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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Newsletter
Iowa State University
April 25, 2011 No. 648
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COLLEGE NEWS
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CALS STUDENT WINS KAPPA ALPHA THETA'S HIGH FLYER AWARD
Amy Peyton, senior in agricultural business, is the first recipient of the $10,000 Kappa Alpha Theta High Flyer Award from the ISU Division of Student Affairs. Peyton has served as co-chair of the Veishea entertainment committee, vice president of administration for Pi Beta Phi Fraternity, president of the Mortar Board National Honor Society, fundraising chair of the Agricultural Business Club, a member of the CALS academic affairs committee, and a community volunteer. A donor established this award to recognize a woman student who has a 3.5 GPA or above and has demonstrated exemplary leadership skills.
SCIENCE WITH PRACTICE POSTER PRESENTATION, APRIL 27
Spring semester Science with Practice participants will be presenting their research and development projects at a poster presentation on Wednesday, April 27, 3:30 to 5 p.m. in the Kildee Hall Atrium. Science with Practice is a learning and work experience program in research and related laboratories, coordinated by the Department of Agricultural Education and Studies.
DIXON APPOINTED UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR
Philip Dixon, statistics, was awarded the title University Professor and will be honored at an April 28 promotion and tenure reception and the Sept. 26 university convocation and awards ceremony. University Professor awards are bestowed for exceptional contributions to the university.
ANIMAL SCIENCE POSTER FAIR, APRIL 25-29
The animal science annual poster fair begins today and runs through Friday, April 29, in the Farm Bureau Pavilion, Kildee Hall. Awards for the best undergraduate posters will be presented at noon on Friday. American Society of Animal Science and American Dairy Science Association undergraduate scholars will also be announced. The graduate student awards will be presented at 2 p.m. in the Ensminger Room.
CALS WORKSHOP ON PREPARING PROPOSALS, MAY 9
CALS will host a workshop on preparing proposals for the FY 2011 Requests for Applications for the USDA's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative challenge areas. Four CALS panelists will share their insights and lessons learned from leading or participating in large, multi-institutional proposals submitted for the previous round of AFRI funding. The informal workshop format will facilitate informal discussion and Q&A. The workshop will be held on May 9 from 2:10 to 3:30 p.m. in 13 Curtiss Hall (Brenton Center). More: Roxy Clemens, rclemens@iastate.edu
GAMMA SIGMA DELTA HOLDS INITIATION, GIVES AWARDS
The Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society of Agriculture held its initiation and awards ceremony April 21. The following awards were presented along with nine faculty initiates, 34 undergraduate student initiates, and 38 graduate and veterinary medicine student initiates. Mike Retallick, agricultural and education studies, is the 2011-12 president, and Ann Marie VanDerZanden, horticulture, vice president.
* Sophomore Scholarship "“ Colin Hurd, agricultural studies
* Senior Scholarship "“ Elizabeth Juchems, agricultural business
* Mission Award, Teaching "“ Curtis Youngs, animal science
* Mission Award, Research "“ Elisabeth Huff-Lonergan, animal science
* Mission Award, Extension "“ John Patience, animal science
* Mission Award, International "“ Richard Cruse, agronomy
* Alumni Award of Merit "“ Maynard Hogberg, animal science
* Distinguished Achievement in Agriculture "“ Susan Lamont, animal science
COURTNEY RESEARCHES THE FLY FAMILY TREE
Gregory Courtney, entomology, is one of a team of scientists who have recently researched the fly family tree"”one of the most complicated in the animal world. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2011/apr/courtney
TAKLE TO STUDY CLIMATE IMPACT ON BUILDING PERFORMANCE
Gene Takle, agronomy and an affiliate with the Institute for Physical Research and Technology's Center for Building Energy Research, has received a grant to better understand the impact of regional climate change on building energy performance. The Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research at the University of Iowa made the $30,000 award.
SAMPLE NEW FOOD PRODUCTS AT MAY 3 SHOWCASE
Students in FSHN 412 will present the annual Dyscovry Foods New Product Showcase on May 3, 12:30 to 2 p.m. in MacKay Hall, on the second floor hallway outside room 210. Sample new food products including AnTeaOxidant delights, soup-er sandwich, pecan crinkle cookies, spuds in a snap, and cornbread-bacon scones with maple glaze and bacon crumbles. More: Ken Prusa, food science and human nutrition, kprusa@iastate.edu, 4-4323.
