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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Newsletter
Iowa State University
November 11, 2013 No. 775
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COLLEGE NEWS
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COLLEGE HONORS ALUMS AND FRIENDS
The College presented awards Friday at the 82nd annual Alumni Association Honors and Awards Ceremony. David Morrison ('69 food technology and MS ’71 chemical engineering), retired executive officer of SAMPCO, Inc., received the Floyd Andre Award. Jon Kinzenbaw, founder and president of Kinze Manufacturing, Inc., received the George Washington Carver Distinguished Service Award. Jim Blome (’85 agronomy and pest management), president and CEO for Bayer CropScience LP, received the Henry A. Wallace Award. Sarah Low (’02 PSA in agriculture), an economist for USDA’s Economic Research Service, received the Superior Achievement Award for Early or Mid-career Alumni. Matthew Leu (’99 animal science, MS ’07 business administration), general manager of one of Cargill’s beef production facilities, received the Outstanding Young Alumni Award. Catherine Swoboda (’08 agronomy, MS ’10 crop production and physiology), director of Iowa and Midwest education programs for the World Food Price Foundation, also received the Outstanding Young Alumni Award. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/college-agriculture-and-life…
AG ENTREPRENEURSHIP SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED TO LILIENTHAL
Ross Lilienthal, junior in agricultural studies, received the 2013 Charles R. and Margo S. Woods scholarship, awarded through the ISU Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative. The $1,500 scholarship was awarded to Lilienthal based on his interest and aptitude for entrepreneurship as well as his involvement in the initiative’s programs. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/charles-r-and-margo-s-wood-s…
PLANT SCIENCES INSTITUTE AWARDS FOUR GRANTS
The Plant Sciences Institute has funded four $250,000 team-enabling grants. First year funding was provided for a project aimed at establishing a center for optimizing nitrogen efficient cropping systems, led by Larry Halverson, plant pathology and microbiology. Three current projects also received additional funding:
* Virus-Insect Interactions Initiative – Bryony Bonning (PI), entomology.
* Chemical Dioversity in the Plant Biosphere – Basil Nikolau (PI), biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biologyy.
* Imaging of Growing Plants and Computational Modeling of Plant Growth and Development – Diane Bassham (PI), genetics, development and cell biology.
IOWA FARM AND RURAL LIFE POLL SUMMARY RELEASED
The summary report of the 2013 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll, led by J. Gordon Arbuckle and Paul Lasley, sociology, is now available online. The 2013 Farm Poll survey topics include climate change and agriculture, perspectives on herbicide-resistant weeds and Bt-resistant corn rootworm, and management of soil health, including soil compaction.
MEAT SCIENCE CLUB HOLDS 11th ANNUAL HOLIDAY HAM FUNDRAISER?
The Meat Science Club is selling holiday hams until Nov. 15. Club members trim and prepare each semi-boneless ham for the curing, smoking and cooking process. They are injected with salt, sugar, spices and cure for flavor, smoked for more than two hours with natural hardwood smoke and vacuum packaged for a long refrigerated shelf life. Whole hams (14-18 pounds) are $3.50 a pound and half hams (7-9 pounds) are $4 a pound. Place an order by emailing isu.meat.science.club@gmail.com or by filling out an order form at the Meat Lab Sales Counter or in 2371 Kildee Hall. Hams will be available to pick up at the Meat Lab Sales counter, located at the north corner of the Kildee Hall atrium. Pick up times are Nov. 19 and 21 from 4 to 6 p.m. and Dec. 17 and 19 from 4 to 6 p.m. Holiday Hams is a fundraiser that helps students attend professional meetings, conferences and education workshops.
BLOCK AND BRIDLE CLUB SELLING SUMMER SAUSAGE AND CHEESE
An online form is available for the Block and Bridle Club’s annual holiday summer sausage and cheese sale. Orders will be accepted through Dec. 11 for Thanksgiving or Christmas delivery. On-site sales will be offered at Vet Med, Curtiss Hall, Kildee Hall, Bessey Hall, Beardshear Hall and the University Book Store (dates to be announced). The summer sausage is made on campus in the Meat Lab and the cheese (one pound blocks of colby jack, cheddar and pepper jack) is from Wisconsin. Money raised will be used for club trips, and shows and sales hosted by the club. For more information: isussandc@gmail.com.
