Issue: 731

................................................... AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE ................................................... The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Newsletter Iowa State University Jan. 7, 2013 No. 731 ................................................... COLLEGE NEWS ................................................... SPRING CONVOCATION SET FOR JAN. 17 The CALS Spring Convocation will be held Thursday, Jan. 17, at 4 p.m. in the Memorial Union Sun Room. The program includes brief comments from Dean Wintersteen and college award presentations. Refreshments will follow the ceremony. WENDEL HELPS MAP GENOME OF COTTON An international consortium of scientists that includes Jonathan Wendel, distinguished professor and chair of the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, has mapped the genome sequence for cotton in a paper published in the journal "Nature." The sequencing of the genome will have sweeping ramifications for cotton growers, plant biologists and producers who grow other cash crops. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2012/12/20/cottongenome PETER, WANG AND FRAME RECEIVE PATENTS Reuben Peter, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology, was issued a patent on Nov. 13 for "Diterpene Modulator of Macrophage Phagosomal Maturation." Kan Wang and Bronwyn Frame, agronomy, were issued a patent on Dec. 18 for "Backbone-Free Low Transgene Copy Transgenic Plants." CHRISTIANS RECEIVES OHIO STATE DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD Nick Christians, horticulture, has received the 2013 Distinguished Alumni Award from the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Alumni Society Board of Directors at Ohio State University. Christians is one of 12 award winners who will be formally honored during a special Alumni Awards Luncheon in March. FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR HIGHLIGHTED ON GRADUATE COLLEGE WEBSITE Victoria Sanz-Fernandez, a Fulbright scholar and graduate student working with Lance Baumgard, animal science, is featured on the Graduate College website. Sanz-Fernandez is a Ph.D. student in the nutritional sciences interdisciplinary program with a focus on environmental and nutritional physiology in the animal science department. More: http://www.grad-college.iastate.edu/news/news.php?id=035 COURTYARD DAIRY FOUNTAIN RESTORED After 26 years, the fountain in the Food Sciences Building courtyard is working again. The fountain is part of the terra cotta mural titled "The History of Dairying," created in 1934 by sculptor Christian Peterson. The Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition plans to hold a re-dedication of the fountain in April. VEGETABLE PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT COURSE OFFERED ONLINE ISU is offering an online course covering the production and management of vegetable crops. Web-based Vegetable Crop Production and Management (HORT 493) will be taught by Ajar Nair, vegetable specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, and offered through the Department of Horticulture. The course runs Jan. 14 through May 10. PHIL SPIKE RETIREMENT RECEPTION, JAN. 22 A retirement reception for Phil Spike, animal science, will be held Jan. 22, 9:30 to 11 a.m. in the Kildee Hall Atrium. There will be a program at 10 a.m. IOWA CROP PERFORMANCE TESTS NOW AVAILABLE The 2012 Iowa Crop Performance Tests for corn and soybeans are now available. The reports provide direct, unbiased comparisons among a large number of corn hybrids and soybean varieties, in a number of different environments. WINTER ISSUE OF LEOPOLD LETTER AVAILABLE ONLINE The winter issue of the Leopold Letter is now available. ................................................... FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES ................................................... NEW FACILITIES AND ADMINISTRATIVE COST RATE AGREEMENT FOR ISU The Office of Sponsored Programs Accounting has released the following F&A rates under a new cost rate agreement: 50 percent for organized research, 51 percent for instruction, 32 percent for other sponsored activities and 26 percent for off-campus activities. Proposals for which a GoldSheet began routing after the close of business on Jan. 4 should include these new F&A rates. For proposals submitted prior to Jan. 4, the older rate will be acceptable. Awards received for previously submitted new or renewal proposals will, when necessary, be accepted using the F&A rate used in the submitted proposal. OSPA will work with agencies to increase F&A budgets to the new rates wherever possible. Contact: OSPA at grants@iastate.edu, 294-5225. NCRCRD FY12/13 SMALL GRANTS COMPETITION The North Central Regional Center for Rural Development seeks proposals for seed grants up to $20,000. Eligible applicants include current faculty and staff of land-grant institutions in the North Central region and their partners. Priority areas for NCRCRD's work include innovation diffusion for rural development, sustainable communities, leadership development and entrepreneurial communities. Proposals are due Jan. 31. A conference call for interested parties to ask questions is scheduled for Jan. 11 at 10 a.m. More: http://ncrcrd.msu.edu/ncrcrd/call_for_proposals NSF INSPIRE INITIATIVE ACCEPTING LETTERS OF INTENT The Integrated NSF Support Promoting Interdisciplinary Research and Education initiative is intended to encourage investigators to submit bold, exceptional proposals that some may consider to be at a disadvantage in a standard NSF review process. With awards up to $3 million, INSPIRE seeks to create new interdisciplinary opportunities that are not perceived to exist presently, attract unusually creative high-risk/high-reward interdisciplinary proposals, provide sufficient funding to pursue the novel idea beyond the exploratory stage, and recognize and encourage innovative interdisciplinary research by unusually creative individual investigators. INSPIRE does not designate favored topics and is open to all NSF-supported areas of science, engineering and education research. