Issue: 659

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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 11, 2011 No. 659

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COLLEGE NEWS
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KRESS BECAME VICE PRESIDENT FOR EXTENSION AND OUTREACH JULY 1
Cathann Kress became ISU's vice president for extension and outreach on July 1. A native of Sharon Center and an ISU alumna (bachelor's in social work, 1983), Kress returns to Ames from nine years of service in Washington, D.C. Kress also has 10 years of experience in state extension service.

MONDAK NAMED ANR EXTENSION ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Chris Mondak has been named ANR Extension assistant director. Prior to starting this position on July 6, Mondak served as the ISU Extension dairy specialist in northwest Iowa; a position she held since 2000. She was a veterinarian in Minnesota and Wisconsin before coming to Iowa State.

ANIMAL SCIENCE SOPHOMORE RETURNS FROM COSTA RICA
Brent Sexton, a sophomore in animal science, recently returned from the Costa Rica Travel Seminar sponsored by the National FFA Organization. He was one of 44 FFA members selected to participate in the trip, where they experienced different agricultural practices first-hand and learned about the history and culture of Costa Rica. Sexton was a 2010 National Proficiency Finalist in Diversified Crop Production. More: http://nationalffa.blogspot.com/

PAULSEN RECEIVES NACTA GRADUATE STUDENT TEACHING AWARD
Thomas Paulsen, agricultural education and studies, received the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Graduate Student Teaching Award at the June 2011 conference in Edmonton, Canada. This is recognition at the international level for his commitment to, and excellence in, college teaching and the scholarship of teaching and learning.

RESEARCH VIDEO RECEIVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION
A Biorenewable Research video produced by Barb McBreen of CALS Communications Service and Amy Williams of the Brenton Center won a Grand Award in the APEX 2011 23rd Annual Awards for Publication Excellence competition. The judges stated that the video "shows what you can do without a Hollywood budget, but with creativity, imagination, skill and enthusiasm. A first class video, with excellent visual technique and persuasive commentary." This video was produced for the 24th annual Friends of Agriculture dinner held in Cedar Rapids on March 9, 2010, and was one of 100 Grand Awards presented out of 3,300 entries. Communications Concepts, Inc., which publishes Writing That Works: The Business Communications Report, sponsors the APEX award competition. Grand Award winners in other video categories included Merrill Lynch, TD Ameritrade, the City of Baltimore and the Ford Motor Company.

SECOND GROUP OF IOWA FARMER VOLUNTEERS WORK WITH UGANDAN FARMERS
A second group of Iowa women traveled to Uganda as part of the rural development program, Bridging the Gap: Increasing Competitiveness of Ugandan Women Farmers in the Marketplace. This farmer-to-farmer program connects Iowa farmers with eight groups of women farmers in the Kamuli District of Uganda. ISU's Global Extension Program has partnered with a Ugandan nonprofit organization, Volunteer Efforts for Developing Concerns, to provide production and marketing expertise to Ugandan farmers. The Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods and VEDCO have been providing outreach and education in the district since 2004.

WORLD PORK EXPO REACHES NEW HEIGHTS FOR JUNIOR SHOW
The World Pork Expo, held June 7-10 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, had a record high 1,750 pigs shown this year. The National Junior Swine Association and Team Purebred hosted this year's show. Carly Martin, a junior in agricultural and life sciences education and a member of NJSA, shares her experiences. More

US30 CONSTRUCTION ALTERS ACCESS TO AGRONOMY FARM
Beginning July 5, Highway 30 west became a head-to-head highway using the westbound lanes. All access to the AEA Farm and the BCRF will be from the gravel road one mile south of the farms, which is 240th St., Boone. Coming from the west, take the Highway 17 south exit to 240th Street, two miles east to U Avenue, ,then north to the farms. Coming from the east, take South Dakota to 240th Street, then west five miles to U Avenue, then north to the farms.

IOWA LEARNING FARMS HOST WEBINAR, FIELD DAYS
* July 20, 12 to 1 p.m. through Adobe Connect. Will feature Emily Heaton, agronomy, who will present "Giant Miscanthus and other perennial energy crops."
* July 20, 6 to 8 p.m. at the Ann Smeltzer Charitable Trust Farm, south of Otho in Webster County. The field day will focus on strip-tillage and cover crop management.
* July 27, 6 to 8 p.m. at the Neely-Kinyon Research and Demonstration Farm near Greenfield, Adair County. The field day will offer strategies for no-till as well as information about incorporating perennial vegetation to enhance no-till.

QUICK REFRESHER TO YOUR ONLINE COURSE
The Brenton Center and the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching are collaborating to offer training on Aug. 10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 240 Bessey. The training will focus on practical tips and the selection of tools for designing and developing an online course, as well as a discussion of BlackBoard Learn, the new course management system on campus. Maximum enrollment is 25. Register for the training through the employee tab in AccessPlus; select HRS Training and "CELT/CALS "“ A Quick Refresher to your Online Course for College of Ag & Life Sciences Faculty."

