Issue: 693

................................................... AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE ................................................... The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Newsletter Iowa State University March 26, 2012 No. 693 ................................................... COLLEGE NEWS ................................................... $2 MILLION PLEDGE TO AGRICULTURE STUDENT LEARNING CENTER A $2 million pledge from the owners and founders of Iowa select Farms is the key step needed for construction to proceed on a new learning center for students at ISU. Jeff and Deb Hansen pledged $2 million to CALS for the project. On Wednesday, the Board of Regents, State of Iowa approved a request to name the facility in honor of the Hansens. SAUER-DANFOSS DONATES EQUIPMENT TO STUDENT LAB Sauer-Danfoss Inc. of Ames has donated advanced hydraulic and electronics equipment to ISU's Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department to enhance hands-on training of students. The technology will be integrated into ISU's fluid power laboratory used for instruction of more than 100 students each year. STERLE NAMED SECOND RECIPIENT OF HARMAN PROFESSORSHIP Jodi Sterle has been named the second recipient of the Eldred and Donna Harman Professorship for Excellence in Teaching and Learning in ISU's department of animal science. PRESIDENT LEATH TO SPEAK TUESDAY AT ISU RESEARCH FARM NEAR NASHUA President Leath will speak to the Northeast Iowa Agricultural Experimental Association on Tuesday, March 27, at the Borlaug Learning Center on the ISU Northeast Iowa Research and Demonstration Farm near Nashua. The President's remarks will be part of the association's annual meeting. The President will tour the farm and meet with association leaders and area agricultural leaders. He also will tour GMT Manufacturing in Nashua. The Northeast Iowa Agricultural Experimental Association, a nonprofit organization, owns the land where the ISU research farm is located, establishing the 260-acre farm in 1976. In 2009, the Borlaug Learning Center building opened, housing ISU extension staff and research farm staff. Members of the association include farmers, business people and citizens. STUDENT COUNCIL SPONSORS NATIONAL AG DAY BARBECUE, MARCH 28 The CALS Student Council is sponsoring a free barbecue on Wednesday, March 28, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Kildee Hall Farm Bureau Pavilion to celebrate National Agriculture Day. Recipients of the CALS AgMan and AgWoman award will be announced. GPSA CELEBRATES 10TH ANNIVERSARY, APRIL 11 The Graduate Program in Sustainable Agriculture will convene its eighth annual research symposium on April 11 at 3:10 p.m. in the Memorial Union Sun Room. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the GPSA, John Pesek, distinguished professor emeritus, will provide a historical perspective on the creation and development of the GPSA. Doug Landis, a professor in the entomology department at Michigan State University, will present the keynote address. SOILS WEEK AT ISU, MARCH 28-30 The science, use, history and variety of one of Iowa's most valuable resources "“ soil "“ will be explored during three days of events during Soils Week on the ISU campus March 28-30. All events are free and open to the public. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2012/mar/SoilsWeek BOARD OF REGENTS APPROVE END OF INSECT SCIENCE PROGRAM ISU's request to end the bachelor's program in insect science due to sustained low enrollment was approved by the Iowa Board of Regents at its March 21 meeting. There are currently nine students enrolled in the undergraduate program. All coursework and resources will be available to currently enrolled students to allow them to complete their program. CALS STUDENT SELECTED FOR INTERNATIONAL AG LEADERSHIP PROGRAM Bethany Olson, a senior in agricultural business, was selected for the 2012 International Collegiate Agricultural Leadership Program. She will travel to Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore May 19 through June 1 to study international grain marketing and trade and global agriculture. I-CAL is sponsored by the Grains Foundation as a special project of the National FFA Foundation. FINANCIAL LITERACY PEER EDUCATION TO BEGIN THIS SPRING CyGold, a student organization focused on financial literacy peer education, was founded last fall and plan to make presentations in residence halls, fraternities and sororities later this spring. Three members from CyGold's student team, including Dakota Hoben, a senior in agricultural business and president of ISU's Government of the Student Body, made their inaugural financial literacy PowerPoint presentation before the GSB's executive cabinet on March 7. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2012/mar/CyGold ISU TEAM THIRD IN STUDENT TASTE OF ELEGANCE EVENT ISU students Cody Platta, a junior in food science, Shane Brewer, a freshman in culinary science, and Kaitlyn Romitti, a freshman in dietetics, brought home third place and $500 for expenses from the Iowa Pork Producers Association's 2012 Student Taste of Elegance competition. Held March 5 at Des Moines Area Community College's Iowa Culinary Institute in Ankeny, the event was designed to inspire innovative ways for culinary arts students to incorporate pork into their menus. The teams were required to use fresh pork muscle cuts in their entrÃ©e and each entry was judged on taste, appearance and design. The contest itself is an annual competition open to any Iowa college with a culinary arts program. ? IOWA LOCAL FOOD SUMMIT, APRIL 3 The Iowa Local Food Summit will be held April 3, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Scheman Building. The summit will include conversations and workshops about how to meet