CALS Online and Dean’s Message
Feb. 14, 2022
Dean’s Message
Greetings CALS – I have begun a process for CALS to evaluate and update our college strategic plan so that we can have a new one ready well before the current five-year version expires at the end of 2022. The current document…was very well developed and captures the essence of our college. But as with any such document, the passage of five years creates an opportunity to incorporate new context and insight, update language, and examine how it speaks to our comprehensive college and stakeholders… More
Top Stories
Fisher Passionate about Helping Multicultural Students Succeed
Jahmai Fisher has joined the college as director of multicultural student success. She works alongside Theressa Cooper, CALS assistant dean for diversity. Fisher plans to connect students to multicultural programs available at Iowa State or to professional organizations that align with their interests. She also wants to create programs to help all students gain cultural competencies that will be important in their future roles in the job market or as leaders, by increasing their appreciation and comfort level with topics related to diversity, equity and inclusion. More
Research
Experiment Station Funds One-time Strategic Seed Grants
The Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station funded 10 requests for equipment or infrastructure to advance research and research capacity for existing Hatch and multistate projects. More
Mosquito Surveillance Program Finds Invasive Species Taking Root in Three Iowa Counties
An invasive species of mosquito has established itself in three Iowa counties, according to data from Iowa State entomologists, including Ryan Smith. The species is capable of transmitting disease, but ISU experts said the species’ arrival is no cause for alarm. More
New Faculty Team Working to Help CALS Researchers
The CALS Advisory Panel for Engaged Research, or CAPER, is a new faculty team working to help CALS researchers achieve more. Their charge is to identify opportunities to improve administrative processes that support and encourage the research enterprise. CAPER consists of one researcher from each college department. More
Teaching and Students
CALS Student Selected for George Washington Carver Internship
Elizabeth Wilhelm, junior in agricultural and life sciences education, is one of six students selected for the spring 2022 George Washington Carver Internship Program through the World Food Prize Foundation. Students will work closely with mentors while having the opportunity to meet and interact with government officials, World Food Prize Laureates, international media and other leaders in global food security. More
CALS Students Awarded Seed Scholarships
Eleven CALS students received scholarships at the 2022 Iowa Agribusiness Showcase and Conference on Feb. 9 in Des Moines. This includes the Lisa Shepherd Jenkins Memorial Scholarship awarded by Iowa State’s Seed Science Center to an undergraduate student engaged in seed science and seed technology. More
Iowa Farm Bureau and Iowa State Athletics ‘Tackle’ Hunger
Iowa Farm Bureau’s ‘Tackle Tracker’ initiative resulted in a $15,000 donation to Iowa State University’s on-campus food bank, The SHOP – Students Helping Our Peers. Iowa State reports that 31% of its students are food insecure. More
Culinary Science Club Offers Charcuterie Workshop
The Culinary Science Club is offering a Charcuterie Workshop, open to anyone, on March 3 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in 2379 Food Science Building, Culinary Discovery Lab. Participants will make their own charcuterie board, receive a booklet with recipes and charcuterie templates and learn food safety tips. The workshop fee is $30. More
Extension and Outreach
Case Studies Published to Facilitate Experiential Learning
The Conservation Learning Group has published a series of Watershed-based Conservation Case Studies designed to aid educators in bringing field data and outcomes into agriculture, land management, science and environmental studies classroom settings. The teaching tools provide detailed resources and guidance for use within high school and college curricula. More
Wine and Grapes Focus of Spring Workshops for Industry and Consumers
Wine workshops for industry representatives and consumers are scheduled for March and April, sponsored by ISU Extension and Outreach. Day-long workshops on the Iowa State campus March 17 and April 9 will focus on helping improve and develop winemaking practices on cold-hardy grape wines. Online Wine Wednesday sessions held during evenings in April are for consumers who want to learn more about wine. All events are free but require registration. More
Meat Lab Short Courses Return for 2022
The Meats Laboratory at Iowa State is offering its second “Fresh Beef Short Course” on March 22-24. Interest in all types of meat processing remains strong following market disruptions caused by COVID, said Terry Houser, professor-in-charge of the Meats Lab. Although COVID may be temporary, he said consumer interest in their food and where it comes from is here to stay.
