................................................... AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE ................................................... The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Newsletter Iowa State University April 8, 2013 No. 744 ................................................... COLLEGE NEWS ................................................... MISRA APPOINTED CHAIR OF USDA ADVISORY COUNCIL Manjit Misra, agricultural and biosystems engineering and director of the Seed Science Center, has been named chairman of the National Genetic Resources Advisory Council. The council was created to provide scientific advice for USDA and the National Genetic Resources Program related to the collection, maintenance and use of genetic resources. ISU RESEARCHERS CO-AUTHOR REPORT ON CHANGING CLIMATE Three ISU researchers are members of the 25x'25 Alliance Adaptation Work Group that released a report this month titled "Agriculture and Forestry in a Changing Climate: Adaptation Recommendations." The Adaptation Work Group is a collaboration of leaders from the agriculture, forestry, business, academic, conservation and government sectors. Their mission has been to explore the impacts of a changing climate on the U.S. agriculture and forestry sectors and to develop recommendations to address its related opportunities and challenges. ISU members are Gene Takle, agronomy; Lois Wright Morton, sociology; and Jerry Hatfield, USDA-ARS National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment and a collaborating professor in agronomy. More: http://www.25x25.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=858&Item…  STALDER RECEIVES DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD Ken Stalder, animal science, was named the 2012 recipient of the National Swine Improvement Federation's Charles Stanislaw Memorial Distinguished Service Award. The award recognizes individuals for their record of distinguished service to the pork industry through involvement in implementing, supervising and/or participating in performance testing programs. SUCCESSFUL FARMING TESTING AERIAL SYSTEM ON RESEARCH FARM Successful Farming Magazine is filming the flying of a small unmanned aerial system at the Agricultural Engineering and Agronomy Research Farms today (Monday). The information will be used in an upcoming issue of the magazine and for a future program on RFD TV. Successful Farming will address the issues dealing with the regulations of this emerging technology and how it may benefit agriculture. BLOCK AND BRIDLE CLUB HOSTS 500 FOR NATIONAL CONVENTION More than 60 ISU Block and Bridle Club members hosted the National Block and Bridle Convention in Ames on April 4-6. More than 500 students from across the country heard industry experts, toured animal agriculture operations and were encouraged to become industry advocates. National awards were also presented. Adair Boysen, a 2012 graduate, received first place in the outstanding senior category. ISU placed first in the yearbook and web page competition and fourth in the chapter activities division. REGISTER BY APRIL 8 FOR TALL GRASS PRAIRIE WORKSHOP Faculty are invited to enhance their teaching and engagement with sustainability issues by participating in the second Tall Grass Prairie Project on May 16-17. The project is modeled after similar projects at colleges across the nation, aimed at bringing an innovative approach to curricular change and provide faculty with an intellectually stimulating and collegial experience. Registration deadline is today, April 8. The project is co-led by John Miranowski, economics, and Cinzia Cervato, geological and atmospheric sciences. DETROIT SPEAKER FEATURED AT GPSA RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM, APRIL 10 The Graduate Program in Sustainable Agriculture will convene its ninth annual research symposium on Wednesday, April 10, in the Memorial Union Sun Room and South Ballroom. Dan Carmody, president of Detroit's Eastern Market Corporation, will speak on "Robust Regional Food Systems" at 3:10 p.m. Preceding the keynote presentation, GPSA research posters will be on display. The program is free-of-charge. GAMMA SIGMA DELTA INITIATION AND AWARDS CEREMONY, APRIL 11 Gamma Sigma Delta, the Honor Society for Agriculture, is hosting an Initiation and Awards Ceremony on Thursday, April 11, at 5 p.m. in the Memorial Union Gallery Room. Thirty-one undergraduates, 46 graduate students and three faculty will be initiated into the society. Seven awards will be presented to students, faculty and alumni at the ceremony. LOOMIS LECTURE AND PLANT BIOLOGY MINI-SYMPOSIUM, APRIL 11-12 The 2013 Walter and Helen Parke