CALS Online and Dean’s Message
December 4, 2023
Dean’s Message
Hello CALS – This is a big week with students preparing for exams and everyone feeling the pull of the upcoming holidays. It is a time for reflection and celebration, followed by some rest and relaxation over the holidays themselves. Don't forget - today (Dec. 4) at 4 p.m. we’ll have our CALS Holiday Party in the Sukup Atrium – please come out for this wonderful event! It’ll be great food, music and collegiality. Just fun…
Top Stories
New Innovation and Entrepreneurship Faculty Fellows Announced
Eleven faculty representing eight departments in CALS have been selected to participate in the 2024 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Faculty Fellows program. Carmen Bain, CALS associate dean for academic innovation, said there was a strong response this year from departments across the college to apply for the program. “The committee was impressed with the quality and range of proposals, all intended to enhance efforts to engage undergraduate students in innovative and entrepreneurial thinking and doing, which will better prepare them to be problem solvers of the future,” Bain said. A common theme among projects is the effort to engage students in more interdisciplinary collaboration and engagement. The faculty also will seek to engage students with external stakeholders, including commodity groups, industry and non-governmental organizations, and K-12 students.
Research
Researchers Analyze Proposed Models for Broiler Emissions
Proposed federal draft models designed to guide emissions forecasting for broiler operations need improvement and clarification, according to an in-depth analysis led by Iowa State scientists, including Brett Ramirez, agricultural and biosystems engineering and assistant director of the Egg Industry Center.
SSC to Launch Training Program on Life Cycle of Biotech-derived Seeds
Iowa State’s Seed Science Center is launching an online training program on the life cycle of biotech-derived seeds as part of its scope of work as a sub-awardee to a USAID grant. The Program for Biosafety Systems of the International Food Policy Research Institute is the lead for the grant, which aims to foster an environment that enables the development and application of agricultural biotechnology to address global food security concerns.
AI Can Help Farmers Tackle Modern Agriculture
In a Nov. 29 post for The Conversation, Joe Hollis, doctoral student in rural sociology and sustainable agriculture, states that in agriculture, farmers are increasingly using AI-powered tools to tackle challenges that threaten human health, the environment and food security. “As a researcher studying agricultural and rural policy, I see three promising developments in agricultural AI: federated learning, pest and disease detection and forecasting prices,” Hollis said.
Teaching and Students
Career Services Releases 2023 Summer Internship Survey
CALS Career Services released results of its 2023 summer internship survey, with nearly 700 student responses. Internship wages increased to an overall average of $17.56/hour – up 12% from summer 2022. Nearly 47% of respondents indicated they obtained their internship via Career Day or through the CyHire system, a strong reminder to employers regarding the importance of campus presence. Mike Gaul, director of CALS Career Services, also said to think early. “Approximately 42% of respondents indicated they had accepted their internship offer by the end of November.”
CALS Student Uses Creativity, Innovation to Solve Problems
If there is a common theme to Alyssa Brown’s time at Iowa State, it’s that it has taught her to think outside of the box. A senior in industrial technology and agricultural systems technology, Brown received one of the inaugural C.S. Liew Innovation Impact Awards from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Science with Practice Poster Session Dec. 6
This semester’s Science with Practice poster session open house is Wednesday, Dec. 6, from 2-4 p.m. in the Kildee Hall Atrium. Science with Practice is a CALS experiential learning and work program for undergraduate students.
Toy Drive for Salvation Army through Dec. 8
CALS Ambassadors and the Dairy Science Club are holding a toy drive for the Salvation Army. Toys must be new and not wrapped. Collection boxes are located inside 0004 Curtiss Hall and in Kildee Hall. The toy drive is open through Friday, Dec. 8.
Forestry Club’s Christmas Tree Sale Concludes this Weekend
The Forestry Club’s annual Christmas tree fundraiser at the Reiman Gardens parking lot concludes this weekend. Trees will be for sale Friday through Sunday, Dec. 8-10. Hours are Friday, 3-6 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The club will have Korean fir, balsam fir, Canaan fir and white pine, as well as wreaths. Proceeds go toward club activities and student development.
