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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Newsletter
Iowa State University
Dec. 15, 2014 No. 828
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COLLEGE NEWS
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CALS CONVOCATION SATURDAY WILL RECOGNIZE NEW GRADUATES
New CALS graduates will be recognized individually at a convocation program beginning at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, at C.Y. Stephens Auditorium. Faculty and staff are welcome to attend. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. with beverages served in the upper lobby. Katherine Tovar, an animal science senior, will speak to fellow graduates and guests. Katelyn Carver, who is graduating summa cum laude with majors in agronomy and horticulture, will represent the college as its student marshal at the university commencement, which begins at 1:30 p.m. in Hilton Coliseum.
CALS STUDENT COUNCIL TO PRESENT AWARDS AT CONVOCATION
The CALS Student Council will present awards at the CALS Convocation on Saturday, Dec. 20, to: Christina Riessen, agricultural and life sciences education, for Outstanding Senior; Kelley Glanz, public service and administration in agriculture, for Leadership Excellence; Gabriel Santos Domingues, agricultural systems technology, for Academic Achievement; Ethan Lambert, animal science, for Distinguished Service; and Bailey Morrell, agricultural studies, for Outstanding Ambassador in Agriculture.
BEERMANN TO LEAD ANIMAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
Donald Beermann has been named chair of the Department of Animal Science. A former animal science professor, department chair and interim associate dean at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Beermann will begin his new duties Jan. 5. He succeeds Maynard Hogberg, who has served as chair since 2003. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/beermann-lead-animal-science…
ISU’S IOWA LAND VALUE NEWS CONFERENCE SET FOR DEC. 18
A news conference will be held on Dec. 18 at 10 a.m. in Room 004 Scheman Building announcing the results of the 2014 Iowa Land Value Survey conducted by the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/iowa-land-value-survey-news-…
CALS AMBASSADORS RECOGNIZED FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO RECRUITMENT
Five CALS Ambassadors graduating this weekend were recognized at a CALS Cabinet meeting on Dec. 12. Each has made a significant contribution to college recruitment. Zach Farrell, agronomy, and Savanah Farrell, agricultural and life sciences education with a communications option, served on the transfer visit committee. Sarah Weiland, animal science, served on the campus visit committee. Kelley Jamison, agricultural and life sciences education with a teaching certificate, developed an interactive presentation for ambassadors to use for visits to high schools. Christina Riessen, agricultural and life sciences education with a teaching certificate, worked to recruit students through alumni events.
MISRA REPRESENTS ISU AT UN HUNGER EVENT
Twenty-six presidents and other senior administrators – representing a consortium of more than 60 universities worldwide – signed the Presidents’ Commitment to Food and Nutrition Security at the United Nations on Dec. 9, creating a blueprint for higher education’s role in waging and winning the fight against hunger and malnutrition. Manjit Misra, director of the Seed Science Center, attended the event representing ISU President Steven Leath. More: http://ocm.auburn.edu/newsroom/news_articles/2014/12/auburn-university-…
USDA FUNDS EGG RESEARCH
A research project to study egg yolk gelation led by Tong Wang and Nuria Acevedo, food science and human nutrition, has received funding from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The $420,000 grant funds advanced instrumentation techniques for sensitive and quantitative evaluation and mechanistic study of yolk gel formation induced by freezing. The researchers also will develop novel technologies to prevent gelation, extend yolk shelf-life and reduce quality loss.
ANDERSEN TALKS ABOUT THE SCIENCE OF MANURE IN NEW BLOG
The National Hog Farmer highlighted a new blog from Dan Andersen, agricultural and biosystems engineering, which discusses topics pertaining to the science of manure. Andersen says in “The Manure Scoop,” he will be writing about how manure is handled, options for treatment, how to effectively use it as a fertilizer, potential environmental impact and new technologies being developed to improve manure use. More: http://nationalhogfarmer.com/environment/iowa-state-university-offers-n…
BIOMASS FUEL PROJECT TOPIC OF WEBINAR, DEC. 17
This month’s Iowa Learning Farms webinar will be held Wednesday, Dec. 17, at 11:30 a.m. Ingrid Gronstal Anderson of the University of Iowa’s Biomass Fuel Project, will talk about the exploration of biomass fuel sources as part of the university’s goal to obtain 40 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.