Loomis Distinguished Lecture and Plant Biology Mini-Symposium will be held April 11-12 in Scheman Building. This year's topic is plant imaging and modeling. Patrick Hussey, a professor at the University of Durham in the United Kingdom, will present the Loomis Lecture on April 11 at 7:30 p.m. The mini-symposium will consist of nine speakers on April 12, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. REGISTER BY APRIL 12 FOR SEED AND BIOSAFETY SYMPOSIUM The Seed Science Center is hosting a new symposium series titled the Leroy and Barbara Everson Seed & Biosafety Symposium on April 24 at the Gateway Conference Center. LeRoy Everson was the former director of ISU's Seed Laboratory and a professor of plant pathology. He died in 2005. This year's theme is "Seeding the Future: Emerging Policy and Science." Register online before April 12. Registration for ISU faculty and staff is complimentary. More: http://www.ucs.iastate.edu/mnet/bigmap/home.html ANIMAL SCIENCE GRADUATE STUDENT RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARD Nick Boddicker, a doctoral student in animal breeding and genetics, received the National Swine Improvement Federation's Lauren L. Christian Memorial Graduate Student Award. The award is named for the Charles F. Curtiss distinguished professor of animal science and first director of the Iowa Pork Industry Center. It is presented annually to an outstanding graduate student whose research includes a swine genetic component. PhD STUDENT AWARDED BOGLE GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP Jonathan McFadden, a third year Ph.D. student in economics, was awarded the Caine Bogle Family Graduate Fellowship. McFadden will receive $1,000 to partially fund his graduate studies and current research. The Caine Bogle Family Graduate Fellowship in CALS is awarded to students demonstrating both academic and leadership qualities. More: http://www.econ.iastate.edu/about-department/announce/news/14-2013-phd-… ENTREPRENEURSHIP STUDENTS HELP GREEK BUSINESS DEVELOP MARKETING PLAN Students in the Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative's International Agri-Business Field Experience Program are consulting with a business in Greece that plans to expand into the U.S. market. Macedonian Thrace Brewery, in Komotini, Greece, requested the students' assistance to launch Tuvunu, a new ready-to-drink herbal tea, in the U.S. SPRING REPORT FROM THE RESEARCH FARMS The McNay Memorial Research and Demonstration Farm near Chariton reports more than 100 calves born this spring"”with 100 more expected. Calving started March 9. The calves are from the purebred Angus cowherd and are managed by Kevin Maher and Brad Evans. ISU animal scientists use the herd for beef cattle breeding, genetics, reproduction, nutrition, health and grazing work. Several research farms reported seeding oats last week.  Also, a plot of corn was planted last Friday in central Iowa as part of a seed treatment study.  It was the first of three plantings for the seed to be exposed to challenging conditions. FOUNTAIN PRESERVATION BRINGS NEW LIFE TO HISTORIC COURTYARD It is a historical work of art that is largely hidden from students, faculty and staff on the ISU campus. Christian Petersen's seven-panel mural and fountain, "The History of Dairying," can be found along the east wall of the Food Sciences courtyard. Ruth MacDonald, chair of the food science and human nutrition department, hopes to once again make the mural and courtyard -- listed on the National Register of Historic Places -- a focal point on campus. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2013/04/02/foodsciencecourtyard NEW RESEARCH RESULTS AVAILABLE FROM LEOPOLD CENTER Research results from five recently completed projects are now available from the Leopold Center. ANR DIVERSITY WEBINAR AVAILABLE ONLINE An Overview of Diversity webinar was held for Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension staff on April 5 on the topic of diversity and how this is pertinent in educators' work. Featured presenters were John Lawrence, associate dean of extension programs and outreach and director of Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension, and Katie Bruna, associate professor in the School of Education. The webinar is available online at: https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/p4z0a42055j/ DEADLINES AND REMINDERS April 15: RSVP deadline for reception for community college colleagues, Barb Osborn, baosborn@iastate.edu April 16-17: Egg Industry Issues Forum, St. Louis April 24: Retirement reception for Jan and Cornelia Flora, sociology, 2 to 4 p.m., Memorial Union Campanile Room April 25: U.S.