biological product, and that Iowa soil is very friendly to plant roots." Gerald Miller, interim vice president for ISU Extension and Outreach, and an ISU exhibit building host at the Farm Progress Show, Aug. 31 to Sept. 2. Wallaces Farmer, August 2010 issue.
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EXTERNAL VOICES
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FARM PROGRESS SHOW HELPS KEEP BOONE COUNTY BEAUTIFUL
"We are very proud that garbage produced locally is turned into energy used locally. We appreciate the Farm Progress Show working with us to maintain that effort." Scott Smith, Boone County Landfill administrator, explains that waste from the Farm Progress Show site will be hauled to the Ames Power Plant, shredded, mixed with coal at a ratio of 10 percent waste to 90 percent coal, and burned to generate electricity. Eighty-five percent of the waste by weight will be converted to energy. Wallaces Farmer, August 2010 issue.
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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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