CALS Online and Dean’s Message
Sept. 9, 2024
Dean’s Message
Hello CALS – What great football wins these past two weeks… I’m thinking football in part because back on Aug. 31, we had our annual CALS Alumni BBQ at the Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center before the first game – and it, too, was a great win for the college. We had record attendance with nearly 450 people there and terrific CALS spirit. Greatest thanks to Angie Weeks and team for making it happen! A couple of the highlights… More
Top Stories
New Artwork Aims to Inspire Viewers to Think about Agriculture, Life Sciences
At its best, art can inspire, entertain and inform. The new mural and suspended bee mobile on the fourth floor of the Student Innovation Center succeeds at all the above. This summer, the two art pieces were installed outside rooms 4227 and 4229, which are collaborative learning labs owned by CALS. Funding for the art pieces came from Farm Credit Services of America and the Student Innovation Center. An open house for the artwork is Sept. 18 from 3-5 p.m. on the fourth floor of the Student Innovation Center. Carmen Bain, CALS associate dean for academic innovation, and others will share the story about this inspiring artwork. This a come-and-go event, and light refreshments will be provided. More
Research
Iowa Mosquito Surveillance Program Counts High Numbers in 2024
Ryan Smith, plant pathology, entomology and microbiology, coordinates the Iowa Mosquito Surveillance Program. Through July 31 of this year, the program had counted some of the highest numbers in recent years. Smith and co-authors recently published studies of native Anopheles and invasive Aedes albopictus mosquitoes to look at their status in Iowa and gain insights on their potential to transmit diseases, including malaria and the Zika virus. The team concluded both mosquitoes are becoming more abundant in Iowa due to warmer winter temperatures, with concerning implications for public health. More
Video: Growing Food Under Solar Panels
A research project at the Alliant Energy Solar Farm at Iowa State University is studying how to grow crops on a 1.35 megawatt solar farm. A multidisciplinary team at ISU is growing fruits and vegetables as well as raising bees around and underneath the panels. This concept is known as agrivoltaics, and interest in it is growing. More
What Good are Wasps?
Amy Toth, ecology, evolution and organismal biology, is co-author of an article on the potential of wasps to be pest controllers in an Aug. 26 post on The Conversation. More
Teaching and Students
Two CALS Doctoral Students Named FFAR Fellows
Two CALS doctoral students, Joseph DeTemple, agronomy, and Vipul Kumar, horticulture, are among 30 emerging scientists named to the 2024 Fellows cohort by the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research. They will participate in a three-year fellowship designed to prepare future food and agriculture scientists with skills that can better prepare them for the workforce. More
Seed Science Center Accepting Applications for “Hunger Fighter” Scholarship
The Seed Science Center is accepting applications for the annual 2024 David Lambert “Hunger Fighter” scholarship, to be awarded to one CALS sophomore or junior who demonstrates a strong commitment to seed science, global food security and childhood nutrition. Applications are due by Sept. 27. More
New Student BBQ Showcases Clubs and Extracurriculars
The CALS New Student BBQ was held in the Iowa Farm Bureau Pavilion in Kildee Hall on Sept. 5. The Iowa State Daily reported that with almost 100 student clubs and organizations, CALS offers something for all majors within agriculture. More
Extension and Outreach
Growing Together Iowa Provides Fresh Produce and Nutrition Education
Since 2016, more than 751,000 pounds of fresh produce have been donated to food pantries thanks to an Iowa initiative. “Growing Together Iowa” consists of ISU Extension and Outreach, gardeners and food pantries collaborating to help provide low-income families with access to fresh produce and nutrition education. The summer issue of Iowa Stater features Extension Master Gardeners and other volunteers growing and harvesting community donation gardens throughout the state. More
Grant Received to Promote Healthy Food Access for Iowans
ISU Extension and Outreach has received a $100,000 grant from Iowa Total Care, a provider of Medicaid healthcare coverage in Iowa and a Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) company. The grant will support two complementary initiatives: Growing Together Iowa and the Iowa Master Gardener program. With this grant, the programs will promote healthy food access for Iowans with low income, including by bringing more fresh produce to local food pantries. More
Water Rocks! Visited More Than 200 Schools
Water Rocks!, the ISU Extension and Outreach youth water education program, recently published its 2023-24 Water Rocks! Evaluation Report. More than 200 schools were reached, and more than 15,000 youth educated. More
Around the College
CALS Opens Search for Two Associate Deans
CALS has opened a search for two associate dean positions. The Associate Dean for Global Engagement will oversee the Office for Global Engagement, serve as director of the Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods and manage the Fork in the Road Station in the Virgin Islands. The position requires domestic and international travel. This is a national search and internal candidates are welcome to apply. Applicants must have a Ph.D. and be qualified for tenure at the rank of Professor in a CALS department by the time of application. Applications are due by Oct. 13. The Associate Dean for Research and Discovery will oversee the research mission of the college and serve as associate director of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station. The position will manage the CARES team and support graduate education across the college. This is an internal search and accessible through the ISU Internal Careers link in Workday. Applicants must have a Ph.D. and be qualified for tenure at the rank of Professor in a CALS department by the time of application. Applications are due by Oct. 13. For more information on either position, contact Alison Parker, aparker@iastate.edu.
