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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Newsletter
Iowa State University
Aug. 25, 2014 No. 813
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COLLEGE NEWS
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CALS FALL CONVOCATION THURSDAY, AUG. 28
The CALS Fall Convocation will be Thursday, Aug. 28, at 4:10 p.m. in the Memorial Union Sun Room. The program will include comments from Dean Wintersteen, recognition for the College’s new faculty and staff and the recipients of the Dean Lee Kolmer Award for Excellence and Applied Research. A reception will follow.
CALS BARBECUE FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS SATURDAY, AUG. 30
The college will host the annual CALS (Breakfast) BBQ on Saturday, Aug. 30, 8 to 10:30 a.m. at the Jeff and Deb Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center, prior to the ISU vs. North Dakota State University football game at 11 a.m. All CALS faculty, staff and guests are welcome to attend. Register at https://isucals.typeform.com/to/EaQMP5.
ISU AG BUSINESS CLUB IS NATION’S OUTSTANDING CHAPTER
The ISU Agricultural Business Club received the Outstanding Chapter award and the Creative Club award at the Agricultural and Applied Economics annual meeting in Minneapolis, July 27-29. Ron Deiter and Georgeanne Artz, economics, serve as faculty advisers.
SPRING GRADUATE RECEIVED GLOBAL GRANT SCHOLARSHIP
Dylan Clark, spring 2014 graduate in global resource systems, received a Rotary International District 6000 Global Grant Scholarship. Clark will be attending McGill University in Montreal, Canada, working on a master’s degree in geography. His research will focus on the impact of global climate change on the food systems and health of the indigenous peoples in the remote Nunavut Territory of Northern Canada.
PLANT SCIENCE APP CREATED FOR TEACHERS, STUDENTS
A new app will give high school agri-science teachers a tool for teaching biotechnology to their students. “The Journey of a Gene” is the product of a partnership between ISU and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The project began with a USDA grant for more than $5 million, involving Madan Bhattacharyya, agronomy, and Alison Robertson, plant pathology and microbiology. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/partnership-creates-plant-sc…
HORTICULTURE DEPARTMENT LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE
The horticulture department has introduced a new website to welcome potential students, alums and other friends of the department. “Every Green thing we grow is rooted in Cardinal and Gold.” The website, developed in conjunction with University Marketing, is mobile friendly and features an interactive U.S. map of ISU horticulture alumni and a “What is Horticulture” video. More: http://www.hort.iastate.edu/
ISU WELL REPRESENTED AT FARM PROGRESS SHOW
ISU will be well represented at the 61st Farm Progress Show, Aug. 26-28, in Boone. Faculty and staff will be stationed in the ISU tent during the three-day show addressing topics such as nutrient management, how to deal with production pests, and cover and biomass crops. Several exhibits and demonstrations will be held throughout the grounds. More: http://www.inside.iastate.edu/article/2014/08/21/farm
LATE SUMMER FIELD DAYS BEGIN AUG. 26
ISU Research and Demonstration Farms will host late summer field days around the state beginning Aug. 26 and running through Sept. 18. Topics include the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in agriculture, cover crops, troublesome weeds, crop diseases, pasture management, corn stalk use and soil fertility. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/iowa-state-research-and-demo…
FEEDING THE WORLD SEMINAR SERIES BEGINS SEPT. 4
The fall 2014 seminar series, “Feeding the World: Are We Making Progress,” begins Sept. 4 at 3:40 p.m. in the Ensminger Room, 1204 Kildee Hall. Manjit Misra, director of the ISU Seed Science Center and co-director of the Global Food Security Consortium, will present “The Role of Seeds in Feeding the World.” The annual seminar series is sponsored by the M.E. Ensminger International Chair in Animal Agriculture and the Raymond and Mary Baker Chair in Global Agriculture.
SCHULTE-MOORE TO PARTICIPATE IN FRONTIERS OF SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM
Lisa Schulte-Moore has accepted an invitation to participate in the 2014 U.S. Kavli Frontiers of Science Symposium, Nov. 17-19, in Irvine, Calif. The symposium, jointly sponsored by the National Academy of Sciences and The Kavli Foundation, brings together outstanding young scientists to discuss exciting advances and opportunities in a broad range of disciplines. More: http://www.nasonline.org/programs/kavli-frontiers-of-science/past-sympo…
RETIRED AGRONOMY AND GDCB PROFESSOR DIES
Reid Palmer, USDA research geneticist and professor of agronomy and genetics, development and cell biology, died Aug. 17. He was 73. Palmer’s areas of expertise were cytogenetics and plant breeding of soybeans. At ISU for more than 40 years, his work was known worldwide and he was the recipient of numerous rewards. A Celebration of Life reception for Palmer will be held Sept. 3, 5 to 7 p.m. in the Garden Room at Reiman Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorials for Palmer may be directed to the General Agronomy Fund at ISU (2505 University Blvd, P.O. Box 2230, Ames, IA 50010-2230). More: http://www.adamssoderstrum.com/obituaries/Reid-Palmer/
DEADLINES AND REMINDERS
Sept. 11: Errington Lecture on Yellowstone Wolves, 7 p.m., Memorial Union Great Hall
Sept. 11-12: Critical Thinking Symposium, https://iastate.app.box.com/criticalthinkingsymposium
Sept. 18: New Graduate Student and Post-doc Welcome, 5-7:30, Harl Commons, Curtiss Hall. RSVP to Ruth MacDonald by Sept. 15 (ruthmacd@iastate.edu).