POULTRY INTEREST GROUP SELLING TURKEYS
The Poultry Science Class raised 27 turkeys as a class management project. The Poultry Interest Group of the Block and Bridle Club is having them processed and will be selling them for $2 a pound as a fundraiser for their trip to the International Poultry Expo in January. The whole turkeys will weigh between 17-22 pounds. Projected pick-up date is Nov. 26 or 27 at Kildee Hall. To place an order, contact ISUPoultryInterestGroup@gmail.com.
CALS FACULTY TO ADDRESS WEATHER EXTREMES AT SYMPOSIUM, DEC. 11
The economic impact of adapting to weather extremes in Iowa is the topic of a symposium to be held Dec. 11, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Des Moines. Speakers from Iowa State include Chris Anderson, climate science program; Jacqueline Comito, Iowa Learning Farms; Rick Cruse, agronomy, Iowa Water Center; and David Swenson, economics. Sponsors include the climate science program and Iowa Water Center at ISU. More: http://ppc.uiowa.edu/forkenbrock/extreme-weather
NACTA INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP RENEWED
CALS has renewed its institutional membership for North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture for 2014. This allows individual faculty and staff to join NACTA at a reduced rate. For more information on the institutional membership, contact David Acker, dacker@iastate.edu. The NACTA Journal is published electronically at http://www.nactateachers.org/.
TRANSFER ARTICULATION COMMITTEE CELEBRATES KIRKWOOD SUCCESS
The CALS Transfer Articulation Committee received word this fall that Kirkwood Community College’s two-year landscape construction and design program received PLANET accreditation. This recognition is extended to schools that meet or exceed industry standards for a model curriculum. The site visit team indicated that Iowa is the only state in the U.S. with both an accredited two-year and four-year program. They also indicated that it is rare for a two-year program to cooperate at such a high level with a four-year school like Iowa State. A professor of horticulture at Kirkwood said the work done by the CALS Transfer Articulation Committee to streamline this process between Iowa State and the community colleges has been invaluable.
FSHN LEARNING COMMUNITY TOURS THE ISU BAKERY
The Department of FSHN transfer learning community recently visited the ISU Bakery located at the Knapp-Storms Dining Complex. They met with Mark Weber, ISU Bakery manager and Sally Barclay, ISU dietitian. Students were able to learn more about the equipment, how the bakery manages things, the history of the building, part time job opportunities and the steps to becoming a registered dietitian.
BONNIE BOWEN RETIREMENT RECEPTION, NOV. 15
A retirement reception for Bonnie Bowen, ecology, evolution and organismal biology, will be held Nov. 15, 4 to 6 p.m. in the Memorial Union Campanile Room.
BRENTON CENTER HONORS LEWIS AS ONLINE TEACHER OF THE YEAR
The Brenton Center for Agricultural Instruction and Technology Transfer has awarded its second Ag Online Teacher of the Year award to Donald Lewis, entomology, based on student feedback. Lewis began teaching online classes in 2009. He taught 39 students that year and four years later the number of online students in his class increased to 96. Lewis teaches Introduction to Insects and Insects and Society. The award recognizes Lewis during National Distance Learning Week, Nov. 11-15. Along with teaching, Lewis is in charge of Iowa’s extension urban entomology programs. He provides Iowa State’s outreach insect pest management education for home and commercial producers and includes vegetable, fruit, landscape, turfgrass, greenhouses and household pests.
ISU AG ASSOCIATION CHOSEN TO HOST WORLD CONGRESS
The ISU chapter of the International Association of Students in Agriculture and Related Sciences was chosen to host the association’s annual World Congress in Ames, July 17 through Aug. 3, 2014. Students from 50 different countries will attend to take tours, participate in workshops and listen to seminars pertaining to agriculture. To host the event, ISU’s chapter will need to raise $84,000. Most of the fundraising will be done through a website called Indiegogo. More
SWANSON CROWNED HOMECOMING KING
Jake Swanson, senior in global resource systems, was crowned homecoming king at the Homecoming Pep Rally on Nov. 8 outside of the Alumni Center. Swanson is involved in Government of the Student Body, Beta Theta Pi Fraternity and Cardinal Key. Swanson also helped organize the first student-run Bacon Expo and worked with United Way. More: http://www.iowastatedaily.com/news/article_db7e51ea-4a30-11e3-a1d9-001a…;
AST CLUB SERVICES 84 SNOW BLOWERS
The Agricultural Systems Technology Club serviced 84 snow blowers on Nov. 1-2 during its annual snow blower service days, raising approximately $1,600. Club members change oil, replace spark plugs, grease parts and wash the units.