CALS Award Nominations Due Nov. 19
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences recognizes the excellence and dedication of its faculty and staff through the conferring of college awards. Award recipients are selected from nominations made by their colleagues and peers in recognition of their commitment to the college’s missions of student learning, research discovery and innovation, service, and extension and outreach. We encourage your nominations. Award descriptions and nomination guidelines are found on the college website. Of special note: the Rossmann Manatt Faculty Development Award recipient will be from CALS this year. This award recognizes a tenured faculty member who has demonstrated an exceptional level of creativity and productivity in scholarship, teaching and service, and who shows great promise of continuing such achievement. Nominations for the Rossmann Manatt award are also due to the college by Nov. 19 through the online submission portal. Faculty nominations will be reviewed by the college faculty awards committee, and staff nominations will be reviewed by the staff awards committee in December. Award recipients will be honored during the annual CALS Awards Program in the spring. Contact your departmental awards committee, or Julie Stewart (jstewart@iastate.edu), for additional information.
Kvidera Selected as 2024 Emerging Iowa Leader
Sara Kvidera (’17 PhD nutritional sciences), a dairy technical consultant with Elanco Animal Health, is the recipient of the 2024 Emerging Iowa Leader Award. The honor is presented annually to college alums in leadership positions, working to strengthen agriculture and life sciences and providing outstanding service as CALS graduates. More
Helmers to Present in FFAR 10th Anniversary Webinar
Matthew Helmers, agricultural and biosystems engineering and director of the Iowa Nutrient Research Center, is one of three featured presenters for a national webinar on Sept. 24 at 11 a.m. “The Power of Collaborative Agricultural Research” is hosted by the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research to mark its 10-year anniversary. Helmers and his work on agricultural drainage and water quality improvement will highlight “how much more we can accomplish when we work together.” More
Orazem Receives Fulbright Award
Peter Orazem, economics, received a Fulbright Specialist Program award to complete a project at the University of Primorska in Slovenia. The project aims to exchange knowledge and establish partnerships benefiting participants, institutions and communities in the U.S. and overseas through a variety of educational and training activities within economics. More
ISU-UP Co-Hosts First Youth Institute in the African Continent
In July 2024 at the ISU CALS satellite campus in Kamuli, Uganda, the Iowa State University-Uganda Program hosted and co-sponsored with the World Food Prize Foundation a Uganda Youth Institute. Attending were 42 high school students from 21 schools and their teachers, along with the Kamuli District Education Officer and the Kamuli Municipality Education Officer. More
Agronomy Experts Meet with Visiting Farmers from Brazil
Mark Licht, Sotirios Archontoulis and graduate student Carolina Freitas, agronomy, presented on soybean-related topics during a visit by a group of 40 soybean farmers from Brazil who were here for the Farm Progress Show. The group also toured the Seed Science Center with help from Susana Goggi. The Iowa Soybean Research Center assisted the Iowa Soybean Association in coordinating the group’s visit to Iowa State. More
Volunteer for United Way of Story County Annual Day of Caring
The 2024 United Way of Story County campaign begins Friday, Sept. 13, with the annual Day of Caring. There are many volunteer projects that can be done individually or as a team. Project description and signup is available online.
