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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Newsletter
Iowa State University
Oct. 11, 2010 No. 623
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COLLEGE NEWS
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A SELECTION OF WORLD FOOD PRIZE-RELATED EVENTS
* Today, Oct. 11: Norman Borlaug Lecture at 8 p.m., Memorial Union Sun Room, featuring 2010 World Food Prize Laureates David Beckmann and Jo Luck. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2010/sep/BorlaugLecture
* Today, Oct. 11: Norman Borlaug Lectureship Poster Competition for graduate and undergraduate students at 7 p.m., Memorial Union Sun Room.
* Oct. 12: U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will provide opening remarks for a Global Farmer Town Hall Meeting on Sustainable Agriculture and Biodiversity Practices in the Alliant Energy-Lee Liu Auditorium, Howe Hall, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
* Oct. 12: Iowa Hunger Summit at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown. The Leopold Center and ISU Extension have organized a session titled "Local and Regional Food Systems: Countering Food Insecurity in Iowa." More: http://www.iowahungersummit.org/
* Oct. 15: Feeding the World Seminar Series at 12 p.m., 1204 Kildee Hall, featuring M.S. Swaminathan speaking on "Food Security in an Era of Climate Change."
CALS STUDENT COUNCIL HOSTING EVENTS OCT. 11-15
CALS student council is hosting events over the next five days for CALS Week 2010. Activities began today on central campus with a barbecue sponsored by the Iowa Pork Producers followed by the Ag Olympics. On Tuesday, Oct. 12, the CALS Council barbecue cook-off will take place 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on central campus sponsored by the Iowa Beef Industry Council. The AgEI Entrepreneurs roundtable dinner will be at 6 p.m. in the Memorial Union Cardinal Room. Wednesday's activities, Oct. 13, consist of an agronomy club barbecue 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on central campus and the CALS student dance 9 p.m. to midnight at the Memorial Union M-Shop. On Thursday, Oct. 14, will be the Team AgEd lunch at 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. NAMA will sponsor a softball tournament at 5:30 at the intramural softball fields (carlyc@iastate.edu). Friday, Oct. 15 is flannel day. Students eat free at all barbecues and lunches.
CALS BOOK SALE FOR UNITED WAY
CALS is sponsoring a book sale on Wednesday, Oct. 13, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in 142 Curtiss Hall. More than 200 paperback books, mostly fiction, are selling for $1 each, or seven for $5. After 3 p.m., $1 will buy two books. Proceeds go to the 2010 ISU United Way campaign. CALS is also sponsoring an online auction. More items have been added, including a large pumpkin. Bidding continues until 5 p.m. on Oct. 22. CALS has received $23,006 for the United Way campaign, or 37.29 percent of its goal.
BIOFUELS: POLICY AND TECHNOLOGY AT A CROSSROADS, OCT. 14
John Caupert, director of the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center, will present a seminar on "Biofuels: Policy and Technology at a Crossroads" on Thursday, Oct. 14 at 4 p.m. in 1951 Food Sciences Building. Sponsored by the Center for Crops Utilization Research.
LAWRENCE TO DISCUSS FOOD SYSTEMS FOR ONLINE NUTRITION CONFERENCE
John Lawrence, associate dean for extension programs and outreach, is a featured speaker for a two-part online conference on "Current Issues in Nutrition," beginning Oct. 18. Lawrence will discuss the economics of complementary food systems, including the contradiction between global and local food demand and systems to address the demand.
CALS CAREER FAIR SCHEDULED FOR OCT. 19
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is one of the new organizations that has committed to recruit at Ag Career Day, scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 19 at the Lied Recreation Athletic Center. Mike Gaul, director of CALS career services, said about 160 employers have signed up for the annual job fair.
