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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Newsletter
Iowa State University
Feb. 21, 2011 No. 639
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COLLEGE NEWS
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ISU WINS $20 MILLION GRANT
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture has awarded a $20 million grant to ISU for regional research on keeping Midwest cornfields resilient in the face of future climate uncertainties. ISU researchers will coordinate a team of 42 scientists from 10 land-grant universities and two USDA Agricultural Research Service institutions in nine states in the north central region. The team will collect and analyze data over the next five years.
ISU LEADERS ASK FOR STATE SUPPORT FOR ABE COMPLEX
President Gregory Geoffroy, along with Dean Wendy Wintersteen and Dean Jonathan Wickert, asked Governor Terry Branstad and legislators to consider an appropriation of $19.4 million next fiscal year and $41 million the following year to build a new home for the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering. Branstad received a tour of Davidson Hall, built in 1922 and still the home of ABE, on Feb. 18. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2011/feb/abecomplex
YOU'RE INVITED: FFA PANCAKE BREAKFAST ON TUESDAY
Collegiate FFA is hosting a free pancake breakfast in celebration of FFA week on Tuesday, Feb. 22, from 7 to 9 a.m. in the Kildee Pavilion. Celebrity chefs will be serving pancakes and scrambled eggs. The event is open to students, faculty and staff.
ANIMAL INDUSTRY REPORT AVAILABLE ONLINE
The 2011 ISU Animal Industry Report is now available online. This year's edition has more than 90 articles featuring animal industry-related research done at ISU and supported by the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station.
CALS SEEKING ASSISTANT DEAN FOR DIVERSITY AND GRADUATE PROGRAMS
CALS is seeking internal applicants for the position of assistant dean for diversity and graduate programs. The assistant dean will play a key leadership role in ensuring excellence in the college's diversity programs for undergraduate and graduate students. Applications are due March 1. Under faculty, see posting titled "Assistant Dean for Diversity and Graduate Programs," vacancy #110022
CANCELLED DEMONSTRATION OF THE NEW ADOBE CONNECT 8
The Brenton Center has cancelled the demonstration of the new Adobe Connect 8 at 1 p.m., Feb. 23 in 13 Curtiss Hall. Contact Rod Fischer (videoguy@iastate.edu) if you have questions about how the Brenton Center can assist you with using Adobe Connect for online meetings, eLearning and webinars.
SOWBRIDGE EDUCATIONAL SERIES BEGINS FOURTH YEAR, MARCH 2
The SowBridge distance education offering will begin its fourth year on March 2, and there is still time to register. The program is designed to improve the understanding and application of various tools, techniques and technologies involved in daily care of the breeding herd and piglets. More: Sherry Hoyer, shoyer@iastate.edu, (515) 204-4496.
IOWA WATER CONFERENCE, MARCH 7-8
"More Water to Manage" is the theme for this year's Iowa Water Conference hosted by the Iowa Water Center on March 7-8 in the Scheman Building. Featuring the combined conferences of Agriculture and Environment, Flood Plain Management, Iowa Learning Farms, Stormwater and Water Monitoring, the conference strives to create greater awareness of Iowa urban and agricultural water issues through sustainable watershed management.
BURDEN ELECTED P&S COUNCIL PRESIDENT-ELECT
Dan Burden, Agricultural Marketing Resource Center, was elected P&S Council president-elect at the Feb. 10 council meeting. He will serve as president for the 2012-13 term.
BREHM-STECHER AND FORMER GRAD STUDENT'S TEST METHOD FILMED
Byron Brehm-Stecher, FSHN, and former ISU graduate student Bledar Bisha were recently filmed by the Journal of Visualized Experiments to demonstrate their fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) method to quickly test for salmonella on produce. Video: http://www.jove.com/Details.stp?ID=2308
KRAFT, FOOD TECHNOLOGY PROFESSOR AND ALUM, DIED FEB. 5
Allen Kraft, retired professor of food technology, died Feb. 5. He was 87. After earning his doctorate from ISU in food technology in 1953, Kraft joined the staff of the Poultry Products Division of USDA, where he worked as a food technologist until he moved back to Iowa State in 1959, joining the department now known as Food Science and Human Nutrition. His research included the spoilage of meats and poultry products, growth and control of salmonellae in meats, poultry and eggs, packaging of animal products, and the cryogenic freezing of meats and poultry.
DEADLINES AND REMINDERS
Feb. 23: Proposals due for ISU On-Farm Research and Demonstration Grant Program, http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/newsreleases/2011/010711_onfarmgran…
Feb. 28: Deadline for Computation Advisory Committee call for proposals
March 1-4: Climate Prediction Applications Science Workshop, http://www.ucs.iastate.edu/mnet/cpas/home.html
April 1: Application deadline for CALS P&S Exceptional Performance Pay requests
April 6-7: Egg Industry Issues Forum
April 19-20: BIGMAP Symposium, http://www.ucs.iastate.edu/mnet/bigmap/home.html
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EXTERNAL FUNDING
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COMPETITIVE APPLICATIONS FOR NAKFI CONFERENCE ON ECOSYSTEM SERVICES DUE MARCH 23
Approximately 100 individuals will be chosen to attend The National Academies Keck Futures Initiative conference on Ecosystem Services to be held Nov. 11-13 in Irvine, Calif. NAKFI will pay for participant travel, meals and lodging. Conference participants will be eligible to compete for seed grant awards from $25,000 to $100,000 to pursue new ideas and connections stimulated by the conference.
