CALS Online and Dean’s Message
Feb. 24, 2025
Dean’s Message
Hello CALS – I want to reassure, as best I can under the very uncertain circumstances we find ourselves in, that Iowa State and CALS are tracking and trying our very best to understand the many moves being made by the federal government at this time. We are clearly looking at a changed landscape of federal programming that will impact our colleagues/friends/neighbors/alums who have federal jobs, as well as all of us in the university with key connections to those people and related federal programs that support and enable our people and our work… In the meantime, follow the lead of offices on campus such as the Office of the Vice President for Research, the Office of Sponsored Programs Administration, our CALS Office of Research and Discovery, and others. Ask us questions…
Top Stories
Training the Next Generation of Rural Development Workers
A group of 18 college students and young professionals took part in the 2025 Next Generation Institute held in Uganda in January. First offered in 2024 under the umbrella of Iowa State’s Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods, the NGI program gathers Iowa State students and early-career nongovernmental organization practitioners from Europe and Africa at the ISU-Uganda Program facility in Uganda’s Kamuli District. There, participants attend lectures, visit high-impact field programs and work on team projects. The program was coordinated by Fia Fernandez (front row, second from right), graduate student in agricultural education, under the guidance of NGI co-leaders David Acker and Gail Nonnecke, director and associate director, respectively, of CSRL, and Gideon Nadiope, national director of the ISU-Uganda Program.
Teaching and Students
‘Cyclone State’ Steps Up to International Stage in Saudi Derby
When Iowa-bred Cyclone State broke out of the starting gate for Saturday's $1.5-million G3 Saudi Derby, odds are that the loudest cheers were emanating from halfway across the world at Iowa State’s equine farm. That is where the colt was born on April 29, 2022. “Students at Iowa State get more practical experience, more hands-on time with animals than I think they do anywhere else that I'm aware of,” said Nikki Ferwerda, animal science and manager of the university's equine facilities. “Instead of 20 people in a class coming and watching one or two mares foal, each student is assigned four to six mares.”
Extension and Outreach
Webinar Highlights Food Safety for Urban Farmers
Urban farmers interested in learning how to safely harvest, store and transport produce are invited to a webinar on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 11 a.m. to noon, from ISU Extension and Outreach. Registration is available online. “Food Safety for Urban Farms” is the next webinar in the Urban Agriculture Catalyst Project series.
Around the College
Final Candidate for Chair of Agronomy to Present
The final candidate for chair of the Department of Agronomy will provide a public seminar on their “Vision for the Future of Agronomy at ISU as a Land-Grant University” on Thursday, Feb. 27, from 9-9:50 a.m. in 2020 Agronomy Hall. A faculty forum will follow from 10-10:50 a.m. The seminar will be recorded and posted in CyBox. Candidate information has been released and is available online.
Lence Named AAEA Fellow
Sergio Lence, economics, has been named a 2025 Fellow by the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association. He will receive an award at AAEA’s annual meeting on July 27-29 in Denver, Colorado.
ABE’s Webber Retiring
David Webber, research scientist in agricultural and biosystems engineering, is retiring Friday, Feb. 28. There is no public event.
Calendar
March 11: Save the Date
The CALS Spring Awards Program, honoring faculty and staff achievements, is March 11 at 4:10 p.m. in Dolezal Auditorium, 127 Curtiss Hall. The program will include brief comments from Dean Robison and recognition of the 2024 CALS faculty and staff award recipients. A reception in Harl Commons will follow the program.
March 14: Baker Plant Breeding Symposium
Registration is now open for the 12th annual R.F. Baker Plant Breeding Symposium, scheduled for March 14 at the ISU Alumni Center. This year’s theme is “Transformative Research: Pushing the Genetic Frontiers of Plant Breeding.” Registration is free for both in-person and virtual attendance. The Plant Breeding and Genetics Graduate Student Club organizes the symposium, which is hosted by the Department of Agronomy.
Infograzing
Lecture Focuses on Art and Science
Glass artist Josh Simpson and retired NASA Astronaut Cady Coleman will discuss their lives in art and science together and how they have influenced each other throughout their careers at a lecture on March 9 from 2-4:30 p.m. in the Brunnier Art Museum, 295 Scheman Building. Together, their distinct pursuits—creation of art and exploration of space– enrich both of their journeys.
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.