SPRING 2012 DISTANCE EDUCATION COURSE DEVELOPMENT AWARDS
CALS is offering competitive course development awards for faculty members interested in converting an existing course to a fully online format using Blackboard Learn. Faculty members may submit a proposal for online courses at the undergraduate and/or graduate level to be taught spring 2012. Priority will be given to courses that fill gaps in current offerings and increase access to educational opportunities. Evidence of demand for the proposed course will be considered. Collaborative proposals that include the coordinated development of courses applicable to online endorsement, certificate or degree programs are encouraged. Proposals that include courses that will broaden the offerings for non-traditional students or enhance existing distance education programs are also encouraged. The Spring 2012 course proposal deadline is September 15, 2011.

SAVE THE DATE: FALL CONVOCATION SEPT. 21
The CALS Fall Convocation is scheduled for Sept. 21 at 4 p.m. in the Memorial Union Sun Room. The program will include brief comments from Dean Wintersteen and the introduction of the College's new faculty and staff since last fall. A reception will follow.

DEADLINES AND REMINDERS
July 19: Lauren Christian Pork Chop Open, Veenker Memorial Golf Course, ipic@iastate.edu

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EXTERNAL FUNDING
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TRAVEL ASSISTANCE FOR AUG. 9 NIFA SYSTEMS SCIENCE WORKSHOP
The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture will hold a Systems Science grantsmanship workshop at the Univ. of Tennessee in Knoxville on Aug. 9. Although the workshop was developed for programs such as the Specialty Crops Research Initiative, NIFA staff indicate that much of the thinking is applicable to preparing proposals for USDA's large, interdisciplinary Coordinated Agricultural Projects. CALS will provide up to $750 each for up to four faculty members to attend the workshop. Interested faculty should contact Joe Colletti via email (colletti@iastate.edu) by Friday, July 15. Preference will be given to individuals who have not received CALS assistance for a grantsmanship workshop. The workshop will be available on the web and will be archived for later viewing.

FUNDING INFORMATION, OPPORTUNITIES AND DEADLINE REMINDERS
Dates listed are application deadlines. Contact: Roxanne Clemens, rclemens@iastate.edu
Additional information is posted at CALS Funding Resources, http://www.ag.iastate.edu/research/fundingResources/

July 26 (letter of intent): NOAA Climate Program Office FY 2012 Competitions; 60 new awards, $50,000 to $200,000 per year.

July 30: Assisting the Integrated Food Safety System's National Food/Feed Training Program (U54); three awards up to $1.3 million each. More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-FD-11-028.html

Aug. 1: Science of Learning Centers. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5567&WT.mc_id=USNSF_39&…

Aug 1 (white paper): Office of Naval Research STEM Grand Challenge.

Aug. 5: Iowa Watershed Improvement Review Board; university personnel would partner but not serve as PI, $500,000 per award. More: http://www.iowaagriculture.gov/IWIRB.asp

Aug. 15: Economic Development Administration FY 2011 Research Design Project to Assess and Evaluate Economic Development Investment; one award, $335,000, cost sharing required.

Aug. 15: Evaluation of Salmonella in Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Pets: Study for the Vet-LRN Program (U18); 11 awards, $60,000 to $660,000. More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-FD-11-010.html

Aug. 31: Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs Global Connections and Exchange Program: U.S.-Russia Virtual Science Challenge for Youth Grant; one award, $150,000.

Sept. 16: MARC Ancillary Training Activities (T36) Program (biomedical and behavioral research).

Oct. 1 (letter of intent): National Robotics Initiative; 60 to 75 awards per year, $100,000 to $5 million per award.

Oct. 5 (new applications): Obesity and Asthma: Awareness and Management (R01). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-11-245.html

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COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
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FORTUITOUS vs. FORTUNATE
"Fortuitous" mean by chance, whether the fortune is good or bad (the rotten tree could have fallen at any time; it was just fortuitous that the victims drove by when they did). "Fortunate" means blessed by good fortune (we were fortunate to win the raffle).
The Chicago Manual of Style, 15th ed., 2003.

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INFOGRAZING
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JULY 13 ARTWALK FOCUSES ON STADIUM COLLECTION
Join University Museums interpretation specialist Dorothy Witter this Wednesday, July 13, from 12 to 1 p.m. for a tour of selections from the Art on Campus collection focusing on Cyclone athletics. Meet her on the north side of the Jacobson Athletics Building.

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INTERNAL VOICES
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WINTERSTEEN ON DECLINE IN STATE FUNDING
"We're getting to a better place in the state's economy, and agriculture is a big part of the state being able to recover from this economic downturn. We're optimistic about the future and what we can contribute to the state." Wendy Wintersteen, dean of ISU's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, in an Associated Press article.

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MARGINALIA
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TOP 10 YOUTUBE VIDEOS POSTED BY COLLEGES
More than 400 colleges and universities have set up channels on YouTube as part of the YouTube EDU section of the video site, but university officials admit they are still experimenting with the service and learning what types of videos resonate with off-campus audiences. With data provided by YouTube, "The Chronicle of Higher Education" has determined the 10 most popular videos of the 2010-11 academic year. More: http://chronicle.com/blogs/wiredcampus/top-10-youtube-videos-posted-by-…

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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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