CALS Online and Dean’s Message
March 27, 2023
Dean’s Message
Hello CALS Colleagues – Warm – cold, sun – snow, calm – wind, and more of each – it must be March! In Washington, D.C., the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, and the daffodils already passed peak. Before long, we’ll get our turn for the spring spectacular in Iowa, too – with redbuds, indigo, mallow, primrose and more! Last week, we had several occasions to honor our own… We should also take the moments necessary to think about each of these recognitions as a form of inspiration. Ask yourself how the work and outlook of those being recognized can be held up as an example for your students, for your colleagues, for yourselves. Like reading a biography – what about these persons speaks to us, inspires us, moves us?... More
Top Stories
Lamkey Named Associate Dean for Facilities and Operations
Kendall Lamkey has been named CALS associate dean for facilities and operations, effective May 16. A professor of agronomy and crop breeding, Lamkey has been a faculty member at Iowa State since 2002 and has chaired the Department of Agronomy since 2007. In his new role, Lamkey will work in collaboration with the dean, associate deans and department chairs to ensure the college’s facilities and operations directly advance the college’s mission. This work includes college facilities on- and off-campus, and the laboratories, farms, greenhouses and other locations that enable the work and learning of students, faculty and staff. He will also lead safety planning efforts and operations. More
Research
After Hitting Rural Areas Harder, Inflation’s Ongoing Impact Evens Out
Inflation took a bigger bite of rural household budgets throughout much of 2022, but its effects were similar in rural and urban areas by the end of the year, according to a report by David Peters, sociology and criminal justice. More
Rosenbloom, Yin Recognized for Notable Career Achievements
CALS faculty Joshua Rosenbloom and Yanhai Yin were among three Iowa State researchers the American Association for the Advancement of Science recently named to its class of Fellows. They are among the new cohort of 505 individuals recognized this year for scientific and socially notable career achievements. More
Teaching and Students
Conference Aims to Build Community among Graduate Students
Getting to know fellow graduate students and improving presentation skills are among the takeaways students can expect from the upcoming Graduate and Professional Student Conference. The annual conference, hosted by the Graduate and Professional Student Senate, is April 12, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Memorial Union. More
Learning Community Helps Transfer Students Feel at Home
Stephanie Zumbach, student services specialist in agronomy, and Amy Brandau, academic advisor in economics, created the CALS Transfer learning community after seeing transfer students struggle to find roommates and a place to live in Ames. Students in this learning community are housed in Frederiksen Court. More
Dairy Science Club Resumes Ice Cream Sales
The Dairy Science Club has resumed its ice cream sales following a winter break. Outside the north doors to Lush Auditorium in Kildee Hall, ice cream will be available for $2 a cup on Wednesdays from noon to 2 p.m. The ice cream is mixed by club members at the ISU Creamery, and the sale serves as a fundraiser for club activities throughout the year.
Nominations for Senior Awards Due April 3
The CALS Student Council is seeking nominations for spring 2023 senior awards. Every fall and spring semester, CALS Council recognizes graduating seniors through six different awards: outstanding senior, leadership excellence, academic achievement, distinguished service, outstanding ambassador of agriculture and life sciences, and commitment to diversity. Nominations are due April 3. More
Extension and Outreach
State Senators Applaud John Lawrence
The Iowa Senate approved resolution No. 6 on March 22, "honoring and congratulating John D. Lawrence for his years of dedicated service to Iowa State University of Science and Technology, the State of Iowa and all Iowans." Lawrence, an alumnus and vice president for ISU Extension and Outreach, wraps up nearly 32 years of leadership and service to the university this spring. More
Custom Farming Rates Show Increase for Most Farm Practices
To help producers and custom operators examine the market, ISU Extension and Outreach publishes the Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey. This year’s survey includes 94 responses and 2,621 custom rates for tasks related to tillage, planting and seeding, spraying, harvesting, farm labor and more. More
New Sustainability Tool Calculates Environmental Impact of Pork Production Practices
The Iowa Pork Industry Center and ISU Extension and Outreach have developed a new digital tool to help producers understand the relationship between the environment and pork production practices. A new fact sheet, “Evaluating Production Metrics in Relation to Sustainability in a Wean-to-Finish Barn,” was created as a reference for those using the calculator. More
Prepare Your Garden Tools for Spring
With spring around the corner, now is the time to prepare tools and supplies for the gardening season. Horticulturists with ISU Extension and Outreach offer information on how to clean, sanitize, sharpen and prepare garden tools for spring. More
Around the College
Proposals Sought for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Faculty Fellows Program