the goals outlined in the Iowa Local Food and Farm Plan. The event is sponsored by the Leopold Center, ISU Extension and Outreach, CALS and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. ISU FACULTY TO PRESENT AT CAFÃ‰ SCIENTIFIQUE ON APRIL 3 April's CafÃ© Scientifique through the Science Center of Iowa will take participants on a virtual tour of Des Moines-area streams and analyze the connections between what humans are doing on the land and what's in the water. The presenters are a group of scientists from ISU: Jan Thompson and Tim Stewart, department of natural resource ecology and management; Rebecca Christoffel, wildlife extension specialist; and Allen Pattillo, fisheries extension specialist. More: http://www.sciowa.org/event-calendar/?day=2012-04-03&id_category=3&view… LUNCH AND LEARN: NEW TOOL TO INCREASE INTERACTIVITY, APRIL 10 The Brenton Center's next Lunch and Learn will be April 10 at noon in 8 Curtiss Hall. Terri Boylston, food science and human nutrition, will discus her use of Top Hat Monocle, a new tool she uses to increase student interactivity in and outside the classroom. To attend, please contact Amy Pilcher, apilcher@iastate.edu, 4-1862. AGEDS SEMINAR IN CELEBRATION OF 100TH ANNIVERSARY, APRIL 20 The final seminar in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the agricultural education and studies program will be held April 20, 2 to 3 p.m. in 13 Curtiss Hall, with a reception following in 224 Curtiss. Antoine Alston, interim associate dean for academic studies and a professor of agricultural education at North Carolina A&T State University, will be speaking on "Preparing 21st Century Ready Global Agriculture Leaders." Alston earned a doctorate in agricultural education and studies from ISU in 2000. SCIENCE WITH PRACTICE POSTER PRESENTATION, APRIL 25 Spring-semester Science with Practice students will present their research and development projects at a poster presentation on April 25, 12 to 1:30 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. RETIREMENT CELEBRATION FOR HELEN OLSON, APRIL 25 A retirement celebration will be held for Helen Olson, academic advisor for the agricultural education and studies program, on April 25, 2 to 4 p.m. in 224 Curtiss Hall. A short program is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. Olson joined the agricultural education and studies program in 1992. IOWA SWINE DAY RETURNS AT ISU For the first time in several years, ISU's Iowa Pork Industry Center is sponsoring a daylong educational opportunity specifically for pork producers. Iowa Swine Day is set for June 28 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Iowa State campus and features practical information on a variety of topics that can be applied on the farm. SPRING NEWS FROM ISU RESEARCH FARMS The Agricultural Engineering and Agronomy Research Farms report that oats seeded on March 16 have emerged with the warm, wet weather last week. The McNay Memorial Research and Demonstration Farm in Lucas County reports that since March 18, 54 Angus calves have been born as part of the long-term beef cattle breeding project. GLASENER: TIPS FOR SCIENTISTS TO CONNECT WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS Members of Congress hold scientists in high regard, but science isn't well understood on Capitol Hill, according to Karl Glasener, director of Science Policy for the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America and Soil Science Society of America. He presented a seminar March 19 sponsored by the departments of agronomy and horticulture on "Reinvigorating Public Support for Agricultural and Food Sciences: Crafting the Message." He offered several tips for scientists to increase the likelihood of connecting with elected officials and their staffs. His presentation can be heard as a podcast. CALS STUDENT RELAYS FOR LIFE SO OTHERS WON'T EXPERIENCE CANCER The seventh Iowa State University Colleges Against Cancer Relay for Life was held this weekend and organized in part by co-president Krista McCarty, a senior in food science. More than 1,200 signed up for the event, raising more than $87,000. DEADLINES AND REMINDERS 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 April 25: CALS Workshop on Promotion and Tenure, 3:10 to 4:30 p.m., Ensminger Room, Kildee Hall. ................................................... FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES ................................................... IOWA SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION SEEKS PROPOSALS The Iowa Soybean Association is seeking soybean research proposals for funding starting Oct. 1.Â The Board will be funding several research projects that address their goals of maximizing producer returns by conducting research on expanding germplasm resources, reducing soybean yield losses to diseases, insects, nematode and biological stresses, and conducting fundamental research studies that will help Iowa soybean farmers continue their effort to produce soybeans profitability. Proposals are due May 14. PLANT SCIENCES INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES FY 2013 FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES The Plant Sciences Institute is accepting applications for funding under three programs. Applications for Interdisciplinary Innovative Research Grants are due April 20. Applications for Phase I: Trans-disciplinary Team-building Grants are due May 2. Applications for Phase II: Trans-disciplinary Team-enabling Grants are due June 1. ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR IP LANGUAGE IN FEDERAL PROPOSALS? Many federal research proposals are requiring either an intellectual property strategy or a risk management section pertaining to intellectual property. The ISU Research Foundation will help researchers prepare these sections. For assistance, contact Lisa Lorenzen, llorenze@iastate.edu, ISURF executive director. In your email, please provide a link to the solicitation; the proposal in its current form or an overview paragraph of the purpose of the proposal; and a list of partnering institutions, if applicable. UPDATED SUBCONTRACT TRANSMITTAL LETTER RELEASED BY OSPA OSPA has released an updated Transmittal Letter template that reflects recent changes to OSPA staff. The updated transmittal letter should be used immediately when preparing subcontract proposals for which ISU is a subcontractor. More: http://www.ospa.iastate.edu/forms/ 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/ April 6 (concept paper deadline extended): USAID Innovations in Gender Equality to Promote Household Food Security; up to $1.5 million. April 16: USDA-NIFA Supplemental and Alternative Crops Competitive Grants Program (canola); awards up to $210,000. April 18: USAID Scientific Cooperation Research Program FY 2012. April 22: Oil and Gas Development Effects on Mule Deer in North Dakota; $55,000 over five years. April 24 (preapplication): DOE Biomass Research and Development Initiative. April 24 (abstract): DOD Biologically-derived Medicines on Demand. April 24: NSF Pan-American Advanced Studies Institutes Program. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5327&WT.mc_ev=click May 4: RIDGE Center for Targeted Studies - Food Assistance and Nutrition Challenges in Rural America Grant Program; awards up to $35,000. May 15: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Grand Challenges Explorations, Round 9; includes Protect Crops from Biotic Stresses from Field to Market. May 16: The 2012 North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program Professional Development Program. More: http://tinyurl.com/7xxjrlw June 16: Secondary Analyses in Obesity, Diabetes, and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R21). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-12-125.html ................................................... COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK ................................................... CITING A TWEET The Modern Language Association has posted the following style for citing a tweet: Begin the entry in the works-cited list with the author's real name and, in parentheses, user name, if both are known and they differ. If only the user name is known, give it alone. Next provide the entire text of the tweet in quotation marks, without changing the capitalization. Conclude the entry with the date and time of the message and the medium of publication (Tweet). ................................................... INFOGRAZING ................................................... ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MARCH 30 The abstract submission deadline for the Great Plains Emerging Infectious Diseases Conference has been extended until 5 p.m. on Friday, March 30. The conference will take place April 27-28 at the University of Iowa. CESMEE AND SP@ISU TO CO-HOST APRIL 4 STEM EDUCATION EVENT The Center for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Education and Strengthening the Professoriate at ISU are co-hosting a Spotlight on STEM Education event on April 4, 3 to 6 p.m. in the Howe Hall Atrium. A Campus Programs and Broader Impacts Resource Fair is planned from 3 to 5 p.m., followed by an hour-long presentation by Timothy Scott, associate dean for undergraduate programs at Texas A&M University and co-director of the university's Center for Mathematics and Science Education. All are welcome to attend. Please RSVP to cesmeestaff@iastate.edu.Â WANSINK TO SPEAK ON BEATING MINDLESS EATING, APRIL 5 Brian Wansink, author of "Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think," will speak on April 5 at 8 p.m. in the Memorial Union South Ballroom. Wansink is internationally recognized for his research on food psychology and its implications for consumer marketing, medicine and human nutrition. ................................................... EXTERNAL VOICES ................................................... WORLD FOOD PRIZE FOUNDATION ON IOWA YOUTH INSTITUTE "We are thrilled to be able to create this educational opportunity for students all across Iowa. It was the dream of our founder, Dr. Norman Borlaug, to build youth programs here in Iowa and across the country that would encourage the next generation of innovators and scientists to continue the fight against hunger and to solve our world's global challenges." Ambassador Kenneth Quinn, president of the World Food Prize Foundation, in reference to the new STEM education opportunity for all Iowa high school students. Through a partnership with ISU, the program will inspire students to explore careers and opportunities in science, agriculture and related fields. More: http://www.worldfoodprize.org/index.cfm?nodeID=24667&audienceID=1&actio… ................................................... MARGINALIA ................................................... BELL LABS AND THE GREAT AGE OF AMERICAN INNOVATION Bell Labs, the research and development wing of AT&T, was for decades the most innovative scientific organization in the world, according to Jon Gertner in his new book, "The Idea Factory: Bell Labs and the Great Age of American Innovation." Bell Labs was behind many of the innovations that have come to define modern life, including the transistor, the laser, the silicon solar cell and the computer operating system called Unix. Bell Labs developed the first communications satellites, the first cellular telephone systems and the first fiber-optic cable systems. More: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/20/books/the-idea-factory-by-jon-gertner… ........................................................ 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.