CALS Online and Dean’s Message
September 18, 2023
Dean’s Message
Hello CALS – It was a beautiful weekend, and I hope you all found ways to enjoy it. Last week, an exciting event was the groundbreaking of the new Iowa State University Research Park Alliant Energy Digital Agriculture Laboratory. This state-of-the-art building will house the work of the Digital Ag Innovation Lab team led by Matt Darr and will include a large high-bay space for their work on large agriculture machinery… This week is National Farm Safety and Health Week, and there is still so much to do… I’ll spend the later part of this week visiting our Montana Camp, while forestry undergraduate students are there…
Top Stories
CALS Students are Innovating to Feed Others
Jenna Errthum, senior in horticulture, global resource systems and Spanish, and Cooper Hess, senior in biology with a minor in global health, are the recipients of this year’s Roger Grundmeier Innovation and Leadership Award, offered to students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Scholarship recipients are selected based on their demonstration of “going above and beyond in their efforts to collaborate and innovate” during their college career. Errthum and Hess share a passion for improving the world’s food systems, which stems back to their involvement in the Iowa Youth Institute and Global Food Program as high school students. They carried that passion to Iowa State, quickly becoming involved in activities to improve the lives of others. (l-r) Errthum; Carmen Bain, CALS associate dean for academic innovation; Roger Grundmeier; Hess; and Claudia Lemper-Manahl, plant pathology, entomology and microbiology.
Research
ISU Agronomy Team Leads Carbon Monitoring Training
A team of Iowa State agronomists led by Bradley Miller, and working with USDA Agricultural Research Service partners, has received USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture funding to lead training in the Midwest for “Know Your Carbon Landscape,” a new national USDA program meant to provide a basis for financial assistance to farmers and landowners who adopt climate-smart conservation practices. The project will also gather data to support carbon-related research at demonstration sites in the Midwest.
New Study to Explore Factors Affecting Reproductive Success
The combined impacts of obesity and heat stress on reproductive health will be the focus of a new study by Aileen Keating, animal science, funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. It will also investigate impacts from the compound known as DMBA, a member of a chemical class found in smoke from wildfires and other types of burning organic matter.
Teaching and Students
Career Services Releases Salary Report
CALS Career Services has released the annual entry-level salary summary for December 2022 and May 2023 graduates across the nation who earned bachelor’s degrees in agriculture and related disciplines. Mike Gaul, career services director, said this year’s report shows that “salaries for our graduates continue to shine.” All nine sectors in the report showed positive salary gains versus last year, averaging 6.7%. “Combine this year’s gain with last year’s impressive gain of 8.4%, and it’s safe to say supply/demand of the current labor market favors students,” Gaul said. The top five earning sectors were technology ($66,160 – up 4.2%), agricultural economics and business ($59,492 – up 6.9%), food science ($57,057 – up 6.2%), agronomy ($51,578 – up 3.9%) and agricultural education/communications ($50,135 – up 1.4%). Gaul noted that 16 schools participated in this year’s report - three less than last year. The annual summary is coordinated and produced by the CALS Career Services office at Iowa State.
CALS Study Abroad Fair Scheduled for Sept. 26
CALS will hold its annual study abroad fair on Sept. 26, from 4-5 p.m. on central campus. Program directors will be available to talk with students interested in a study abroad (international) or Study USA (domestic) travel course, and will have information on other resources like student travel consultants and financial aid.
Culinary Science Club Presents Coffee and Scones Workshop
The Culinary Science Club is offering to campus and community members a “Coffee and Scones 101 Workshop” on Oct. 14 at 11 a.m. in 2379 Food Sciences Building. The Roasterie Coffee Company will offer coffee demonstrations including cold brew and pour over coffee methods, and tastings. There will also be a demonstration on making scones. The workshop fee is $30 and space is limited to 40 seats.
Submit Abstracts for Borlaug Poster Competition
Poster abstracts are now being accepted for the 20th Annual Norman Borlaug Lectureship Poster Competition for Graduate and Undergraduate Students. The competition and display of posters will take place Oct. 23 in the Memorial Union, prior to the Norman Borlaug Lecture featuring 2023 World Food Prize Laureate Heidi Kühn.
Extension and Outreach
Conservation Learning Group Publishes Water Issues in Iowa Report
The Conservation Learning Group has published its Water Issues in Iowa report and associated infographic, which provides insights and priorities expressed by Iowans regarding water quality across the state and tracks changes in perceptions of water quality issues among Iowans over the past 15 years.
Around the College
CALS Faculty, Staff to Receive Top University Awards
Several CALS faculty and staff are among the recipients of the university’s most distinguished awards, to be given at the University Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 20, at 3:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union Great Hall. The following individuals from CALS departments and centers are recognized.