The Dean’s Office for Academic Innovation and Start Something CALS are seeking proposals from college faculty for the 2023 cohort of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Faculty Fellows. The program seeks to foster and expand a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship of CALS faculty across departments. To advance this goal, the Dean’s office provides funds to support faculty seeking to incorporate innovation within teaching, research or extension activities. All CALS faculty, regardless of rank, are eligible to apply. Up to six fellowships will be awarded. Proposals are due to Carmen Bain (cbain@iastate.edu) by noon, April 14. More
Yandeau-Nelson Receives Rossmann Manatt Faculty Development Award
Marna Yandeau-Nelson, genetics, development and cell biology, is the recipient of the 2023 Rossmann Manatt Faculty Development Award. She will use the monetary gift from the award to fund CRISPR-based genomic editing research at the ISU Crop Bioengineering Laboratory to examine orphan genes — those that are only present in one species — in maize that are correlated with plant cuticle biosynthesis. More
Extension Livestock Economist Receives Applied Research Award
Lee Schulz, economics, is the recipient of the 2023 Dean Lee R. Kolmer Award for Excellence in Applied Research. His research during the pandemic was critical to producers and consumers when livestock processing plants shut down. He has also collaborated with other researchers to assess economic damages created by the trade war between the United States and China. More
Dean Presents Citation for Extraordinary Contributions to CALS
At the college’s awards program on March 7, Dean Robison presented the Dean’s Citation for Extraordinary Contributions to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences to John Miranowski and Susan Thompson for their work with Iowa AgSTATE. Miranowski, professor emeritus of economics, served as facilitator for Iowa AgSTATE for 15 years. Thompson provided communications support for 20 years. Both retired from their work with Iowa AgSTATE in 2022. Also receiving the Dean’s Citation for Extraordinary Contributions to CALS are the college’s communications, marketing and recruiting offices for their work and dedication to the college during the transition to shared leadership – Andy Zehr, Whitney Baxter, Marcie Fahn, Julie Stewart, Ann Robinson, Angie Weeks, Katy Heineman, Beth Foreman, Breanna Wetzler and Craig McEnany.
In Memoriam: Gerald Klonglan
Gerald Klonglan, professor emeritus in sociology, passed away on March 17. He was a professor in the sociology department from 1963-2001 and served as chair from 1977-1990. He then served as CALS associate dean for national programs and research. A memorial service will be held at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Ames on June 3 at 11 a.m., with visitation on June 2 from 5-7 p.m. An article from the 2010 issue of STORIES Magazine shares Klonglan’s global connections and lasting legacy through his time at Iowa State and in his work with the Bethesda Tanzania Ministry Team. More
Calendar
March 29: Art Walk – Athletics and the Body
In connection with the “Honoring Jack Trice” exhibition, an art walk on athletics and the body will be held Wednesday, March 29, from noon to 1 p.m. It begins outside State Gym. More
April 6: Shivvers Memorial Lecture
Hannah Lewis will present the 2023 Shivvers Memorial Lecture on April 6 at 5:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union, room 3580. The event is free and open to the public. Lewis, an Iowa State alumna, is the author of “Mini-Forest Revolution: Using the Miyawaki Method to Rapidly Rewild the World.” More
April 13: Save the Date
Dean Robison is holding a CALS Town Hall meeting for all faculty and staff on April 13 at 11 a.m. in 0125 Kildee Hall.
Infograzing
Innovation at Work – Commercial Animal Vaccine
The initial results look promising for a commercial animal vaccine that Iowa State researchers with the Nanovaccine Institute have formulated using nanoparticles. The research project is part of a collaborative partnership with Merck Animal Health announced in February 2022. Based on progress to this point, the newly formulated vaccine could provide significant animal health and economic benefits. More
Lecture to Explore the Trice Connection
Explore the Trice Connection at a lecture hosted by The Ames History Museum on Wednesday, March 29, at 7 p.m. in the Ames Public Library. Gloria Betcher, English, will explore the lives of Trice’s early 1920s social connections and examine what life was like for him, his Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity brothers, his wife, Cora Mae, and his Black classmates. Among this group were future engineers, teachers and professors, a future aviator, two future university directors of agriculture, three future university presidents and a future Congressional Medal of Freedom recipient. More
Biologist Documents the Great Salt Lake’s Collapse
For Bonnie Baxter, a professor of biology at Westminster College in Salt Lake City, fieldwork means gathering and analyzing samples at the Great Salt Lake. Recently, as water levels have plummeted to record lows, it’s also meant sporadic bouts of tears. Confronted with an ecosystem in free fall, Baxter has found it increasingly difficult to play the role of dispassionate observer. The short documentary “Namesake” captures both the state of the lake, and the sorrows of being a scientist tasked with documenting its collapse. More
Marginalia
Avoid Picking Up Plant Hitchhikers
“With spring settling in across the U.S. and days lengthening, many people are ready to spend more time outside. But after a walk outdoors, have you ever found seeds clinging to your clothes? Lodged in your socks and shoelaces? Perhaps tangled in your pet’s fur? While most of us don’t give these hitchhikers much thought, seeds and burrs may be the first signs of invasive plant spread,” said Megan Dolman, Ph.D. candidate in ecology, evolution and behavior at Boise State University, in a March 17 article for The Conversation. 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.