CALS Online and Dean’s Message
Sept. 16, 2024
Dean’s Message
Hello CALS – What a great week we just had, and a new one to look forward to! Last week, we celebrated the CALS Inspiration and Innovation Artwork installation on the fourth floor of the Student Innovation Center… We also celebrated the updating of a machine shed at the Ag 450 Farm that transformed it into an all-weather, first-class instructional building in which students and faculty can work out of the weather on some of the biggest machines and more… Then on Saturday morning at Reiman Gardens, the entire team from the Office of Academic Innovation made possible our CALS welcome event for our new freshmen class as part of Cyclone Family Weekend. More than 300 people attended… More
Top Stories
Iowa State Leads Project to Catalog Livestock DNA
“This effort is a culmination of many years of dreaming about such an opportunity and finally getting access to the data and funding to make it happen,” said James Koltes, animal science. Koltes is referring to a new USDA-supported project he is leading with colleagues at Iowa State and several partner institutions to create a systematic catalog, or encyclopedia, of the DNA netherworld scientists call “genetic regulatory regions” for livestock species. The research sets the stage for important discoveries by identifying regulatory DNA variation that could be useful in breeding for improved animal efficiency and health. More
Research
New Discovery to Benefit Efforts to Treat Blood Disorders
An Iowa State research team led by Raquel Espin Palazon and Clyde Campbell, genetics, development and cell biology, has discovered when and why inflammatory signaling affects the formation of blood stem cells in embryos, which will benefit efforts to develop lab-grown patient-derived stem cell transfusions to treat blood disorders. The promising advancement in regenerative medicine could eliminate the need for bone marrow transplants. More
DOE Chief of Staff Surveys Progress at Solar Farm
In the form of a juicy red strawberry, a U.S. Department of Energy representative tasted the fruits of researchers’ labor Sept. 4 at the Alliant Energy Solar Farm at Iowa State University. The visit allowed Katie Hendrickson, chief of staff of the DOE’s Office of Efficiency and Renewable Energy, to see the progress being made at the solar farm, which received a $1.8 million, four-year grant from the U.S. Department of Energy last year. More
Teaching and Students
Learn How Dean's Leadership Program Connects Students with FAO
An informational session on the Dean's Global Agriculture and Food Leadership Program is Tuesday, Sept. 17, from 5-5:50 p.m. in 0009 Curtiss Hall. The college-wide leadership program consists of a two-credit course in the spring where students develop a project focusing on global issues in partnership with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Students complete an additional three credit hours in the summer by living and working in Rome focusing on their FAO project and discovering Rome and the Italian countryside as a group. Faculty and advisors are encouraged to attend and to share this opportunity with students. Program alumni will be present. More
Submit Abstracts for Borlaug Poster Competition
Poster abstracts are now being accepted for the 21st Annual Norman Borlaug Lecture Poster Competition for Graduate and Undergraduate Students. The competition and display of posters will take place Oct. 28 in the Memorial Union, prior to the Norman Borlaug Lecture featuring 2024 World Food Prize Laureates Geoffrey Hawtin and Cary Fowler. More
CALS Study Abroad Fair, Sept. 26
CALS will hold its annual study abroad fair on Thursday, Sept. 26, from 2-4 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. Attendees can explore international clubs and organizations available in the college, chat with student travel consultants and gather information on financial aid. More
Extension and Outreach
Anaerobic Digestion Topic of Fall Webinar Series
ISU Extension and Outreach will hold a series of three webinars on the potential of anaerobic digestion technologies in modern agriculture. Daniel Andersen, agriculture and biosystems engineering, will host "Emerging Science of Anaerobic Digestion" on Oct. 8, Nov. 12 and Dec. 10. More
Janke Narrates Habitat Safety Miniseries
Adam Janke, natural resource ecology and management and extension wildlife specialist, is narrating a series of podcast episodes, “Habitat Safety Miniseries,” airing on the Habitat University Podcast. Topics include fire safety, pesticide safety, heavy equipment safety and chainsaw safety. More
Around the College
Open House Scheduled for CALS Innovation Inspiration Artwork
A CALS Innovation Inspiration Artwork open house is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 18, from 3-5 p.m. on the fourth floor of the Student Innovation Center. Associate Dean for Academic Innovation Carmen Bain and others will share the story about the artwork created by artist Reinaldo Correa and students from CALS and the College of Design. It is a come-and-go event. Light refreshments will be available. More
Wine Grapes Available for Sale
The Horticulture Research Station has wine grapes for sale by the pound. Orders will be accepted today, Sept. 16, at noon, through Thursday, Sept. 19, at noon. Pick up is Friday from 11:30 to 1 p.m. in the Meat Lab parking lot. Credit cards are now accepted at pick-up. More
United Way of Story County Campaign Underway
The 2024 United Way of Story County campaign is underway. CALS has set a fundraising goal of $65,000. Donations can be made through payroll deduction, credit card, check or Venmo (#CALS). More
Calendar
Sept. 18: Iowa Learning Farms Conservation Webinar
Hongli Feng, economics and Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, will present “Agriculture and Solar Farms: Preferences for Utility-Scale Solar Energy in Local Communities,” this Wednesday, Sept. 18, at noon. More
Sept. 19: Feeding the World Seminar Series
The Feeding the World seminar series continues Thursday, Sept. 19, from 3:40-4:55 p.m. in 1204 Kildee Hall, Ensminger Room. David Acker, associate dean for Global Engagement and Raymond and Mary Baker Chair in Global Agriculture, will provide a video presentation on the Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods, Uganda Program.
Sept. 26: CALS Chat with the Dean
Dean Robison will host a CALS Chat on Sept. 26, from 4-5:30 p.m. on the fourth floor of the Student Innovation Center. The informal, drop-in event will be an opportunity for casual conversation and to view the new artwork. Wine and cheese will be provided.
Oct. 2: Can Sustainable Agriculture Feed the World?
C S Liew (’79 agronomy, pest management) is presenting “Can Sustainable Agriculture Feed the World? The Role of Innovation and Thinking Outside the Box” on Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. in 1148 Gerdin Business Building. Liew is managing director of Singapore-based Pacific Agriscience and will discuss global innovations developed by producers, entrepreneurs and policy makers. More
Dec. 5: Save the Date
A ribbon cutting and open house for the Digital Ag Innovation Center in the Iowa State University Research Park is Dec. 5 from 3-6 p.m.
Infograzing
Why Iowa State?
Student outcomes – including salary and graduation rates – are among the reasons why students choose Iowa State and why ISU is the top-ranked Iowa university in the latest Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2025 Best Colleges rankings. Iowa State jumped 26 spots to #119 out of the 500 colleges and universities that were ranked. More
Flu Vaccine Clinic is Oct. 7-18
ISU WellBeing and occupational medicine are offering the Iowa State employee flu vaccine clinic Oct. 7-18 in 1218 State Gym. The clinic, which is free to employees, will run weekdays (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) with no appointment or pre-registration necessary. Employees need to know their ISU ID number to enter it on a keypad or bring their ISU ID to scan to receive the vaccine. More
Marginalia
RFD-TV Features Iowa State’s Efforts to Tackle Food Insecurity
ISU Extension and Outreach is working hard to tackle food insecurity while offering nutritious foods. On Sept. 9, RFD-TV featured Iowa State’s efforts to end hunger without compromising nutrition. 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.