Calendar
Sept. 10: Impacts of Transitioning to a Green(er) Economy
The Department of Economics is co-sponsoring a lecture on Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 6 p.m. in the Memorial Union Great Hall. Simon Gilchrist, New York University and a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research, will present “Impacts of Transitioning to a Green(er) Economy.” More
Sept. 11: INRC Water Research Seminar
The Iowa Nutrient Research Center seminar series for fall 2024 will focus on “Recent trends in surface and groundwater nutrients across the U.S.,” highlighting the status of nutrients and water quality around the country. Seminars will take place the second Wednesday of each month, from 3:10-4 p.m. The hybrid sessions will be presented online and in-person at 1306 Elings Hall. The Sept. 11 seminar will focus on Nitrate in Nebraska. More
Sept. 12: State of the Department Address
Mary Wiedenhoeft, interim chair of the Department of Agronomy, will present the State of the Department address on Thursday, Sept. 12, at 4 p.m. in 2050 Agronomy Hall.
Sept. 13: Ag 450 Farm Operations Facility Open House
An open house celebrating the newly renovated Ag 450 Farm operations building is Friday, Sept. 13, from 2-3 p.m. Take a tour of the space and discover how the farm is teaching the future generation of farmers. Brief remarks from Dean Dan Robison, donor Lonnie Miller, Mike Retallick and Skyler Rinker, agricultural education and studies, and students will be at 2:15 p.m. ISU Creamery ice cream and beverages will be available. RSVP’s are appreciated.
Communications Kiosk
Where Do You Stand to Teach?
A speaker stands “behind” a lectern, “on” a podium or rostrum, or “in” the pulpit. (Associated Press Stylebook, 2022-2024 edition, pg. 171)
Infograzing
South Africa’s Risk and Vulnerability Science Centers:
The Vision, Strategies, and Opportunities for Collaboration
Iowa State faculty and staff are invited to attend a public presentation by representatives from five South African universities on Friday, Sept. 13, from noon to 1 p.m. in 416 Design. The 13-member team includes directors and staff from these universities' Risk and Vulnerability Science Centres, and a representative from the South African Department of Science and Innovation. Their interest areas involve a variety of agricultural topics – food and water security, biodiversity and conservation, climate change and renewable energy, GIS and remote sensing techniques.
Advisor Information Fair is Sept. 13
The University Academic Advising Committee is hosting an Advisor Information Fair on Friday, Sept. 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Student Innovation Center atrium. The event is an opportunity for anyone who supports students at Iowa State to learn about campus resources, ask questions and gather information for the new academic year.
Campanile Anniversary Celebration is Sept. 15
Iowa State's campanile and carillon turn 125 this year, and the milestone will be celebrated with an outdoor concert on Sunday, Sept. 15, at 2 p.m. at the campanile northeast lawn. A reception will follow in the Memorial Union Campanile Room. The event will include performances on the carillon and by the Iowa State Singers and ISU Brass Ensemble, and remarks from President Wendy Wintersteen. To help with planning, RSVP’s are requested by Friday, Sept. 13. More
Borlaug Awardee for Field Research and Application Announced
Dennis Beesigamukama, a postdoctoral fellow at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology in Nairobi, Kenya, has been named recipient of the 2024 Norman E. Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application, Endowed by The Rockefeller Foundation. He is being honored for his work in developing innovative, low-cost technologies that recycle organic waste into nutrient-rich, insect-composted organic fertilizers, significantly impacting agricultural practices across East Africa. More
Marginalia
Pork Promotion Returns for 2024 Season
The “Purchase Moore Hamann Bacon” promotion by the Iowa Pork Producers Association involving Iowa State Cyclone football players is back for the 2024 season, with more students joining the cast. The first in a series of episodic videos featuring Myles Purchase, Tyler Moore, Tommy Hamann and Caleb Bacon launched Aug. 26. The players have renewed an NIL (name, image, likeness) agreement with the Iowa Pork Producers Association to encourage people to, well, purchase more ham and bacon. The campaign debuted in September 2023 and quickly went viral across social media, earning millions of views and gaining widespread national attention. The Sports Business Journal named the partnership between Iowa Pork and Iowa State players the “Best NIL Deal of 2023.” Cyclones Alec Cook and Zach Lovett were later added to the campaign and return this year. More
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Julie Stewart, Editor
jstewart@iastate.edu, (515) 294-5616
https://www.cals.iastate.edu/cals-online
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.