CALS Students Spend Summer as Next Gen Interns
Madison Stevenson, junior in horticulture, and Rebecka Larson, senior in agricultural and rural policy studies and international agriculture, spent their summer as Next Gen Innovation interns with the Cultivation Corridor. They found out about the internship through Start Something College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Extension and Outreach
Exhibits Sought for 2024 Farm Progress Show
Potential content ideas are being sought for the Iowa State exhibit space at the 2024 Farm Progress Show. Together, CALS, Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension and the Department of Agronomy would like to showcase innovative technologies and demonstrate the latest research to show attendees. To submit a proposal for consideration, fill out the online form by Dec. 22 at 5 p.m. Co-leaders Jay Harmon, CALS associate dean for extension and outreach programs and director of ANR Extension, and Kendall Lamkey, CALS associate dean for facilities and operations, will review all submissions and make final content area decisions in January.
Virtual Field Day Explores Growing Food for People through Diversified Agriculture Systems
Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Iowa Nutrient Research Center and Conservation Learning Group, is hosting a free virtual field day on Dec. 15 at 1 p.m. The program will explore how host Wendy Johnson and her husband, Johnny Rankin, started and continue to manage Jóia Food & Fiber Farm with a mission to farm holistically and grow food for people through the use of a diversified agricultural system and direct marketing of meat, grain, wool and other products they are producing.
Register for Iowa Beef Center’s Inaugural Genetic Symposium
The Iowa Beef Center, with ISU Extension and Outreach, is holding a Genetic Symposium Dec. 18-19 at the Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center. The event will educate producers on the tools available for making genetic improvements for their operation.
Protect Trees and Shrubs from Winter Damage
As leaves and temperatures fall, trees and shrubs in the home landscape become increasingly at risk for damage from animals, snow load, salt, sunscald and desiccation. Aaron Steil, consumer horticulture specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, provides tips for preventing tree and shrub injury this winter in a guide from the Home and Horticulture Pest News website.
Around the College
Soupir Named to Graduate College Post
Michelle Soupir, agricultural and biosystems engineering, has been appointed associate dean for operations in the Graduate College, effective Jan. 1. It is a 50% appointment for three years. Soupir has served in an interim role with the Graduate College leadership since April 2022.
Horticulture Department Helps Transform Gardens to Winter Wonderscape
Planning for Reiman Gardens’ Winter Wonderscape begins before all the decorations are put away the previous year in January. Members of the horticulture department meet with Reiman Gardens staff to discuss what will remain, what will change and what new things may be added. Monthly meetings with horticulture staff follow to generate ideas leading up to October.
Holiday Hams Available for Walk-up Sales
The Iowa State Meat Lab is offering whole hams, half hams and ham hocks for walk-up sales while supplies last. They will be available in the Kildee Hall Atrium from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Fridays – Dec. 1, Dec. 8 and Dec. 15. Special holiday hours are scheduled for Dec. 14 from 4-6 p.m.
Calendar
Dec. 4: CALS Holiday Party
Dean Robison and the CALS leadership team are hosting a holiday party today, Dec. 4, from 4-6 p.m. in the Sukup Atrium. There will be brief remarks at 4:30 p.m. Enjoy food and refreshments along with music by Kaiser Jazz.
Dec. 13: INRC Focus on the Future Seminar
Carbon payment strategies and a breakdown of Iowa’s nutrient loads will be featured topics at the next Iowa Nutrient Research Center Water Quality Research Seminar, Dec. 13, at 3:10 p.m., 3306 Elings Hall (note the different location).
Infograzing
Volunteers Needed for SHOP during Final Exams, Winter Break
The SHOP student food pantry invites university employees to volunteer during prep week, finals week and over winter break to help keep the pantry open for students. Volunteers may sign-up for shifts online.
Marginalia
Terroir and the Cultural Significance of Luxury Midwestern Cheese
In a Dec. 1 blog post for Iowa Learning Farms, Jon Dahlem, a postdoctoral research associate, discusses pricey cheese and terroir, a concept describing how local geography, local culture and the passing down of knowledge about methods, creative solutions to local problems and general wisdom about a particular place affects – in this case – cows and cheese. “There are many products created in Iowa that are directly or indirectly produced and consumed based on terroir,” Dahlem said. “…it may be worth consistently reflecting on where opportunities for increased emphasis on terroir may in turn create opportunities for increased sense of local community around production, as well as increased appreciation for particular places in Iowa as unique and valuable blends of soil, air, water, ecology and culture.”
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.