College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
April 4, 2016 – No. 894
Top Stories
Forecasting Chances of Monarch Butterfly Survival
A new report examines the chances of survival of Eastern monarch butterflies in North America. John Pleasants, ecology, evolution and organismal biology, was a co-author. ISU scientists are addressing the monarch situation in multiple ways through the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium. More
Irwin to Present CALS Sustainability Lecture Today, April 4
CALS is beginning a lecture series focused on sustainability topics that will continue into the next academic year. Elena Irwin, faculty director of the Sustainable and Resilient Economy program at The Ohio State University and a professor in the Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics, will present the first lecture today, April 4, at 4 p.m. in the Dolezal Auditorium in Curtiss Hall. A reception will follow at 5:30 in the Harl Commons. More
Research
Experiment Station Works to Improve Food, Agriculture and Environment in Iowa
The Agriculture Experiment Station at ISU is Iowa’s only public agricultural research program and has served Iowa for more than 125 years. Its work to improve food, agriculture and the environment in Iowa was the focus of last week’s Alliance for Iowa State message. More
Mellata Receives Patent for Methods of Inhibiting Tumors
Melha Mellata, food science and human nutrition, studies the development of effective intervention strategies against diseases. She was recently awarded a patent for the invention of new methods for inhibiting tumors and improving safety of live vaccines.
Teaching and Students
Block and Bridle Club to Host Animal Learning Day
The ISU Block and Bridle Club will host Animal Learning Day on April 9, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center. The event is free and provides an opportunity for the public to learn about animals in agriculture. There will be activities for all ages, including a Taste of Iowa segment. More
Animal Science Students Receive AMSA Awards
Undergraduate students Emily Klootwyk and Brian Patterson, and graduate student Taylor Wolfer were among six students that received this year’s C. Boyd Ramsey RMC Scholar Award, co-sponsored by the C. Boyd Ramsey American Meat Science Association Mentorship Recognition program and the AMSA Student Membership. Patterson also received the AMSA Undergraduate Scholastic Achievement Award.
Extension and Outreach
Cover Crop Field Day at Northern Research Farm, April 13
Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with Practice Farmers of Iowa, Hagie Manufacturing and ISU Extension and Outreach, will host a cover crop field day on April 13, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the ISU Northern Research and Demonstration Farm near Kanawha. The event is free, open to the public and includes a complimentary meal.
Around the College
Wang Named Fellow by American Oil Chemists Society
Tong Wang, food science and human nutrition, has been named a fellow by the American Oil Chemists Society. Wang is one of four women fellows since the society began in 1998, and one of two from a university. The other is Pamela White, food science and human nutrition and dean of the College of Human Sciences.
CALS Honors Agricultural Journalists
Dean Wendy Wintersteen presented the CALS Impact Award for Extraordinary Partnership to Frank Holdmeyer, John Otte and Rod Swoboda of Wallaces Farmer at the Iowa Master Farmer Awards luncheon March 25. More
Sociology Reaches Fundraising Goal to Endow Beal Lecture
The Department of Sociology has reached its fundraising goal of $100,000 to endow the George M. Beal Distinguished Lectureship in Rural Sociology. The lecture was created to recognize and honor the life-long contributions of Beal in the creation and prominence of the ISU sociology department and to extend Beal’s legacy of addressing significant rural issues and trends impacting rural communities and rural people.
Rural Sociologist to Present Beal Lecture, April 6
Linda Labao, professor of rural sociology at The Ohio State University, will present the Beal Lecture in Rural Sociology on April 6, 7 p.m. in the Dolezal Auditorium, 127 Curtiss Hall. More
Calendar
April 5: Three Iowa Farmers Present Shivvers Lecture
Three Iowa farmers will share practical solutions and personal experiences with conservation and sustainable agriculture practices at the Shivvers Memorial Lecture, Tuesday, April 5, at 7 p.m. in the Memorial Union Sun Room. Mark Rasmussen, director of the Leopold Center, will moderate the discussion on Farming for the Long Term: Iowa Farmers on Sustainability. More
April 7: Entrepreneur to Present Hertz Lecture
Roger Underwood, entrepreneur and co-founder of crop-technology company Becker Underwood Inc., will present the 2016 Carl and Marjory Hertz Lecture on Emerging Issues in Agriculture on April 7, 7:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union Sun Room. More
April 9: One-Act Play by Aldo Leopold
The one-man play “A Standard of Change” explores the influences and challenges that led Aldo Leopold to penning some of the most important essays in his book “A Sand County Almanac.” Co-sponsored by the Leopold Center, the play will be held Saturday, April 9, at 2 p.m. in the ISU Alumni Center South Ballroom.