ISU STUDENTS VISIT FARMS DURING AGRICULTURE WEEKEND EXPERIENCE
In October, eight CALS students spent a weekend in central Iowa getting a new perspective on agriculture. This year’s group included students from China, Austria, Germany and Argentina. The program is sponsored by the Iowa State Agricultural Endowment and CALS to give students a change to get hands-on agricultural learning experience. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/isu-students-visit-farms-dur…
CALS SURPASSES GOAL FOR UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN
The college has surpassed its goal by raising $63,204 for ISU United Way Campaign. Overall, ISU pledges and gifts total $308,272, which is 92 percent of ISU’s goal. Go to http://www.uw.iastate.edu/13/goals.php for details. Pledges are still being accepted. If you have sent in your pledge you should have received a coupon for four tickets to the ISU women’s basketball game on Dec. 8. If you are not using those tickets you can send them to Carla Persaud at 138 Curtiss Hall and they will be given to a local organization.
DEADLINES AND REMINDERS
Nov. 25: Surplus Equipment Auction, ISU Curtiss Farm, Tim Goode, (641) 751-0280.
Dec. 11: Science With Practice Poster Presentation, 2-3:30 p.m., Kildee Hall Atrium
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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NCRCRD FY 2013/14 SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM
The North Central Regional Center for Rural Development small grants competition will award up to $20,000 for work in innovation diffusion for rural development, sustainable communities, leadership development and entrepreneurial communities. Proposals are due Jan. 31. Interested individuals may ask questions via conference call on Nov. 12 at 3 p.m. and Jan. 10 at 9 a.m. To join either or both conference calls, RSVP to Rosa Soliz at soliz@msu.edu. More: http://ncrcrd.msu.edu/ncrcrd/grants
USAID-THAILAND RFI FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH, AGRICULTURE, CLIMATE CHANGE
USAID-Thailand has issued a Request for Information for the proposed project, Economic Growth Integrated Project for Private Sector Competitiveness, Agriculture and Global Climate Change. The project would seek to enable people engaged in Timor-Leste’s agriculture sector to benefit from sustainable economic growth. Objectives of the proposed project will be achieved through support to empower rural households to use and access resources and assets and to increase productivity in the agriculture sector. More: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=245573
NIH SEEKS PUBLIC FEEDBACK ON GENOMIC DATA SHARING POLICY
NIH seeks feedback from the public on the draft Genomic Data Sharing Policy. Comments are due Nov. 20. More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-14-018.html
USAID STUDENT RESEARCH AND INNOVATION FELLOWSHIPS
The U.S. Agency for International Development offers students the opportunity to apply their science and technology expertise overseas to conduct research in collaboration with hosting organizations in countries throughout the developing world. Brazil, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Senegal and South Africa are the initial pilot countries. Students can search more than 300 opportunities to match their interests and expertise. Successful applicants will become USAID Research and Innovation Fellows and will be funded by the National Science Foundation and USAID for up to $24,000 for placements of two to 12 months. Currently, the fellowships are open to individuals in an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program or Research Experience for Undergraduates program. However, opportunities for other streams of fellows will become available as the program expands.
BORLAUG LEAP PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS FROM SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
The Norman E. Borlaug Leadership Enhancement in Agriculture Program is seeking applications for fellowship grant opportunities for students from sub-Saharan Africa who are conducting research on topics related to the U.S. government's Feed the Future initiative. The focus region is sub-Saharan Africa. All topics related to agriculture and the research strategies of the Feed the Future initiative are admissible. The Borlaug LEAP fellowship program supports engaging a mentor at a U.S. university and at a CGIAR center to support and enhance thesis research and mentoring experience. Funds are available for one year and cannot exceed $20,000. Applications are due Dec. 3.