HORTICULTURE CLUB FALL FESTIVAL, OCT. 23
The Horticulture Club will be hosting its annual fall festival at the Horticulture Research Station on Oct. 23 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The club will be selling apples and pumpkins produced on site along with local cider. Apple varieties include Iowa State's Chieftain apple and the Golden Delicious. There will also be tours, children's activities, speakers and demonstrations. The Horticulture Research Station is located 15 minutes from Ames on 170th Street, one mile east of highway 69. More: Rachel Kreis, club president, rakreis@iastate.edu.
NEW ONLINE TOOL HELPS USERS EXPLORE PRODUCE MARKETS
The Leopold Center and Iowa State's Institute for Transportation have created a web-based Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Market Planner. It shows rates of demand for 80 different crops. Users can target specific regions, consumers by age group, different time frames and product mixes "“ from fresh off-the-farm produce to demand for canned, dried or frozen products. More: http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/newsreleases/2010/092710_planner.ht…
RESEARCHERS STUDY ENERGY USE IN PIG PRODUCTION
ISU researchers have used the life cycle assessment concept to estimate the amount of nonrenewable energy needed to produce pigs in Iowa. Comparisons were made between a conventional confinement system with mechanical ventilation and liquid manure handling, and one that uses bedded hoop barns for grow-finish pigs and gestating sows. The project was supported by a grant from the Leopold Center and USDA/SARE.
NEW FISHERIES SYSTEM WILL SAVE ABOUT $20 MILLION
Some fisheries in the U.S. are poised to undergo major changes in the regulations used to protect fish stocks, and Quinn Weninger and Rajesh Singh, economics, estimate that the new system will be an economic boon to the fishing industry. The two estimated harvesting costs under the old system and compared that to the newly proposed fishing regulations that lift many restrictions that cause inefficiency while still limiting amounts to be harvested. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2010/oct/weninger
KENEALY NAMED FIRST RECIPIENT OF HARMAN PROFESSORSHIP
Doug Kenealy, animal science, has been named the first recipient of the Eldred and Donna Harman Professorship for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. Kenealy is a University Professor, professor-in-charge of the dairy science curriculum and section leader for animal science instruction. More: http://www.foundation.iastate.edu/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=10411
MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR MARCIA KING-BRINK, ANIMAL SCIENCE
A memorial service for Marcia King-Brink, animal science, was held Oct. 9 in Ogden. She died in an accident at her home on Oct. 2. King-Brink was manager of the Meat Science Chemistry Laboratory since 1989. In that role, she provided analytical services involving meat and food composition and quality measurements for many research groups at ISU. She was responsible for maintenance of laboratory equipment and development of new methods of analyses for meat components and ingredients. King-Brink also provided analytical support and product analyses for Meat Science Extension short courses.
SOIL JUDGING TEAM WINS REGIONAL COMPETITION
The Soil Judging Team took first place at the American Society of Agronomy Region 5 Collegiate Soil Judging Contest in North Platte, Neb., Sept. 26 to Oct. 1. Leah Ruff and Eric Schultz finished first and second, respectively, and Ben Butcher placed fourth in the individual judging portion of the competition. The team will travel to Oregon in spring 2010 to compete at the national competition.
SOCIOLOGY DEPARTMENT RECEIVES $1 MILLION GIFT COMMITMENT
Christine Johnson, ISU sociology alum, and her husband, Kris Giles, ISU entomology alum, announced a $1 million gift commitment to ISU at the CALS Alumni reception on Sept. 2. The deferred gift is part of their estate plan and will be split between sociology and entomology. Johnson's portion of the gift will fund graduate students scholarships in sociology. More: http://www.foundation.iastate.edu/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=10339
NEW PUBLICATION TOUTS BENEFITS OF PRAIRIES IN IOWA
The tallgrass prairies that once covered Iowa contributed to the state's fertile soil, but ISU researchers say this endangered ecosystem offers many other benefits to landowners. These are outlined in a new publication titled "Incorporating Prairies into Multifunctional Landscapes," written by Meghann Jarchow, Ph.D. candidate in agronomy, and Matt Liebman, agronomy.
