CALS Online and Dean’s Message
Nov. 18, 2024
Dean’s Message
Hello CALS Colleagues – Last Friday was the leadership meeting of the partnership that supports the Iowa Nitrogen Initiative under the leadership of professors Mike Castellano and Sotirios Archontoulis in the agronomy department. This is an extraordinary effort involving… On Tuesday evening this week, we have the finale of the Food Insecurity Challenge that was launched two weeks ago with a terrific presentation by the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition's Sandy Andrews…
Top Stories
Horticulture Club Accepting Pre-Orders for Poinsettias
The Horticulture Club is holding its annual poinsettia sale. Plants may be pre-ordered online or purchased at these campus locations on a first-come, first-served basis:
- Dec. 4 (9:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.), Curtiss Hall
- Dec. 5 (9:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.), Beardshear Hall
- Dec. 6 (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.), UDCC
- Dec. 7 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), Reiman Gardens
Sizes are 4, 6 and 10 inches; prices vary from $12 to $40. The poinsettias are grown by club members in the Horticulture Hall greenhouses. Funds raised are used for club activities, traveling expenses and student enrichment.
Forestry Club’s Christmas Tree Sale Begins Dec. 1
The Forestry Club is holding its annual Christmas tree fundraiser at the Reiman Gardens parking lot. Trees will be for sale Dec. 1 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), Dec. 6-8 and Dec. 13-15. Hours, with the exception of Dec. 1, are Fridays, 3-6 p.m., Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays, 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.
Holiday Season Wine Sales Open for Pre-Orders
The Iowa State University Winery has launched pre-orders for its 2022 La Crescent, 2023 Marquette and 2023 Rosé wines. Pick-up and purchase will be on the following Fridays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Meat Lab in Kildee Hall: Nov. 22, Dec. 6, Dec. 13 and Dec. 20. Sales will continue until winter break.
Sigma Alpha Holding Candle Fundraiser
Sigma Alpha, the professional agriculture sorority, is holding a Dirt Road Candle fundraiser. Orders are accepted through Nov. 29.
Research
Iowa Public Radio Features Blanding’s Turtles Project
Iowa Public Radio featured a story on headstarting Blanding’s turtles on its Nov. 15 broadcast. Iowa State students are working with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines to give a native turtle species a boost. To increase the survival rate of young Blanding’s turtles, the partners are using a conservation tool called “headstarting,” protecting hatchlings until they reach a certain size before being released into the wild.
Teaching and Students
Gebel Receives ‘Hunger Fighter’ Scholarship
Alaina Gebel, a junior in agricultural and life sciences education and international agriculture, was awarded the David Lambert “Hunger Fighter” Memorial Scholarship at the 2024 World Food Prize event on Oct. 31. Gebel grew up not far from the birthplace of Norman Borlaug and was inspired early on to make a difference in the fight against hunger.
Submissions Due for Crosspollinating Art and Science Competition
CALS is hosting an exhibition featuring original artwork created by CALS students that reflects a concept of crosspollination between art and science. Students may submit artwork of any media for display in a juried exhibit on Dec. 12 in the Student Innovation Center. The deadline for submission is Friday, Nov. 22.
Extension and Outreach
Genetic Symposium Will Focus on Female Reproduction
The Iowa Beef Center’s second annual Genetic Symposium will focus on female cattle and improving reproduction. The symposium is Dec. 16-17 at the Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center.
Webinar Series Unlocks Potential of Perennial Groundcovers
A five-week lunch-and-learn webinar series starting in January will explore the innovative use of perennial groundcovers as a cover crop in corn and corn/soybean production systems. The series, sponsored by Iowa State and RegenPCG, will be held on consecutive Tuesdays (Jan. 14, 21, 28 and Feb. 4 and 11, 2025) from noon to 1 p.m.
IPIC Releases New Publication on Contingency Planning for Feed
A new publication from the Iowa Pork Industry Center, "Contingency Planning: Feed," explains potential feed supply interruptions and management considerations for developing contingency plans. Potential interruptions to an operation include severe weather, feed mill troubles, human error, federal regulation and equipment malfunction.
Conservation on Tap Scheduled for Huxley, Dec. 5
Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Des Moines Water Works and Conservation Learning Group, will host a “Conservation on Tap” event Dec. 5 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Fenceline Beer Lab in Huxley. Please RSVP by Dec. 2.
Around the College
Animal Science Welcomes New Endowed Professor
Maria Wurzinger has joined the animal science department as the first Rothschild Endowed Professor in Global Food Security and Animal Science. Before joining Iowa State, Wurzinger was head of the Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems at BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna, Austria.
Last Call for CALS Award Nominations
CALS recognizes the excellence and dedication of its faculty and staff through the conferring of college awards. Award descriptions and nomination guidelines are found on the college awards website. Of special note: the Rossmann Manatt Faculty Development Award recipient will be from CALS this year. Nominations are due to the college by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 19, through the online submission portal.
CALS Online: Next Issue Dec. 2
CALS Online will not be published on Nov. 25, the week of fall break. The newsletter will resume Monday, Dec. 2.
Calendar
Nov. 18: Native American Cuisine
Chef Freddie Bitsoie (bit-sue-ee) will discuss the cultural progression of foods in the Western Hemisphere, and how native foods of the Western Hemisphere have been claimed, misused, appropriated and overlooked for centuries in a lecture tonight, Nov. 18, at 6 p.m. in the Memorial Union Great Hall. Bitsoie is the former executive chef at Mitsitam Native Foods Café at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. Co-sponsors include the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition and the Culinary Science Club.
Dec. 5: Digital Ag Innovation Lab Open House and Ribbon Cutting
A ribbon cutting and open house for the Digital Ag Innovation Lab at the Iowa State University Research Park is Dec. 5 from 3-6 p.m. Opening remarks will be at 3:30 p.m. followed by a facility tour at 4 p.m.
Dec. 10: CALS Holiday Party
Dean Robison and the CALS leadership team are hosting a holiday party on Dec. 10 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the Sukup Atrium, Elings Hall. There will be brief remarks at 5 p.m. Enjoy food, drinks and live music. RSVP by Dec. 3.
Dec. 11-12: ICM Conference
The 35th Annual Integrated Crop Management Conference is Dec. 11-12 at the Meadows Events and Conference Center at Prairie Meadows in Altoona. Hosted by ISU Extension and Outreach and CALS, the event will provide crop production professionals with the latest information, cutting-edge research updates and tools to prepare for 2025.
Communications Kiosk
None – Both Singular and Plural
None may take either a singular or a plural verb. A guideline: if it is followed by a singular noun, treat it as a singular (none of the building was painted); if by a plural noun, treat it as a plural (none of the guests were here when I arrived). (The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th edition, pg. 343)
Infograzing
Researchers Find Turtle Genomes Fold in a Unique Way
A new study led by Nicole Valenzuela, ecology, evolution and organismal biology, described for the first time the three-dimensional architecture of turtle genomes, which fold in a configuration unlike any other animal observed so far.
Marginalia
National Academies Sponsor Broadcast of ‘Leonardo da Vinci’
The National Academies are partnering with Washington, D.C.’s local PBS affiliate to sponsor the broadcast and webcast of Ken Burns’ latest film, “Leonardo da Vinci,” airing today and tomorrow, Nov. 18 and 19, and Nov. 23 and 24. “If science helps us understand our world, engineering helps us shape our world and medicine helps us thrive in our world — then da Vinci’s extraordinarily diverse curiosity and talent for science, engineering, medicine and art demonstrated how to celebrate our world,” reads a National Academies statement.
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.