- Christopher Tuggle, animal science – Distinguished Professor
- Marit Nilsen-Hamilton, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology – University Professor
- Curtis Youngs, animal science – Morrill Professor
- Matt Darr, agricultural and biosystems engineering – Regents Award for Faculty Excellence
- Ben Drescher, animal science – Regents Award for Staff Excellence
- Don Sakaguchi, genetics, development and cell biology – Award for Impact on Student Success
- Jeff Mitchell, animal science – P&S Excellence Award
- Patrick Wall, ISU Extension and Outreach – P&S Excellence Award
- Jim Jordahl, natural resource ecology and management – P&S Outstanding New Professional Award
- Claire Kruesel, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology – P&S Outstanding New Professional Award
- Garland Dahlke, Iowa Beef Center – Outstanding Achievement in Extension or Professional Practice Award
- Beth Reynolds, Iowa Beef Center – Early Achievement in Extension or Professional Practice Award
Dr. Manure Focuses on Recycling Nutrients
Dan Andersen, agricultural and biosystems engineering, is also known as Dr. Manure. He studies all things manure – especially here in Iowa. And all his work with manure boils down to one common goal: creating more sustainable farming practices through recycling nutrients.
P&S Staff Invited to Monarch Immersion Experience
P&S employees are invited to attend a 40-minute Monarch Immersion Experience on Friday, Sept. 22, to explore the monarch butterfly and how to be part of the solution to reverse the monarch population's decline. Participants will learn about pollinator conservation, monarch tagging and tour the USDA Monarch Rearing Facility in Science Hall II. Six sessions are available, with each session limited to 15 P&S staff.
Calendar
Sept. 19: CALS Chat with the Dean
Dean Robison will host a CALS Chat on Tuesday, Sept. 19, from 11 a.m. to noon in 311 East Hall. The informal, drop-in event will be an opportunity for casual conversation.
Sept. 20: Fobes Ronald Lecture in Environmental Conservation
The 2023 Fobes Ronald Lecture in Environmental Conservation is Wednesday, Sept. 20, at 6 p.m. in the Memorial Union Sun Room. Emily Bernhardt, James B. Duke Professor of Biogeochemistry and current chair of the Department of Biology at Duke University, will present “Do Rivers Have Rhythm? Describing the Energetic Regimes of Flowing Waters.” The lecture is co-sponsored by the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology.
Sept. 14: Feeding the World Seminar Series
The Feeding the World seminar series continues Thursday, Sept. 21, from 3:40-4:55 p.m. in 1204 Kildee Hall, Ensminger Room. A panel of CALS students will discuss internships.
Sept. 23: Ag 450 Farm 80th Celebration
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Ag 450 Farm at Iowa State. To celebrate, agricultural education and studies is hosting an event at the farm on Saturday, Sept. 23, from 8-11 a.m. Students, alumni and friends of the farm are invited for a light breakfast and tours. RSVP’s are appreciated in advance.
Sept. 25: Retirement Reception for Dan Loy
A retirement gathering will be held for Dan Loy, animal science, on Sept. 25 from 3:30-5 p.m. at Jethro's BBQ in Ames. RSVPs requested (or email bethr@iastate.edu). Loy, director of the Iowa Beef Center and extension beef specialist, has been at Iowa State for more than 40 years.
Sept. 27: Deal Lecture
Al Tank, ag and food entrepreneur, investor and consultant based in Bethesda, Maryland, will present the 2023 William K. Deal Leadership Lecture Sept. 27, at Iowa State. His presentation, “Innovating Ag Innovation,” will begin at 5:30 p.m. in Dolezal Auditorium, 0127 Curtiss Hall. The event is free and open to the public.
Communications Kiosk
Can vs. Could
Can means “to be able to” and expresses certainty (I can be there in five minutes). Could is better for a sense of uncertainty or a conditional statement (Could you stop at the cleaners today? If you send a deposit, we could hold your reservation). (The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th edition, pg. 329)
Infograzing
Festival Celebrates Locally Grown Foods
The annual Local Food Festival is Wednesday, Sept. 20, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Iowa State’s central campus, between Curtiss Hall and Beardshear Hall. The event is hosted by the Farm, Food and Enterprise Development team with ISU Extension and Outreach, the ISU Live Green! Initiative, Horticulture Research Station and ISU Dining, along with support from other departments and organizations at Iowa State. The event is free and open to the public. Booths will offer a variety of samples, products for purchase, informational flyers and giveaways.
Artist Talks on “Breaking Barriers” Sculpture
In remembrance of the 100 year anniversary of Jack Trice’s death, the large-scale sculpture Breaking Barriers was installed outside the stadium bearing Trice’s name. On Thursday, Sept. 21, at 4:30 p.m. in the second floor of the Scheman Building, artist Ivan Depeña will discuss the process of creating public works of art, and the intricacies of making art that captures the varied impacts and legacy of Jack Trice held by Iowa State alumni.
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 Thursday.