-China Trade Commission Hearing ................................................... FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES ................................................... 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/ May 6 (letter of intent): NSF Small Business/ERC Collaborative Opportunity (SECO); small business lead with ERC subcontractor, 15 awards, $200,000 over two years, three applications per organization. More: http://nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503333 May 16: USDA NIFA Regional Integrated Pest Management Program North Central Region; budgets cannot exceed $100,000 research, $80,000 Extension, $175,000 joint research/Extension. May 29: USAID Thailand Land Use Change and Disease Emergence: Promoting Valuation of Environmental Services in Furtherance of Public Health and Sustainable Landscapes; one award, $2 million over three years, 5 percent cost share. Feb. 20, 2014: NSF Energy for Sustainability; average award $100,000, three years. More: http://nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=501026 Feb. 20, 2014: NSF Environmental Engineering; average award $110,000, one to three years. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=501029 Feb. 20, 2014: NSF Environmental Health and Safety of Nanotechnology; average award $100,000, one to three years. More: http://nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=501030 Feb. 20, 2014: NSF Environmental Sustainability; average award $100,000, one to three years. More: http://nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=501027 April 30, 2014: NASA Earth Science Applications: Water Resources. More: http://goo.gl/n36H2 ................................................... COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK ................................................... ADVERBS ARE"¦MONSTERS Nouns are what the world is made of. Verbs are how you put them together. Adjectives are straightforward. And adverbs are"¦monsters. Adam Kilgarriff suggests the following exercise in a MacMillan Dictionary blog: Go through a piece of writing, ideally an essay of your own. Delete all adverbs and adverbial phrases. While you are at it, also score out those clauses that frame the content. Have you lost any content? Is it easier to read? Usually the meaning is still exactly the same but the piece is far easier to read. More: http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/new-years-resolution-no-adverbs ................................................... INFOGRAZING ................................................... "˜ZOOBIQUITY' AUTHORS TO DELIVER LECTURE, APRIL 9 Barbara Natterson-Horowitz, M.D., and Kathryn Bowers will discuss their new book "Zoobiquity," on Tuesday, April 9, at 7 p.m. in the Memorial Union Great Hall. The book explores how animal and human commonality can be used to diagnose, treat and heal patients of all species. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2013/04/03/zoobiquity  ................................................... EXTERNAL VOICES ................................................... NORTHEY ENCOURAGES IOWA FARMERS TO PARTICIPATE IN MUSEUM PROJECT Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey encouraged Iowa farmers to consider participating in the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History's Agricultural Innovation and Heritage Archive, in a news release on April 2. "Throughout our state's history Iowa has been a leader in innovation and the development of new technologies to help our farmers better care for their crops and livestock and be more productive. It is important these stories are preserved for future generations, so I encourage Iowans to learn more and consider participating in the project," Northey said. More: http://www.iowaagriculture.gov/press/2013press/press04032013m.asp ................................................... MARGINALIA ................................................... IOWA'S BEST BURGER CONTEST ANNOUNCES TOP 10 The nominations for the 2013 Iowa's Best Burger contest were recently announced in the April issue of the Iowa Cattleman magazine. The top 10 nominations scattered throughout the state include: 61 Chop House Grille, Mediapolis; Ankeny Diner, Ankeny; B&B Grocery, Meat & Deli, Des Moines; Elm's Club, Creston; First Street Grille, Keosauqua; JB's Bar & Grill, Marcus; Rosco's, Norwalk; Sam's Sodas and Sandwiches, Carroll; The Ritz, Arnold's Park; and Zombie Burger, Des Moines. A panel of judges will evaluate the top 10 and the winner will be announced the first week of May. ........................................................ 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.