FUNDING INFORMATION, OPPORTUNITIES AND DEADLINE REMINDERS
Dates listed are application deadlines. Contact: Roxanne Clemens, rclemens@iastate.edu
March 15: Climate Change Education: Climate Change Education Partnership Program, Phase I (CCEP-I). More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503465&WT.mc_id=USNSF_3…
March 21 (letter of intent): NIMHD Science Education Initiative (R25); $350,000 over five years, $3 million total anticipated funding in FY2011. More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MD-11-004.html
April 1: McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience.
April 1: NFWF Nature of Learning Grant Program; $15,000. More: http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/rfp_item.jhtml?id=326400023
April 1: A Cooperative Agreement for Climate Adaptation and Mitigation.
April 8: Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual Postdoctoral Fellows (Parent F32). More: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-11-113.html
April 8: Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual Senior Fellows (Parent F33). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-11-114.html
April 26 (letter of intent): Targeting Resistance in Select Gram-Negative Pathogens (R21/R33). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AI-11-009.html
April 26 (letter of intent): Blueprint for Neuroscience Research Science Education Award (R25). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DA-11-013.html
May 13 (letter of intent): Chemical Approaches to Target Validation for Drug Resistant Pathogens (R01). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AI-11-004.html
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COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
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ADEQUATE VS. SUFFICIENT VS. ENOUGH
Adequate "“ refers to the suitability of something in a particular circumstance (an adequate explanation).
Sufficient "“ refers to an amount of material and is always used with a mass noun (sufficient water, sufficient information).
Enough "“ modifies both count nouns (enough people) and mass nouns (enough oil).
The Chicago Manual of Style, 15th ed., 2003.
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INFOGRAZING
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FULBRIGHT FACULTY WORKSHOP, MARCH 24
Athena Fulay from the Council for International Exchange of Scholars will offer a variety of workshops on the Fulbright Program for faculty and professionals on March 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Memorial Union Gold Room. The workshops will help faculty, department chairs and administrators learn about teaching and research opportunities in more than 125 countries, get advice on selecting countries for application and making contacts abroad, explore how the campus can host visiting foreign Fulbright scholars, and get tips on how to prepare for Fulbright application. Space is limited; please RSVP by March 11 to Julie Tarbox, jtarbox@iastate.edu, 4-6410. More: http://www.engineering.iastate.edu/events/event/article/3695/3732.html
WORLD FOOD PRIZE NOMINATIONS DUE APRIL 1
The World Food Prize is accepting nominations of an individual or individuals having demonstrated exceptional achievement in any field involved in enhancing food production and distribution and increasing food availability and accessibility to those most in need. Any academic or research institution, private or public organization, corporate entity or governmental unit may submit a nomination. Nominations and all supporting documents must be postmarked or electronically dated by April 1. More: http://www.worldfoodprize.org/index.cfm?nodeID=25290
USDA INTRODUCES ONLINE ATLAS OF RURAL AND SMALL-TOWN AMERICA
USDA has introduced an online mapping tool that captures a broad range of demographic, economic and agricultural data on rural areas across the U.S. The Atlas of Rural and Small-town America, developed by USDA's Economic Research Service, provides county-level mapping of more than 60 statistical indicators depicting conditions and trends across different types of nonmetro regions. More: http://www.ers.usda.gov/data/ruralatlas/
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INTERNAL VOICES
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MILLER, THE EXTENSION IDEA WAS BORN IN IOWA
"One hundred eight years ago today, the extension idea was born "“ in Iowa. The work we do today as Iowa State University Extension began in Hull, Iowa, when a farmer "“ a client "“ asked a question of an Iowa State expert. Extension work started with a client and a local need for education. It was a simple and honorable endeavor over a century ago, and remains so today. Happy birthday ISU Extension, and thank you to all who carry on this tradition." Jerry Miller, interim vice president for ISU Extension and Outreach, in an e-mail sent to Extension staff on Friday, Feb. 18. He adds the following text from the Sioux County plaque commemorating the site where county Cooperative Extension work first began in Iowa.
"Birthplace of an Idea "“ In this locality, county cooperative agricultural extension work as now conducted throughout the United States was first established. This plan was conceived by Perry G. Holden of Iowa State College, the Sioux County Farmers' Institute, and the Board of Supervisors of Sioux County, February 18, 1903. The first work undertaken was the improvement of farmers' seed corn. This "“ the first mass effort to improve corn "“ started a movement that spread over Iowa and the Corn Belt."
LEWIS LOOKS BACK ON HIS CAREER IN ENTOMOLOGY
"As I review my career, the common thread that runs throughout is the privilege of always being surrounded by persons that enjoyed their jobs and wanted to succeed. It has made my career enjoyable and rewarding." Les Lewis, chair of the entomology department, on retiring in December 2010. More: http://www.ent.iastate.edu/alumni/newsletter/alumni-jan2011.pdf
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EXTERNAL VOICES
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BEACHY ON CLIMATE AND AGRICULTURE, DURING GRANT ANNOUNCEMENT
"Climate change has already had an impact on agriculture production. Going forward agriculture producers need sound scientific information to plan and make decisions to ensure their economic viability. These projects ensure we have the best available tools to accurately measure the effects of climate change on agriculture, develop effective methods to sustain productivity in a changing environment and pass these resources on to the farmers and industry professionals who can put the research into practice." Roger Beachy, director of USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture, in his announcement on the award of three Coordinated Agriculture Projects, one being a $20 million grant to ISU over five years.
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MARGINALIA
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NEWSWEEK FEATURES REIMAN GARDENS GNOME
The 15-foot, 3-inch concrete garden gnome that a Wisconsin sculptor installed last year at Reiman Gardens is featured in the Feb. 14 issue of Newsweek. The article states that garden gnomes might be kitschy--but they're big business too. The article looks at key moments in gnome history.
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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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