College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Sept. 8, 2015 – No. 866
Top Stories
NSF Awards Maximum Support to Center for Biorenewable Chemicals
The National Science Foundation has awarded full and final funding to the NSF Engineering Research Center for Biorenewable Chemicals based at ISU, for a total $35.26 million over 10 years. Center leaders say the program has quickly built a legacy of innovation in research, technology-led entrepreneurship and education. Basil Nikolau (left) is the center’s deputy director and Frances M. Craig Professor of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology in CALS. Brent Shanks is center director and Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in Engineering. More
CALS Barbecue Welcomes 450 Alumni, Friends
The CALS Barbecue for alumni, friends, faculty and staff was held Sept. 5 in the Jeff and Deb Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center. About 450 people attended the pre-football game event and enjoyed a Hickory Park meal. Dean Wintersteen and CALS student Lexi Marek shared remarks. Marek is a junior in public service and administration in agriculture and co-chair of the 2015 ISU Bacon Expo. Several CALS student clubs offered hands-on, educational activities for youth in attendance. Look for photos on the college’s Facebook page later this week.
Research
Bayer CropScience Pledges Support for Iowa Soybean Research Center
Bayer CropScience has become an industry partner of the Iowa Soybean Research Center at ISU. “This kind of partnership will allow us to help Iowa farmers grow the highest quality soybeans to meet the demands of a growing global market,” said Greg Tylka, director of the center and professor of plant pathology and microbiology. More
ISU Researchers Help with First Bovine Embryo Transfer in Kosovo
ISU animal science and veterinary researchers made possible the first ever successful bovine embryo transfers in the Republic of Kosovo, paving the way toward improved dairy production and food security for the small nation in southeastern Europe. Curtis Youngs, animal science, said the first calf was born in Kosovo on July 6. More
Teaching and Students
New Graduate Student and Post-doc Welcome Scheduled for Sept. 17
A welcome event for new graduate students and post-docs will be held Sept. 17 in the Harl Commons at Curtiss Hall. Dinner will be served at 5 p.m., followed by a panel discussion with current students at 6 to 7:30 p.m. Please RSVP to Ruth MacDonald, interim assistant dean for graduate programs in CALS, by Friday, Sept. 11 (ruthmacd@iastate.edu).
Students Invited to Submit Abstract for Borlaug Poster Competition
Graduate and undergraduate students are invited to submit poster abstracts to the 14th annual Norman Borlaug Lecture Poster Competition, presented by the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition and the Nutritional Sciences Council. Abstracts are due Oct. 1. Those selected as finalists will display their posters in the Memorial Union on Oct. 12, prior to the Borlaug Lecture. Monetary prizes are made possible with funds from the CALS, the College of Human Sciences and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. More
Horticulture Student Swims the English Channel
Adam Grimm, a senior in horticulture, swam the 23 mile solo swim across the English Channel this summer in 12.5 hours. In the world of endurance swimming, crossing the channel from England to France is a prestigious accomplishment. Since 1875, just over 1,300 swimmers have successfully made the solo crossing. More
Ticket Sales Open for 2015 Bacon Expo
Tickets went on sale Sept. 4 for the 2015 Bacon Expo, scheduled for Oct. 10, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center. A student-led event, the Bacon Expo is dedicated to expanding the horizons of bacon lovers and educating the public about pork production. More
Extension and Outreach
USDA Report Opens Door to Lower Corn and Soybean Prices
According to Chad Hart, economics, the first field-based estimates of the 2015 corn and soybean crops from USDA were not what the grain markets expected, bringing the potential of lower prices. More
New Professor to Help Small Farmers with Food Safety
Shannon Coleman, a food microbiologist, is a new assistant professor in food science and human nutrition and an extension specialist in food safety. She will be working with small farmers and food entrepreneurs on food safety and consumer food protection.
Around the College
Global Programs and Study Abroad Announce New Website
CALS Global Programs and Study Abroad have launched newly designed websites. The websites have updated information for students, faculty and staff. Visit CALS Global Programs and CALS Study Abroad.
Calendar
Sept. 10: Feeding the World Seminar Series
The Feeding the World seminar series continues on Thursday, Sept. 10, with Dirk Maier, agricultural and biosystems engineering, presenting “Ensuring Food Security through the Reduction of Post-Harvest Loss and Food Waste.” The seminar begins at 3:40 in 1204 Kildee Hall.
Sept. 11: Seminar by Director of Rice Research Program in Uruguay
Gonzalo Zorrilla, director of the National Rice Research Program at the Instituto Nacional de Investigacion Agropecuaria in Uruguay will present “The Seed System, a Key Factor for Uruguayan Rice Competitiveness” on Friday, Sept. 11, 2 to 3 p.m. in 106 Seed Science Center.
Sept. 17: National Academy of Sciences Member Speaks at Agronomy Seminar
Ronald Phillips, a Regents Professor and McKnight Presidential Chair in Genomics at the University of Minnesota and a National Academy of Sciences member will present “The Path to Discovery” at an agronomy seminar on Sept. 17.
Sept. 22: CALS Fall Convocation
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Fall Convocation is scheduled for Sept. 22 at 4:10 p.m. in the Memorial Union Sun Room. The program will include brief comments from Dean Wendy Wintersteen; two medallion ceremonies for Gene Takle, Pioneer Hi-Bred Agronomy Professor, and Jianming Yu, Pioneer Hi-Bred Distinguished Chair in Maize Breeding; the awarding of the Dean Lee R. Kolmer Award for Excellence in Applied Research; recognition of Cathy Kling, economics, ISU’s newest member of The National Academy of Sciences; and recognition for the College’s new faculty and staff since last fall. A reception will follow.