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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NSF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CENTERS INTERNAL COMPETITION
The VPR Office has issued an internal competition for faculty interested in submitting to the NSF Science and Technology Centers: Integrative Partnerships program, which supports innovative, potentially transformative, complex research and education projects that require large-scale, long-term awards. Faculty whose primary appointment is in CALS should send pre-proposals to Joe Colletti colletti@iastate.edu by Sept. 15. For questions, contact Roxanne Clemens rclemens@iastate.edu. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5541
U.S.-UK GLOBAL INNOVATION INITIATIVE GRANT COMPETITION
The Institute for International Education is accepting proposals for the Global Innovation Initiative. The GII is a joint U.S.-UK effort to strengthen global multilateral collaboration through grants to university consortia focusing on science, technology, engineering and mathematics-related issues of global significance that foster multinational research. Priority issues are energy, climate change and the environment; urban development; agriculture, food security and water; and global health. Funded by the U.S. State Department, the U.S. grant competition will award approximately six grants ranging from $100,000 to $200,000. Cost sharing required. Proposals are due Oct. 31. More: http://www.iie.org/Programs/Global-Innovation-Initiative
USAID HORTICULTURE INNOVATION LAB REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
The Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Collaborative Research on Horticulture is accepting proposals for three funding opportunities ranging from $1.5 million to $2 million. The three areas are postharvest, nutrition, and gender and social equity. This RFP is open to PIs who work at U.S. public universities and have partners in Feed the Future countries. Proposals are due Sept. 30. More: http://horticulture.ucdavis.edu/main/funding.htm
NIH SINGLE CELL ANALYSIS CHALLENGE: FOLLOW THAT CELL
The NIH Single Cell Analysis Program is searching for novel methods for analyzing dynamic states of individual cells that can serve as the basis for predicting alterations in cell behavior and function over time. Winners of Phase I receive a monetary award and the opportunity to move to Phase II of the challenge. Application deadline is Dec. 15. More: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/08/11/2014-18870/announce…
DOE ANNOUNCES RFI ON LANDSCAPE DESIGN FOR SUSTAINABLE BIOENERGY SYSTEMS
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office invites public comment on its request for information regarding landscape design for sustainable bioenergy systems. Bioenergy stakeholders can provide feedback on landscape design approaches that integrate cellulosic bioenergy feedstock production into existing agricultural and forestry systems while maintaining or enhancing environmental and socio-economic sustainability. Responses are due Sept. 2. More: http://www.energy.gov/eere/bioenergy/articles/beto-announces-request-in…
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/
Now Open: NSF Dear Colleague Letter: Integrated NSF Support Promoting Interdisciplinary Research and Education; up to $1 million over five years. More: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2014/nsf14106/nsf14106.jsp?WT.mc_ev=click
Sept. 2 (letter of intent): DOE SBIR STTR FY2015 Phase I Release I; PI must be small business, up to $225,000 Phase I and $1.725 million Fast-Track awards. More: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=261591
Sept. 12 (nominations): Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement; $200,000.
Sept. 30: USDA NIFA Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program.
Sept. 30: USDA NIFA Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship (NNF) Grants Program; $4,500 to $262,500.
Sept. 30 (letter of intent): Simons Foundation Targeted Grants in the Mathematical Modeling of Living Systems; $200,000 per year up to three years. More: http://www.simonsfoundation.org/funding/funding-opportunities/mathemati…
Nov. 14: NSF Advancing Informal STEM Learning; $115,000 to $3 million. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504793
Nov. 18: NSF Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems (CNH); $500,000 small research project, $1.8 million large research project. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13681&org=NSF&sel_org=N…
June 30 (applications accepted continuously until deadline): Iowa Energy Center FY 2015 Opportunity Grant Program (pre-proposals); Matching Grant Program (proposals); and Planning Grant Program (proposals). More: http://www.iowaenergycenter.org/grant-funding/competitive-grants/
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COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
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DECREASE “IN” vs. DECREASE “OF”
When using the noun “decrease” to talk about what is decreasing, use “decrease in.” For example: “The experiment has not led to the expected decrease in crime.” When using it to talk about the amount by which something decreases—with a number or percentage—use “decrease of.” For example, “These emissions show a decrease of 21 percent over the past five years.” More: http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/language-tip-of-the-week-decrease
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INFOGRAZING
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FIVE FOOD TRUCKS TO SERVE CAMPUS THIS FALL
Five campus food trucks will operate from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and accept cash and credit cards.
- Finley’s Curbside Beastro (returning) and El Mexicano (new) will be near Kildee Hall.
- Indian Delights is back, but in a new location south of Coover Hall.
- Streets of Europe is new and will be located south of Hoover Hall.
- The Cheesesteak Factory is new and will be located between Beardshear and Carver halls.
More: http://www.inside.iastate.edu/article/2014/08/21/fallfacts
MacKAY HALL DEDICATION, OCT. 9
A dedication of the remodeled Catherine J. MacKay Auditorium, vestibule, high-tech classrooms and laboratories, and a student welcome center will be held Oct. 9, 3 to 5 p.m., with a program at 3:30. The $3.1 million remodeling of MacKay Hall began in May.
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MARGINALIA
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AN APPLE A DAY . . .
Senior Associate Dean Joe Colletti and Associate Dean David Acker will be handing out apples to students in front of Curtiss Hall during this first week of fall-semester classes. Some of the apples are homegrown, coming from the orchards of the Horticulture Station northeast of Ames.
SMOKEY BEAR CELEBRATES 70TH BIRTHDAY
At 70 years old, Smokey Bear is the longest running PSA campaign in U.S. history. Smokey Bear was born Aug. 9, 1944, when the U.S. Forest Service and the Ad Council agreed that a fictional bear would be the symbol for their joint effort to promote forest fire prevention.
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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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