ISU'S BIOBUS FEATURED IN U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT
The ISU BioBus student club was featured in U.S. News and World Report's "Colleges Get Creative for 2011 Earth Day" article. On April 22, the "BioBus Inaugural Celebration" was used to unveil a biodiesel"”created from waste vegetable oil collected from the school's dining services"”which will potentially power buses used on campus. Faculty advisor is Tom Brumm, agricultural and biosystems engineering. More (see slide 5): https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/slideshows/colleges-promote-earth-day-on-campuses
GABLER RECEIVES YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD
Nicholas Gabler, animal science, received the Peter J. Reeds Young Investigator Award at the 2011 annual meeting of the American Society of Nutrition. This award is given for outstanding research in macronutrient metabolism accomplished within five years of receiving a doctorate degree.
FSHN GRADUATE STUDENT RECEIVES KARAS AWARD
Hongxin Jiang, a graduate student in food science and human nutrition, will receive the 2011 Karas Award for Outstanding Dissertations at the Sigma Xi banquet this Thursday, April 28. The award is given each spring semester to recognize a superior dissertation by a graduate student that represents original work making an unusually significant contribution to the discipline.
NAMA HONORES ISU STUDENT CHAPTER AND PRESIDENT
ISU's National Agri-Marketing Association chapter was presented the John Deere Signature Award at the association's annual conference and trade show April 22-24 in Kansas City. The chapter won the award for overall points accrued for student participation, involvement in the national competition, scholarship awards and its annual report. In addition, Darrin Rahn, senior in agricultural business and marketing from Mt. Carroll, Ill. was awarded the 2011 Successful Farming/Fergie Ferguson Outstanding Student Award.
CALS STUDENT SELECTED FOR INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
Dakota Hoben, a senior in agricultural business, is one of 12 agriculture students nationwide selected for the 2011 International Collegiate Agricultural Leadership Program. The will travel to Panama and Columbia May 15-27 to study international grain marketing and trade and global agriculture.
MEAT JUDGING TEAM FINISHES SEASON
The Meat Judging Team competed at the 2011 Southeastern Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest on April 15-16. The two teams finished in third place and fourth place overall in a field of 11 teams comprised of 49 individuals. Results included two top finishes in overall beef and pork judging, and two second place finishes in beef grading and beef judging. Individual awards included: Chris Sievers, Albert City, second in overall contest individual, first in lamb judging and total placing, second in overall beef, and third in total reasons; Sara Morine, Lamont, first in beef judging, and third in overall beef; and Amanda Houge, Las Vegas, Nev., third in pork judging. Meat judging contests for the team will resume in the fall with competitions in Ames, Omaha, and the national championship in Dakota City, Neb.
ECONOMICS CLASS LEARNS ABOUT FEDERAL BUDGET DEFICITS
Dan Otto, economics, and 13 students attended a Concord Coalition presentation on April 13 at the University of Iowa. The Concord Coalition is a non-partisan, grassroots organization dedicated to educating the public about the causes and consequences of federal budget deficits, the long-term challenges facing America's unsustainable entitlement programs, and how to build a sound foundation for economic growth. Brad Sievers, a junior in economics and political science, said "I learned some basic things about the federal debt, in addition to the problems that having such a large debt can cause. I also learned that there seems to be some commitment by politicians to working together to help solve the problem. I think the biggest thing I took away is that if we continue on the path we're on right now, the debt will be unsustainable. That was a word they used a lot. It's not a question of how bad things will be when the debt grows to those levels, because we simply wouldn't be able to function as a country if that happened."
DEADLINES AND REMINDERS
April 28: Current Issues in Nutrition conference examines new sodium recommendations
May 9-11: Origins of Obesity Symposium, http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2011/apr/NWRCsymposium
May 11: Soil Management and Land Valuation Conference
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EXTERNAL FUNDING
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MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION SEEKS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FELLOWS
The Millennium Challenge Corporation seeks to launch a Science and Engineering Fellowship Program to help MCC obtain technical expertise to contribute to the more effective application of science and technology in the international development and foreign affairs activities of the U.S. government. For Fellows (scientists, medical doctors and engineers) the program is an opportunity to engage in international science policy and to contribute to addressing important societal problems.