April 13-14: Global Food Security Consortium’s Spring Symposium
The Global Food Security Consortium’s spring symposium will be held April 13-14 at the Scheman Building. This year’s symposium, REAL Sustainability, will focus on Real Engagement in Agricultural Livelihoods. A research poster presentation and competition will be held for undergraduate and graduate students. For more information, visit the conference website or contact Cassie Welch, GFSC program manager (cwelch@iastate.edu, 4-5681).
April 26: Save the Date for Science With Practice Poster Session
This semester’s Science with Practice participants will host a poster presentation open house on April 26, 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Kildee Hall Atrium.
May 16-17: Midwest Big Data Hub Meeting
Registration is open for the Digital Agriculture Spoke of the Midwest Big Data Hub meeting on May 16-17 at the Scheman Building. The Digital Agriculture Spoke is devoted to building partnerships and resources that will address emerging Big Data issues in the agricultural ecosystem. ISU is a co-PI on the Midwest Big Data Hub, a collaborative project supported by the National Science Foundation. More
Funding Opportunities
Limited Submission: William T. Grant Scholars Program
CALS is accepting expressions of interest for the William T. Grant Scholars Program. The program is for early-career researchers in the social, behavioral and health sciences that will advance theory, policy and practice for youth ages five to 25. Awards include up to $350,000, distributed over five years. CALS may nominate one applicant each year. Email expressions of interest to Joe Colletti (colletti@iastate.edu) by Apr. 11. More
NSF Projects to Develop Data Resources to Illuminate Science and Innovation Policy
NSF invites Early-concept Grants for Exploratory Research proposals for projects that use, augment, improve or create data on the U.S. science and innovation enterprise. Data may be from STAR METRICS®, the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, administrative records of Federal science agencies and other sources. One-page concept summaries are due by Apr. 29. More
IDALS Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Proposals Due May 2
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is accepting proposals for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Projects must solely enhance the competitiveness of Iowa-grown specialty crops that benefit the industry as a whole. Awards are limited to $24,000 and maximum duration of 30 months. Proposals are due on May 2. More
Webinar Presentation by FFAR Executive Director Available On-line
The March 24 webinar hosted by the National Academy of Sciences Government-University-Industry Research Roundtable and featuring Sally Rockey, executive director of the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, is available on-line. 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.
Apr. 25 (notice of intent): NASA Research Opportunities in Space Biology – GeneLab Innovation Awards for Translational Systems Biology and Informatics Research Using the GeneLab Data System. More
Apr. 26: National Pork Board Spring Call 2016 - Mitigation of the Impact of Seasonality on Boar Fertility. More
May 8 (pre-proposals): United Sorghum Checkoff Program; $250,000.
May 16 (expression of interest): CDC Centers for Agricultural Safety and Health (U54); $1.35 million direct costs, one application per institution, email fundingopps@iastate.edu to express interest. More
June 5: NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01). More
June 5: NIH Research Projects to Enhance Applicability of Mouse Models for Translational Research (R01), (Collaborative R01)
June 14: NSF Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate. More
June 16: NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21); $275,000 direct costs. More
June 16: NIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03); $100,000 direct costs. More
June 23: USDA Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program; $200,000, 25 percent match. More
July 11: USDA FSA Outreach and Education, Technical Assistance and Financial Education for FSA Programs, Functions and Activities; $20,000 to $100,000. More
Aug. 31: U.S. Poultry & Egg Association Poultry Protein & Fat Council - Research Program. More
Sept. 3 (letter of intent): NIH Partnerships for Countermeasures Against Select Pathogens (R01); $750,000 direct costs per year up to five years, plus $300,000 for equipment. More
Communications Kiosk
Avoid Splitting Infinitive Forms of Verb
In general, avoid awkward constructions that split infinitive forms of a verb (to leave, to help) or compound forms (had left, are found out). Awkward: “She was ordered to immediately leave on an assignment.” Preferred: “She was ordered to leave immediately on an assignment.” (Associated Press Stylebook 2015, pg. 278)
Infograzing
ISU Workshop to Discuss Incorporating Broader Impacts into Research
The Office of the Vice President for Research is holding a workshop on April 12 from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Scheman Building for faculty and post-docs on incorporating broader impacts into research. Participants will learn what constitutes broader impacts, the logistics of creating partnerships and resources that can help in this process. More
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.