Around the College
Innovation Award Recognizes Heroic Advising During the Pandemic
Twenty-seven employees with student services or academic advising roles are recipients of Iowa State's Innovation and Exceptional Advising During COVID Award. The recognition, organized in the provost's office, honors employees who "went above and beyond in their academic advising from spring 2020 through fall 2021" in response to the COVID-19 world pandemic. The following advisors from CALS departments received awards. More
- Amy Brandau, economics
- John Burnett, natural resource ecology and management
- Lindsay Frueh, agricultural and biosystems engineering
- Kelsey Powell, animal science
- Sarah Wehner, ecology, evolution and organismal biology
Curtiss Hall Terrazzo Floor Artist’s Lecture to be held Virtually
Artist Julie W. Chang will present a virtual lecture, Wrong Place, Wrong Time: A Conversation about Art and Identity with Julie W. Chang, Thursday, Feb. 17, at noon. Chang is the artist behind the All The Way Home terrazzo floor on the ground level of Curtiss Hall. Campus members and the public were able to view other works of art created by Chang during a reception Feb. 9 at the Christian Petersen Art Museum in Morrill Hall. More
Advisor Recognition Celebration, Feb. 21
An Advisor Recognition Come and Go Celebration is being hosted by the Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost on Feb. 21 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union Sun Room. The celebration is to recognize the support provided by all advisors to Iowa State students during COVID. There will be a short program at 4:30. RSVP requested by Feb. 14. More
Calendar
Feb. 16: Iowa Learning Farms Webinar
Mark Licht, agronomy and cropping systems specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, will discuss holistic approaches to managing Iowa cropping systems to achieve productivity, profitability and environmental goals in the Iowa Learning Farms Conservation webinar on Wednesday, Feb. 16, at noon.
Feb. 28: Q&A Session with the Deans
Dean Robison and a panel of associate deans will host an information Q&A on Feb. 28 at 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in 2050 Agronomy Hall. College faculty and staff are encouraged to come with questions for administrators. Any topic is welcome. The session will not be recorded or live-streamed.
March 1-2: Iowa Biotech Showcase and Conference
The Iowa Biotech Showcase and Conference: Striving Toward a Sustainable Future, will be held March 1-2 in Ankeny. Lisa Schulte Moore, natural resource ecology and management and associate director of the Bioeconomy Institute at Iowa State, is the keynote speaker. More
March 10: CALS Spring Awards Program
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Spring Awards Program, honoring faculty and staff achievements, is scheduled for March 10 at 4:10 p.m. in the Memorial Union Sun Room. The program will include brief comments from Dean Robison and recognition of the 2022 CALS faculty and staff award recipients. A wine and cheese reception will follow the program.
Infograzing
Merck Animal Health Partners with Iowa State
A new four-year partnership with Merck Animal Health and Iowa State will bring together industry and university talent to address complex needs and expedite the delivery of animal health solutions to the marketplace. An initial phase of the multidisciplinary collaboration will be to support research projects exploring innovations in drug and vaccine delivery. More
Nominations Open for 2023 World Food Prize Laureate
The World Food Prize Foundation is accepting nominations for the 2023 World Food Prize Laureate. Nominees need to have demonstrated exceptional achievement in any field involved in enhancing food production and distribution and increasing food availability and accessibility to those most in need. Nominations are due May 1. More
Marginalia
ISU Creamery Holds Valentine’s Sale
The ISU Creamery is offering a free scoop of Campanile Kiss with any ice cream purchase on Mondays and Tuesdays, Feb. 14 through Feb. 22. More
Not All February Flowers are Red
Daniel Brabec, horticulture, has students work on monochromatic bridal bouquets in his Horticulture 132 lab. More
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Julie Stewart, Editor
jstewart@iastate.edu, (515) 294-5616
http://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 Thursday.