CONCEPT PAPERS SOLICITIED FOR KECK FOUNDATION COMPETITION
The ISU Foundation and the Office of the VPR/ED are soliciting concept papers to submit to the W.M. Keck Foundation's November 2011 competition. Proposed concepts must demonstrate a "leap" in science and discovery. The maximum funding request is $1 million, and the Keck Foundation will not be the sole funder. Contact Dorothy Pimlott, dpimlott@iastate.edu, for instructions for submitting concept papers, which should be submitted to Dorothy by noon on June 20. Contacts: Donna Van Pelt, DVanpelt@foundation.iastate.edu, and Kent Studer, kstuder@foundation.iastate.edu.
BROWN BAG LUNCH SESSION FOR KECK FOUNDATION COMPETITION
Researchers interested in submitting concept papers for the internal competition for the W.M. Keck Foundation's 2011 grant competition are invited to an informal brown bag session on May 12, 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in 3150 Beardshear. Donna Van Pelt and Kent Studer of the ISU Foundation will discuss what has been learned from previous submissions and from Keck representatives and will include ample time for Q&A.
FUNDING INFORMATION, OPPORTUNITIES AND DEADLINE REMINDERS
Dates listed are application deadlines. Contact: Roxanne Clemens, rclemens@iastate.edu
April 29 (postmarked): Research Innovation and Development Grants in Economics; Food Assistance and Nutrition Challenges of Rural Residents and Communities, $35,000 per award.
May 15: SRDC Research Innovation and Development Grants in Economics Doctoral Dissertation Research Grant Program; two to four grants of $17,500.
May 19 (concept papers): ARPA-E Plants Engineered to Replace Oil; three to eight awards, $250,000 to $3 million. More: https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov/
May 24, June 15 (new program solicitation and new due dates): Research Coordination Networks; 15 to 35 awards, $50,000 to $500,000. More: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2011/nsf11531/nsf11531.pdf
June 6: Renewable Resources Extension Act"”National Focus Funds Projects; $85,000 to $110,000.
June 16: Digging Into Data Challenge; international projects for social sciences and humanities, $25,000 to $175,000. More: http://www.diggingintodata.org/
July 18: Software Infrastructure for Sustained Innovation. More: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2011/nsf11539/nsf11539.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT....
August 24: Research Experiences for Undergraduates. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5517
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COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
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LESSONS IN EMAIL ETIQUETTE
Supervisors can usually avoid hurt feelings, animosity, misunderstandings and utter breakdowns in communication simply by practicing a few basic principles of effective email etiquette, according to Rob Jenkins, associate professor of English at Georgia Perimeter College. In The Chronicle of Higher Education, Jenkins offers five suggestions, including be professional. In work-related emails, he says, do not, even in the interest of friendliness, resort to the kind of slang or shorthand that has become popular among the texting generation, and which you may use yourself in personal correspondence. More: http://chronicle.com/article/What-Did-I-Do-Now-/127149/?sid=at&utm_sourc...
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INFOGRAZING
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CONFERENCE TO OBSERVE SESQUICENTENNIAL OF MORRIL ACT OF 1862
To honor the upcoming national sesquicentennial observance of the passage of the Morrill Act of 1862, Penn State will host a conference to examine the past and future of the land-grant mission. "The Legacy and the Promise: 150 Years of Land-Grant Universities," will be held June 22-24.
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INTERNAL VOICES
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HART ON THE RISING COST OF FOOD
"When you look at the cost of our food, it is related to the cost of corn, soybeans, wheat and cattle, but also the cost of oil, gas, diesel and unrest in other parts of the world"¦While the commodity and food prices have been going up, the share going back to the farmer has been going down." Chad Hart, economics, in an Associated Press article on rising corn prices and subsequently food costs. More: https://www.farm-news.com/2011/04/08/experts-don-t-blame-farmers-for-high-prices/
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EXTERNAL VOICES
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BOREL ON SOLVING THE WORLD'S FOOD CRISIS
"The world's food crisis will not be solved only by farmers in the United States and the developed world. We need farmers in all parts of the world to succeed." James Borel, executive vice president of DuPont, in an Iowa Farmer Today article on his presentation of the Carl and Marjory Hertz Lecture at ISU on April 6.
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MARGINALIA
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FIVE MYTHS ABOUT THE INFORMATION AGE
Robert Darnton, professor and university librarian at Harvard University, says that in trying to get our bearings in cyberspace, we often get things wrong, and the misconceptions spread so rapidly that they go unchallenged. In The Chronicle of Higher Education, Darnton address five that stand out, including "the book is dead." More: http://chronicle.com/article/5-Myths-About-the-Information/127105/?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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