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504852 UNIVERSITY STUDENTS INVITED TO ENTER DELL CHALLENGE The Dell Social Innovation Challenge is designed to identify and support promising young social innovators from any country who dedicate themselves to solving the world's most pressing problems with transformative ideas. The program provides selected university students with teaching, training, start-up capital, and access to a network of mentors and advisors. Currently enrolled undergraduate, graduate and Ph.D. students in any field of study are eligible to enter, either as individuals or teams. Students who graduated in the semester prior to the deadline also are eligible to enter. The program defines social innovation as an idea that significantly improves results around existing social or environmental problems. The Grand Prize Awards provide five cash prizes totaling $140,000. Entries for the 2013 challenge are due by Jan. 28. More 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/ Jan. 22 (letter of intent): USDA NIFA Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants Program; $25,000 to $1 million per award. Jan. 28 (letter of intent): USDA AFRI Sustainable Bioenergy Competitive Grants Program; standard grants up to $1 million total, CAP grants up to $2 million per year for five years. Feb. 6: USAID Broad Agency Announcement for Powering Agriculture: An Energy Grand Challenge for Development; $300,000 to $1 million per award. Feb. 20: USDA NIFA Children, Youth and Families at Risk Sustainable Community Projects. March 1 (notice of intent): NASA Interdisciplinary Research in Earth Science; 24 awards, $12 million total anticipated funding. More: http://goo.gl/gcRaf ................................................... COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK ................................................... IN TEXT, FULL DATE SHOULD BE SPELLED OUT For practical reasons, all-numeral styles of writing dates should not be used in formal writing, except with certain dates that may be known that way (e.g., 9/11 for September 11, 2001). Whereas in American usage the first numeral refers to the month and the second to the day, in the usage of other English-speaking countries and of most European languages it is the other way around. When quoting letters or other material dated 5/10/03 for example, a writer must first ascertain and then make it clear to readers whether May 10 or October 5 is meant, not to mention 1903 or 2003. In text, therefore, the full date should always be spelled out. The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th ed., 2010 ................................................... INFOGRAZING ................................................... POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE SEEKS TO AID LAND-GRANT SUPPORTERS Research, Extension, Education and Agriculture Leadership Political Action Committee (REEAL PAC) was created in 2011 to donate to candidates for federal office who support the land-grant system. The PAC was formed by members of the Council for Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching, but is not affiliated with the council. Don Latham, one of Iowa's CARET representatives, said REEAL PAC is not connected with any organization. He said the PAC's board of directors decides on contributions to political candidates who "demonstrate sufficient interest, commitment and support for the goals and objectives of the land-grant agriculture community." SHARE WHAT CALS HAS TO OFFER WITH IOWA'S YOUTH Workshop proposals for this summer's Iowa 4-H Youth Conference are due Wednesday, Jan. 9. More than 1,000 teenagers will be on campus June 25-27 for three days of speakers, workshops, mixers, dances, a banquet and community service activities. This is an opportunity to share what CALS has to offer with Iowa's youth. More: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/4h/iowa4hyouthconference ................................................... INTERNAL VOICES ................................................... PESEK: FOOD PRODUCTION DOES HAVE LIMITS After 42 years with the agronomy department at ISU, John Pesek retired in 1992, but still keeps an eye on what is happening in his field. He worries that food production does have limits and humans haven't shown themselves willing to control reproduction. "Now we're up over 7 billion and there seems to be no end in sight as to the potential reproductive capacity of the human being," Pesek said in an interview with Harvest Public Media. "If we continue to reproduce, we may destroy ourselves by sheer numbers." ................................................... MARGINALIA ................................................... DELTA AIRLINES MAGAZINE SPOTLIGHT ON IOWA A recent Delta Airlines magazine features a profile on Iowa and refers to the Iowa advantage. "It still has some of the world's best farmland, but today Iowa is also growing clean energy innovators, tech start-ups and dynamic cities." More: http://www.pageturnpro.com/MSP-Communications/47176-Iowa/index.html#1 ........................................................ AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE ........................................................ EDITOR Julie Stewart jstewart@iastate.edu, (515) 294-5616 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, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. veteran. Inquiries can be directed to the Interim Assistant Director of Equal Opportunity and Compliance, 3280 Beardshear Hall, (515) 294-7612.