BROADER IMPACTS TEXT ANALYSIS WORKSHOP
Elena Cotos, a linguistics researcher at ISU, has used corpus linguistics techniques to analyze the quality of the writing and integration of broader impacts plans within NSF proposals. During this workshop, she will share her findings and provide tips for writing effective broader impacts statements. The workshop will be held on Thursday, Nov. 14, 12 to 2 p.m., Memorial Union South Ballroom. Lunch will be provided. Register: https://iastateevpp.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_2mzzolG7UsXM53D
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/
Nov. 15 (letter of intent – one paragraph): USAID CRSP - BASIS Assets and Market Access Innovation Lab; $700,000. More: http://basis.ucdavis.edu/
Dec. 2: Small Business Innovation Research Program Phase I Solicitation FY-2014 (Release 2) (SBIR). More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504961&WT.mc_ev=click
Jan. 3 (letter of intent): Exceptional Unconventional Research Enabling Knowledge Acceleration for Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System (R01). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MH-14-214.html
Feb. 4: NSF Improving Undergraduate STEM Education. More: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=247254
Feb. 5 (letter of intent): NSF Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program; STEM education. More: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2014/nsf14508/nsf14508.htm?WT.mc_ev=click
Feb. 14: State Department, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferat - Global Biosecurity Engagement Activities; up to $500,000 per award, more for multiple projects. More: https://www.grantsolutions.gov/gs/preaward/previewPublicAnnouncement.do…
March 7 (letter of intent): NIH Biomarkers for Diabetes Complications - Non-Invasive Measures in the Eye (DP3). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DK-13-027.html
March 13 (letter of intent): NSF Partnerships for Innovation: Accelerating Innovation Research. More: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13575/nsf13575.htm
April 30 (Phase I submission): Irwin Andrew Porter Foundation - International Grants; agriculture, natural resources, grassroots conservation, $500 to $30,000 per year, one to two years. More: http://www.iapfoundation.org/
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COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
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AVOID PROLONGED EYE CONTACT
People are more likely to sway someone in an argument if they look at the person’s mouth and not at their eyes, according to new research. Conducted by Frances Chen at the University of Freiburg in Germany and recently published in the journal “Psychological Science,” the study highlighted the ways in which eye contact can signal different types of messages depending on the situation. For example, while eye contact can be seen as a sign of connection or trust in some situations, it can be seen as domineering or intimidating in other situations. (This article is from the Nov. 4 issue of Advancement Weekly, published by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.)
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INFOGRAZING
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TRY ISU’S SUBSCRIPTION TO PLAGIARISM DETECTION SOFTWARE
Iowa State’s trial subscription to iThenticate plagiarism detection software expires in March 2014. Charlotte Bronson, associate vice president for research, encourages individuals who have not yet tried the software to do so. Use of the software will determine whether ISU continues its subscription. To request access to the trial subscription, send an e-mail to pcheck@iastate.edu.
FOOD DIALOGUES EVENT TO BE HELD ON ISU CAMPUS NOV. 19
U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance will hold "Food Dialogues: Iowa," an event at the Scheman Building on Tuesday, Nov. 19, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Farmers and industry leaders will be on hand to answer questions on GMOs as well as local and organic foods. Food Dialogues: Iowa is planned in collaboration with the Iowa Corn Promotion Board and Iowa Corn Growers Association. More than 15 Food Dialogues events have been held across the country since 2011 for panel discussions on pressing topics related to food and food production. Register to attend or watch via livestream.
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INTERNAL VOICES
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AG AMBASSADOR: EVERYONE IS CONNECTED TO AGRICULTURE
Katie Johnson, a sophomore in agricultural and life sciences education, was selected as one of 20 National Collegiate Agriculture Ambassadors and is the first ambassador to be chosen from the state of Iowa and ISU. Ambassadors are required to complete 30 hours of presentation to inform and educate audiences on the various aspects of agriculture. “If you wear clothes and eat food, you’re connected with agriculture,” Johnson said in an article for the Iowa State Daily. “It’s more important and relevant than a lot of people know.” More
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EXTERNAL VOICES
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ALUMNI AWARDEE: ISU INSPIRED ME TO PURSUE MY CAREER
In recognition of outstanding leadership and service to the field of agriculture, Jim Blome, president and CEO of Bayer CropScience LP, was honored with the Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Science’s Henry A. Wallace Award. “Iowa State was instrumental in inspiring me to pursue a career in agriculture, and my experience there has greatly influenced my leadership at Bayer CropScience,” Blome said. He received the award at the ISU Alumni Association Honors and Award Ceremony Nov. 8, as part of the homecoming celebrations.
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MARGINALIA
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FILMMAKER WANTS TO PRESERVE “DING” DARLING’S LEGACY
According to documentary filmmaker Samuel Koltinsky, his project on the life and work of Jay N. “Ding” Darling, the famous conservationist and political cartoonist, has been “…one of the most inspiring projects that I have worked on in 20 years. It’s the one project I can’t let go of.” Koltinsky was in Iowa last week to show his documentary on Darling at ISU. He would like to make Darling’s legacy a permanent part of Iowa State. “There is no center nor curriculum that looks at Ding Darling, either through conservation, art, cartooning, leadership,” Koltinsky said. “I want to make sure this happens.” The Brunnier Gallery is featuring an exhibit of Darling’s work and aired the film Nov. 3.
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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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EDITOR
Julie Stewart
jstewart@iastate.edu, (515) 294-5616
https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/agonline
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