Funding Opportunities
Internal Competition: NSF Major Research Instrumentation Program
Pre-proposals are being accepted for the NSF Major Research Instrumentation Program: Instrument Acquisition or Development program. The program provides opportunities to acquire major instrumentation that supports research and research training goals. Funding up to $4 million can be requested, and 30 percent cost share is required. ISU can submit three proposals. PIs whose primary appointment is within CALS should submit their pre-proposal to Joe Colletti (colletti@iastate.edu) by Oct. 5. More
Tulane University Nitrogen Reduction Challenge
Tulane University is accepting applications for the Tulane Nitrogen Reduction Challenge, an international competition that will award $1 million to the entrepreneur, researcher or inventor with the best plan to reduce the amount of nutrients entering the world's lakes, rivers and oceans through storm water runoff and ultimately reduce the hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico. The challenge focuses on in-field sensor technologies that will help increase nutrient efficiencies to maximize crop yields, indirectly lower nutrient availability for runoff, and thus sustainably intensifying agriculture to the benefit of the environment. Registration and one-page proposals are due Sept. 15.
2016-17 Miller Faculty Fellowship Program
The 2016-17 Miller Faculty Fellowship Program will provide up to $15,000 per award for faculty members to enhance their scholarly work in undergraduate academic programs and to develop innovative approaches to enhance student learning. Any ISU faculty member may apply for a fellowship. Applications are due by Dec. 7.
Grants Hub Workshop: Finding Funding Opportunities Using COS Pivot
The VPR Office/Grants Hub is offering the training workshop, Finding Research Funding Using COS Pivot. The COS Pivot database is designed to help users identify funding opportunities and potential collaborators. The workshop will be held on Sept. 10 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in the Memorial Union Gallery. Register
Webinar: DOE Advanced Research Project Agency–Energy
The Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Project Agency–Energy will hold a Tech-to-Market Best Practices webinar. Dave Henshall, ARPA-E Deputy Director for Commercialization, will discuss best practices for commercialization of projects in ARPA-E’s programs, which include technologies related to everything from power electronics and carbon capture to grid-scale energy storage and natural gas vehicles. The webinar is Sept. 15, 12 to 1 p.m. More
Funding Information, Opportunities and Deadline Reminders
Dates listed are application deadlines. Contact: Roxanne Clemens, rclemens@iastate.edu. Additional information is posted at CALS Pre-Award Resources.
Sept. 21 (concept paper): DOE Bioenergy Technologies Incubator 2; algal feedstocks, terrestrial feedstocks supply logistics and conversion, $1 million to $2 million, 10 percent cost share required. More
Oct. 8 (expression of interest): The Conservation, Food and Health Foundation; $25,000, geographic focus is the developing world, one proposal per organization, contact Sue Shipitalo (sueship@iastate.edu) to express interest. More
Oct. 20: NSF Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering. More
Oct. 20: Dear Colleague Letter: Special Guidelines for Submitting Collaborative Proposals to the Energy for Sustainability program under the NSF/CBET – U.S.-Israel BSF International Opportunity. More
Oct. 31: Safari Club International Foundation Large Grant Program; $50,000. More
Nov. 4: National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance/VentureWell Faculty Grants; course and programs, sustainable vision, $50,000, contact ISU Foundation to express interest. More
Nov. 9 (letter of intent): NIH High Impact Neuroscience Research Resource Grants (R24); $700,000 direct costs over four years. More
Nov. 10: NIH NCI Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (NCI Omnibus R21); $275,000 over two years. More
Nov. 23 (pre-proposal): 2016 U.S. Forest Service National Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost-Share Grant Program; 1:1 match.
Dec. 15 (nominations): Gruber Foundation Prize; includes genetics prize and neuroscience prize, $500,000. More
Jan. 6, 2016: NSF Research Coordination Networks - Undergraduate Biology Education; $500,000 over five years, incubator proposals $50,000 for one year. More
Feb. 1: National Institute of Justice - FY 2016 Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes; $500,000. More
Communications Kiosk
Use First Names for Stories Involving Juveniles
In general, use only last names on second reference, unless an individual requests otherwise for a legitimate reason. In stories involving juveniles, generally refer to them on second reference by surname if they are 16 or older and by first name if they are 15 or younger. Exceptions would be if they are involved in serious crimes or are athletes or entertainers. (Associated Press Stylebook, 2014 edition, pg. 174)
Infograzing
ClubFest on Central Campus, Sept. 9
More than 360 student clubs and organizations will be on central campus for ClubFest on Wednesday, Sept. 9, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will showcase opportunities for student involvement with displays, demonstrations, giveaways and information from participating groups.
John Deere on Campus for Recruiting Event, Sept. 10
John Deere will be on campus Thursday, Sept. 10, for a campus recruiting event. There will be a tent on the east side of Marston Hall, two near Curtiss Hall and one on the patio in front of Sukup Hall. Jean Gilles, senior vice president of John Deere Power Systems, Worldwide Parts Services, Advanced Technology and Engineering, and Global Supply Management and Logistics, will be on campus as well to meet and interact with students.
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Julie Stewart, Editor
jstewart@iastate.edu, (515) 294-5616
https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/agonline
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online, the newsletter for faculty and staff in Iowa State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is published by email every Monday. The deadline for submitting content is 12 p.m. on Friday.