BIORENEWABLES POSTER SYMPOSIUM DEC. 18 IN SUKUP ATRIUM
The Biorenewables Poster Symposium will be held Dec. 18 at 2:15 to 4:15 p.m. in the Sukup Atrium of the Biorenewables Complex. The symposium will feature student posters from: “Leading the Bioeconomy” fellowship recipients, TSM 325 Biorenewable Systems class and BRT Graduate Student Research Seminar BRT506C class. Light refreshments will be available.
ANR AT NOON TO FOCUS ON BEING WELL IN STRESSFUL TIMES
ANR at Noon will be held Friday, Dec. 19, and will focus on recognizing and responding to signs of stress in clients, our colleagues and ourselves. Donna Donald and Kristi Cooper, extension colleagues in Human Sciences, will present “Being Well in Stressful Times.” To connect: https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/anr. To see archived sessions: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/ag/staff/anratnoon.html
CALS CAREER DAY CONTINUES TO GROW
CALS Career Services coordinated 87 companies conducting 1,526 student interviews this semester, compared with 1,556 for the entire year last year. The interview numbers "demonstrate the demand for our students and the sense of urgency for both recruiters and jobseekers during fall semester," said Mike Gaul, Career Services director. He said Ag Career Day last October attracted a record 269 organizations, making it nearly twice as large as the next largest agricultural job fair.
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION @ ISU TRAINING ON JAN. 15
The Office of the Vice President for Research invites faculty new to sponsored funding at ISU to the day-long training session Research Administration @ ISU. Representatives from the Office of Sponsored Programs Administration, the Office for Responsible Research, the ISU Foundation and the new Grants Hub will present information on how to navigate the proposal submission process and manage a research program. The training will be held Jan. 15, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Memorial Union Sun Room. More: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/research-administration-isu-tickets-1447914…
OSPA STAFFING PLAN FOR WINTER BREAK
The Office of Sponsored Programs Administration will be open during the winter break, but with limited staffing. OSPA has posted office hours, review timelines, and submission deadlines on their website. More: http://www.ospa.iastate.edu/news/ospa-news.php?id=12
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. 7 (concept paper): Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Healthy Eating Research: Building Evidence to Prevent Childhood Obesity – Special Solicitation; $25,000 to $75,000.
Jan. 20 (notice of intent): NASA Roses 2014 Terrestrial Ecology. More: http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=ini…{5620CBD5-3C36-5AC5-1B8C-3DEE1435AF95}&path=open
Jan. 25, May 25: NIH Biomedical Technology Research Resource (P41). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-14-021.html
Feb. 16: DOI Bureau of Reclamation – Desalination and Water Purification Research and Development Program; $150,000. More: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=270390
Feb. 18: USAID The Higher Education Partnerships Program - Egypt; 10 percent cost share. More: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=270068
Feb. 19: USGS National Institutes for Water Resources – Water Resources Research National Competitive Grants Program; $250,000, PI must apply through a Water Research Institute or Center, $250,000, 1:1 match required. More: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=270379
Nov. 13: NSF Petascale Computing Resource Allocations; $40,000 travel support associated with use of resources on the Blue Waters system. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503224
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COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
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SCIENTISTS: KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE
Scientific organizations, for the most part, talk about important developments in science with other scientists. But speaking to an audience beyond your peers requires a higher level of awareness and scrutiny. It means the burden is on you to understand more about how your messages – verbal and otherwise – will be received. David Wescott, a creative public affairs professional, offers useful tips and examples in a Nov. 17 blog post. More: http://itsnotalecture.blogspot.com/2014/11/scientists-know-your-audienc…
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INTERNAL VOICES
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CURREY: HYDROPONIC CLASS CONTRIBUTING FOOD TO COMMUNITY
Students in the new hydroponic food crop production course at ISU are producing food for the community. The course, taught by Christopher Currey, horticulture, focuses on principles and practices of hydroponic systems, crop production and culture, aquaponic systems and new food crops for hydroponic systems. In an article for the December issue of “Greenhouse Grower” magazine, Currey explains that the course is also an opportunity for students to learn about food insecurity. Even in a college town like Ames, there are people struggling to put food on the table. So the students donate the vegetables they produce to Food At First, a local perishable food pantry and free meal program. The students see their crops all the way through by volunteering to either prepare or serve a meal in Food At First’s kitchen or help distribute food from their food banks. “The students in the class are proud to be contributing to a solution to a problem in the community,” Currey said. “They take pride in not only their work, but their ability to lend a helping hand.”
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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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