SOW LONGEVITY SPREADSHEETS STILL IN DEMAND
This free software tool from the Iowa Pork Industry Center is available in three languages, and in English and metric measurement formats for both breed-to-wean and farrow-to-finish operations. As of Oct. 1, recipients from 41 foreign countries, 23 U.S. states and six Canadian provinces with influence over more than 32 million sows have requested and received at least one of the versions. More: http://www.ipic.iastate.edu/software.html#spreadsheets
ALUMNI BARBECUE AUDIO SLIDE SHOW ON CALS WEBSITE
Dean Wendy Wintersteen spoke about increased enrollment and 98.5 percent placement of graduates at the alumni barbecue in September. An audio slide show is available on the CALS website.
SCANNING TEAM PROVIDES NUMBERS AND INFORMATION
The Iowa Pork Industry Center reports that during the summer of 2010, the ISU scanning team traveled to 26 county fairs where members scanned 1,726 pigs. The scanning measurements can be used by individuals and families to aid in genetics decisions for their operation. The numbers also help determine carcass placings in the county fair contests, and are used by Extension staff members who hold post fair results/evaluation programs for youth hog show entrants to learn about the pigs they showed. More: Sherry Hoyer, shoyer@iasate.edu, 4-4496.
DEADLINES AND REMINDERS
Oct. 14: Pesek Colloquium at 8 p.m., Memorial Union Great Hall, http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2010/sep/McKibbenLecture
Oct. 18: Russian Senator Speaks on U.S./Russian Collaboration at 7 p.m., Memorial Union South Ballroom
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EXTERNAL FUNDING
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INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH SERVICE UNITS WORKSHOP, OCT. 26
An Introduction to Research Service Units workshop will introduce new faculty to the various research service units at ISU and explain the services they offer. Topics covered include how to look for funding opportunities, preparing and submitting a proposal, post-award management and oversight, compliance, managing conflict of interest, animal laboratories, environmental health and safety, and policies and procedures related to purchasing. The workshop is Oct. 26 from 12 to 2 p.m. in the Memorial Union Cardinal Room. Lunch is included, and advance registration is required. Contact Laurie Engleen, lengleen@iastate.ed or 4-6344. This workshop is part of the VPR/ED's faculty orientation and development program series.
UNDERSTANDING THE CULTURE OF NSF WORKSHOP, NOV. 4
Steve Howell, division director for Molecular and Cellular Biosciences at the National Science Foundation, will provide an overview of the NSF, help investigators understand how to find their way through this organization, and what it takes to get a proposal funded at a workshop on Nov. 4, 3:30 to 5 p.m. in the Memorial Union Cardinal Room. Advance registration is not required. This workshop is part of the VPR/ED's faculty orientation and development program series.
2011 HHMI-GBMF PLANT SCIENCES COMPETITION
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation are collaborating on a new program to support highly promising scientists from a range of disciplines relevant to plant sciences research. HHMI and GBMF will select up to 15 investigators who have led independent laboratories at one of the approximately 200 U.S. medical schools, universities and research institutes eligible for this competition. Those selected will receive five-year appointments to HHMI and substantial research support while remaining affiliated with their home institutions. Applicants must hold a doctoral degree and a tenured, tenure-track, or equivalent position with a rank of assistant professor or higher, with first appointment as assistant professor or equivalent no later than Dec. 31, 2006. Applicants must also be principal investigator on one or more active, national, peer-reviewed research grants that provide at least three years of support. The deadline for applications is Nov. 9, 2010, at 3 p.m. eastern time. Candidates may apply directly to HHMI.
