Issue: 692

................................................... AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE ................................................... The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Newsletter Iowa State University March 19, 2012 No. 692 ................................................... COLLEGE NEWS ................................................... CALS DIVERSITY PROGRAMS INTERVIEWS CONCLUDE MARCH 22 Quentin Tyler, the fourth candidate for the CALS Diversity Programs Officer position, will hold an open seminar on Thursday, March 22, at 1 p.m. in 13 Curtiss Hall. Candidate information and open seminar dates are available online. HORTICULTURE HALL MURAL FEATURED IN VIDEO AND ART WALK The University Museums ArtWalk will feature the Horticulture Hall atrium on a tour at noon on March 21. You can also view a video of the Sticks mural that fills the atrium. Sarah Grant, founder of Sticks, created the artwork in September with the help of her artists and designers. The artwork illustrates the history of the department beginning in 1866. Jeff Iles, professor and chair of horticulture, narrates the video produced by Fernando Urdaneta, student intern in the CALS Communications Service. WENDEL RECEIVES COTTON GENOMICS AWARD Jonathan Wendel, ecology, evolution and organismal biology, has been named winner of the International Cotton Genomics Initiative award for outstanding contributions to cotton genomics. ANDERSON RECEIVES DISTINGUISHED SCIENCTIST AWARD Lloyd Anderson, animal science, has been named winner of the Council of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine's 2012 Distinguished Scientist Award. HARRISVACCINES TO DEVELOP RNA FOR HUMAN VACCINES Harrisvaccines, founded by Hank Harris, animal science, has received a $15 million contract to develop a human vaccine against filoviruses. The contract is overseen by Chemical Biological Medical Systems-Joint Vaccine Acquisition Program, which is responsible for developing, acquiring and stockpiling FDA-approved vaccines to protect against biological weapons. LAWNMOWER SERVICE DAYS, MARCH 23-24 The Agriculture Systems Technology Club will hold its annual Lawnmower Service Days on March 23 from 1 to 6 p.m. and March 24 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Industrial Education II building, west of the ISU horse barns. Cost is $35 for a push mower and $50 for a riding mower. Pick-up and delivery is available for Ames only; $15 for push mowers and $20 for riding mowers. More: astservicedays@gmail.com, (515) 708-8672. "SYMPHONY OF THE SOIL" FILM TO PREMIER IN AMES, MARCH 28 "Symphony of the Soil," a new documentary film, will premier at ISU on March 28 at 6 p.m. in Coover Hall Auditorium. Filmed on four continents, "Symphony of the Soil" describes how soil forms, its life cycle and its role in global issues like climate change, dead zones and the future of our food supply. Fred Kirschenmann, Leopold Center, is one of the experts interviewed in the film. The event, which is free and open to the public, will include the screening and a panel discussion with the filmmaker. SOILS AND CLIMATE FOCUS OF PIERRE COLLOQUIUM, MARCH 29-30 The 2012 W.H. Pierre Colloquium, focusing on Soils and Climate "“ Interpreting Paleoclimate and Ecosystems from Soil Properties and Processes, is sponsored by the agronomy department in collaboration with the department of geological and atmospheric sciences. Steve Driese, professor and chair of the geology department at Baylor University, will speak on "Using Major-Element Oxide Ratios in Paleosols to Interpret Paleoclimate" on March 29 at 3:50 to 5:10 p.m. in 1131 National Swine Research and Information Center (refreshments at 3:30). Art Bettis, associate professor and director of graduate studies in the department of geoscience at the University of Iowa, will speak on "Reconstructing Meso-and Micro Scale Climate Patterns from the Quaternary Paleosol Record of the Midcontinent and Indonesia" on March 30 at 3:30 to 5 p.m. in 152 Science 1 (refreshments at 3:10). COVER CROP FIELD DAYS AT ISU RESEARCH FARMS BEGIN MARCH 28 ISU's Iowa Learning Farms and Practical Farmers of Iowa are hosting a series of cover crop management field days at five ISU Research and Demonstration Farms across the state between March 28 and April 5. SAVE THE DATE: PROMOTION AND TENURE WORKSHOP, APRIL 25 The annual CALS Workshop on Promotion and Tenure for all CALS assistant professors will be held April 25, 3:10 to 4:30 p.m. in the Ensminger Room, Kildee Hall. The dean and associate deans will describe the P&T process, share best practices and answer questions. JUDGING TEAM COMPETES AT HOUSTON STOCK SHOW AND RODEO The ISU judging team finished fifth at the Houston Stock Show and Rodeo. The team captured high team honors in the cattle division. Individually, Troy Sloan, a junior in agricultural studies, was first in cattle and fourth overall. The team's next competition will be at the National Barrow Show in September.  DEADLINES AND REMINDERS March 19: Reinvigorating Public Support for Agriculture seminar, 4 to 5 p.m., 118 Horticulture, http://www.event.iastate.edu/event/27536/?sy=2012&sm=03&sd=19&featured=… March 28: Mega Trends in Agriculture April 10-11: Fourth Annual Egg Industry Issues Forum April 18: Ninth annual BIGMAP Symposium, http://www.ucs.iastate.edu/mnet/bigmap/home.html ................................................... FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES ................................................... WEBINAR: CRAFTING A SALES PITCH FOR YOUR GRANT PROPOSAL Robert Porter, director of research development at the University of Tennessee, will present a webinar on creating a winning sales pitch for grant proposals. One of the challenges facing grant writers is the need to adopt a different rhetorical style. This webinar will describe a three-paragraph template for a sales pitch that will jump-start the first page of the grant proposal. The webinar is free and will be held April 11, 1 to 2 p.m. 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/ March 30 (pre-proposal): Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and Wildlife Conservation Society Climate Adaptation Fund; universities may partner, not lead, $50,000 to $250,000 per project. March 30 (notice of intent): NASA Space Technology Research Opportunities for Early Career Faculty. April 16 (pre-application): Dept. of Army - Novel Presentation of Health Related Data. April 27 (letter of intent): Partnerships for Sustainable Research and Dissemination of Evidence-based Medicine (R24). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HS-12-005.html ??May 18: HR-2013 Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship Cooperative Agreement. June 6: Research on the Science and Technology Enterprise: Statistics and Surveys; seven to 12 awards, $750,000 total anticipated FY 2012 funding. More: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2012/nsf12545/nsf12545.htm?WT.mc_ev=click ................................................... COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK ................................................... CHICAGO MANUAL OF STYLE ONLINE AT THE LIBRARY The 16th edition of the Chicago Manual of Style, one of the most widely used style guides in the U.S., is now available online at the library. This edition does much more in the area of documenting electronic resources. A quick style guide makes it easy for students to quickly find formats for their research papers. ................................................... INFOGRAZING ................................................... RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR DISCUSSION ON FOOD POISONING An ISU food safety team is looking for persons who have ever experienced food poisoning. Participants are needed for a research discussion on food poisoning to be held the evening of March 22. The discussion will be conducted by the Food Safety Team in the Department of Apparel, Events and Hospitality Management, College of Human Sciences. Those who participate will receive a monetary gift of appreciation. More: Janell Meyer, jrcmeyer@iastate.edu, 4-4494. STASH THE TRASH VEISHEA SERVICE DAY, MARCH 24 Stash the Trash will be held Saturday, March 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event is a collaboration between VEISHEA, Keep Iowa State Beautiful and Stash the Trash. Volunteers can work alone, with an organization or with their family as they pick up litter and debris in Ames. Pre-registration is requested. ISU EXTENSION AND OUTREACH WEEK, MARCH 25-31 ISU Extension and Outreach is thanking partners across the state and promoting its educational programs during a statewide celebration this month. ISU Extension and Outreach Week, March 25-31, includes activities both on the Iowa State campus as well as at county offices. Gov. Terry Branstad will officially sign a proclamation on March 27 declaring the dates as ISU Extension and Outreach week. JUDGES NEEDED FOR STATE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FAIR The State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa and FFA Agriscience Fair are being held March 30-31 at the ISU Center. A record 650 students have registered for the event. Organizers are looking for individuals with a degree or background in science, engineering or technology to serve as a middle school or high school judge and work with youth from across Iowa. The expectation is to serve as an educator and not only evaluate their projects, but to help them become better researchers. More: Vicki Speake, speake@iastate.edu, 4-5738. To register as a judge: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dG5YUnY3ZjUtZUNvan… EVENT SUBMISSIONS FOR ALUMNI CALENDAR DUE APRIL 1 Submissions for the 2012-2013 ISU Calendar of Events are being accepted through April 1. Send to Karen Good at the Alumni Center, kjlgood@iastate.edu, 420 Beach Ave., 4-9402 fax. Due to space limitations, not all events will be included, but every attempt will be made to cover a wide range of campus activities. Inclusive dates are Aug. 1, 2012 through July 31, 2013. ................................................... INTERNAL VOICES ................................................... ALUM INTERVIEWS WINTERSTEEN ON OPPORTUNITIES IN AGRICULTURE In an interview with Chris Vrba, the publisher and editor of the Pocahontas Record-Democrat, the Laurens Sun and Buena Vista County Journal, CALS Dean Wendy Wintersteen was proud to say that the institution's graduates are among the most prepared to enter the workforce. With nearly four job applicants for every available position nationwide, ISU's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences graduates have attained a placement rate of 98 percent. "We've done a good job of responding to industry's requests." Wintersteen said. Vrba, a 2006 CALS graduate in animal ecology, added: "Of course, not all College of Ag graduates wind up working in industry "” just ask this member of the Class of 2006. Regardless, the opportunities are limitless, as the students and faculty of ISU will continue to be the fertilizer that is an essential element in the vitality of Iowa's agricultural economy," Vrba wrote.  ................................................... MARGINALIA ................................................... LIBRARY LOOKING FOR ISU HOMECOMING ARTIFACTS AND MEMORABILIA This fall, ISU will be celebrating its 100th anniversary of homecoming celebrations here on campus. Homecoming at ISU began on Nov. 16, 1912 with a football game between ISU and the University of Iowa. In preparing for the anniversary, the library is seeking ISU homecoming artifacts and memorabilia, especially homecoming buttons and earlier items from 1912 to 1968. ........................................................ AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE ........................................................ EDITOR Julie Stewart, jstewart@iastate.edu Phone: (515) 294-5616 Web site: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/ SUBSCRIBE Ag and Life Sciences Online, the newsletter for faculty and staff in Iowa State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is e-mailed every Monday. To subscribe, send your name, e-mail address and the message "Ag and Life Sciences Online subscribe" to jstewart@iastate.edu. To unsubscribe, send "Ag and Life Sciences Online unsubscribe." Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/IowaStateU.AgLifeSciences Twitter: http://twitter.com/iastate_cals Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. veteran. Inquiries can be directed to the Director of Equal Opportunity and Compliance, 3280 Beardshear Hall, (515) 294-7612.