PANEL DISCUSSION ON GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR USDA ORGANIC AND SPECIALTY CROPS PROGRAMS
Kathleen Delate, Bill Graves, Mark Gleason and Malcolm Robertson will lead a panel discussion on the application and review processes resulting in successful proposals for USDA specialty and organic crop programs on Oct. 18, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in 2104A Agronomy. They will speak from their various roles as panel manager, reviewer, grant recipient and/or participant in a recent USDA workshop on planning and managing systems-based projects. The panel discussion will include short presentations about the USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative, Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative and Organic Transitions Program. Advance sign-up is not required. More: Roxanne Clemens, rclemens@iastate.edu
FUNDING INFORMATION, OPPORTUNITIES AND DEADLINE REMINDERS
Dates listed are application deadlines. Contact: Roxanne Clemens, rclemens@iastate.edu
Oct. 19: Migratory Bird Joint Ventures Midwest Region FY 2011 Opportunities; 10 awards up to $50,000 each.
Nov. 7: Statistics. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5556&WT.mc_id=USNSF_39&…
Nov. 7: Probability. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5555&WT.mc_id=USNSF_39&…
Nov. 11: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellows Program; eligible disciplines include biomedical sciences, economics or other social sciences, social and behavioral health.
Feb. 16: NSF-Census Research Network. Eight to 12 awards, $18.5 million total anticipated funding. More: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10621/nsf10621.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT…
Nov. 1: Surpassing Evolution: Transformative Approaches to Enhance the Efficiency of Photosynthesis. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503517&WT.mc_id=USNSF_3…
Dec. 21 (letter of intent): NIH Director's Early Independence Awards (DP5). Two applications per institution are allowed. More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-10-019.html
Jan. 22 (letter of intent): NIDCD Research Grants for Translating Basic Research into Clinical Tools (R01); $275,000 over two years. More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-11-004.html
Jan. 28: Plant Genome Research Program; 15 to 25 new awards, $20 million total anticipated funding. More: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2011/nsf11500/nsf11500.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_179
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INFOGRAZING
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BORLAUG CAST COMMUNICATION AWARD RECIPIENT TO SPEAK OCT. 13
The 2010 Borlaug CAST Communication Award recipient, Akin Adesina, will be the keynote speaker at a special Council for Agricultural Science and Technology breakfast on Wednesday, Oct. 13. Adesina will address the need to impact public understanding of agriculture through communication. More: http://www.cast-science.org/
CLIMATE CHANGE TOPIC OF SIGMA XI LECTURE, OCT. 21
Bette Otto-Bliesner, senior scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Col., will present the Sigma Xi lecture on Oct. 21 at 8 p.m., Memorial Union Sun Room. Otto-Bliesner will speak on Climate Change: What Could Happen and What Can Earth's Past Tell Us?
SCIENTISTS AND SOLDIERS STUDY BEE COLONY COLLAPSE
Since 2006, 20 to 40 percent of the bee colonies in the U.S. alone have suffered "colony collapse." Suspected culprits ranged from pesticides to genetically modified food. Now, a unique partnership "“ of military scientists and entomologists "“ appears to have achieved a major breakthrough: identifying a new suspect, or two. More: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/07/science/07bees.html
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INTERNAL VOICES
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TWO MINUTES WITH"¦HONGWEI XIN
"So many days in the year we didn't have enough food to eat, let alone high-level protein from fish, chicken, pork or eggs. So having gone through that makes you have a passion. There are still some kids out there going through that sort of life. I want to give back to them." Hongwei Xin, agricultural and biosystems engineering and director of the Egg Industry Center.
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MARGINALIA
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NOT YOUR TYPICAL LUNCHEON
The Iowa Hunger Summit is scheduled for Oct. 12 at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown. Each year's "Hunger Luncheon" features simple meals used by Iowa organizations working to fight hunger. The menu might include fortified corn cakes served in Ghana and Nicaragua, a rehydrated rice-soy mix sent to Argentina, Burma, Haiti and Tanzania, or an after-school snack given to low-income kids here in Iowa. Now in its fourth year, the annual Iowa Hunger Summit aims to enhance public attention to both causes of and solutions to hunger, as well as to encourage increased action and partnership among Iowans. More: http://www.iowahungersummit.org/
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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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