CALS Online and Dean’s Message
April 7, 2025
Dean’s Message
Hello CALS – This week, on Thursday, April 10, at 1:30 p.m. in 1414 Molecular Biology Building, we will have our spring 2025 CALS Town Hall. I hope you can attend. I’ll give college updates on a number of topics, and short presentations will be given by Carmen Bain on the happenings in our Office of Academic Innovation and by Sarah Roelfs on happenings in our ISU Foundation CALS Development Office. I’ll provide some information on our enrollment and budget, on new initiatives, on leadership changes and more, and be open to questions on any topic…
Top Stories
Agriculture, Forestry Programs Climb in 2025 Worldwide Rankings
Moving up two spots from last year, Iowa State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences agricultural and forestry programs are ranked No. 12 globally among 477 institutions, according to the 2025 QS World University Rankings. This is the 12th consecutive year the programs have been among the top 4% worldwide. Compared to U.S. institutions, Iowa State holds the No. 6 spot. “We are thrilled to once again see our college’s programs ranked among the world’s best,” said Dean Robison. “This achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to excellence in teaching, research and extension. Our students, faculty and staff work hard every day to transform ideas into learning and innovations, conduct groundbreaking research, and engage with the community to make our state, nation and world a better place.”
Research
Cover Crops Provide Reduction in Soil Carbon Erosion
Planting ground cover in fields between cash crop growing seasons is an effective way to prevent farmland from losing soil carbon from erosion, a factor that’s underestimated in considering the carbon sequestration potential of cover crops, according to a new study led by Wenjuan Huang, ecology, evolution and organismal biology.
Collaboration Worth the Investment to Further Water Research
Research collaborations, such as with the Iowa Learning Farms, SERA-46 Committee and the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, have multiple benefits, says Iowa Nutrient Research Center director Matt Helmers in the last of three articles in a series on water quality research as a “team sport.”
Suza on Unlocking Soy’s Heart-Healthy Properties
Walter Suza, agronomy, and his Iowa Soybean Research Center project, were featured in the April issue of the Iowa Soybean Review, published by the Iowa Soybean Association. “Investigating the Specific Role of Sterols in Soybean Growth and Development” seeks to identify the genes responsible for making healthier phytosterols and explore their impact on soybean growth and development.
Teaching and Students
Grad Student has Top Research Poster at Midwest Cover Crop Council
Agronomy graduate student Ally Larson discusses her research on the Ag DIRT (Detritus Input and Removal Treatments) study, working with Marshall McDaniel and Mark Licht, agronomy, and Alison Robertson, plant pathology, entomology and microbiology. Her poster on the project recently won top honors at the Midwest Cover Crop Council annual meeting.
Maktoum Al Seiari Scholarship Recipients Announced
Brooke Johnson, Madisyn Henderson and Ryleigh Obrecht, all majoring in agricultural business, are this year’s three recipients of the Maktoum Al Seiari Scholarship for Excellence in Cultural Understanding and Global Citizenship. All three recipients participated in The Culture and Economic Diversification trip to the United Arab Emirates in fall 2024. The trip was led by program directors Ebby Luvaga, economics, and Jean-Pierre Taoutel, world languages and culture. The scholarship was established in 2022 by the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates to the United States, in memory of Maktoum Al Seiari.
CALS Ambassador Grows as a Leader
From a quiet underclassman to a highly engaged upperclassman, Tyler Atkinson, senior in agronomy, found a passion for advocating for Iowa State and taking opportunities outside his comfort zone. Atkinson serves as the CALS Ambassadors’ chair, where he plans and facilitates Ambassador events and recruits prospective students to Iowa State.
Nominations for Senior Awards Due April 7
The CALS Student Council is seeking nominations for spring 2025 senior awards. Every spring and fall semester, CALS Council recognizes graduating seniors through five different awards: leadership and innovation, academic achievement, distinguished service, outstanding ambassador of agriculture and life sciences, and outstanding senior. Nominations are due today, April 7, at 11:59 p.m.
ISRC to Host Free Student Omelet Breakfast April 8
The Iowa Soybean Research Center, Iowa Food and Family Project, Iowa Egg Council, North Central Poultry Association and Humble Donut Co. will host a free omelet breakfast for Iowa State students on Tuesday, April 8, at the Student Innovation Center in recognition of Soy Foods Month. The event runs from 7:30-9:30 a.m. and is aimed at educating students about soy and poultry while providing students with some free food, fun activities and giveaways. The soybean connection to eggs is that soybean meal is the dominant protein supplement used in poultry diets.
Forestry Honor Society to Host Maple Syrup Day April 12
The Iowa State chapter of Xi Sigma Pi, the Forestry Honor Society, is holding Maple Syrup Day on Saturday, April 12, from 8-11 a.m. at the Iowa Arboretum. Enjoy all you can eat pancakes along with sausage, fruit, coffee and…maple syrup. Learn how maple syrup is produced and enjoy timber sports demonstrations and a live wood-turning display. Cost is $9 for adults, $6 for children 5-10, free for children 4 and under.
Block and Bridle Club to Host Animal Learning Day April 12
Iowa State’s Block and Bridle Club will hold its annual Animal Learning Day on Saturday, April 12, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center. The event is free and provides an opportunity for the public to learn about animals in agriculture. There will be activities for all ages, including a Taste of Iowa segment.
Extension and Outreach
Celebrate ISU Extension and Outreach Week April 7-12
ISU Extension and Outreach Week is April 7-12. Iowa’s 100 county extension offices will host “I Spy Cy” activities and educational events throughout the week to thank Iowans for their support of ISU Extension and Outreach throughout the state.
Food Safety Course Educates on Fruit and Vegetable Production
ISU Extension and Outreach is offering a fruit and vegetable production safety course at Reiman Gardens this spring and summer. The same afternoon course will be offered on April 12, May 10, June 14, July 19 and Aug. 9, from 12:30-1:30 p.m. The course is complimentary with admission to Reiman Gardens, and registration is not required.
Around the College
A Trusted Partner Helping Iowa Farmers
Conservation-focused farm partners Kellie and AJ Blair of Dayton estimate their farm has been part of 15-20 research projects with Iowa State and other partners. In these partnerships, participants share information to make more impactful adjustments in their operations. The Blairs' story is the second in strategic relations and communications’ 2025 Innovation at Work series, which illustrates Iowa State's role as a trusted partner to Iowa businesses and industries.
Mallarino Receives Iowa Master Farmer Award
Antonio Mallarino, professor emeritus in agronomy, received the 2025 Iowa Master Farmer Exceptional Service to Agriculture Award from Wallaces Farmer for his dedication to helping Iowa farmers and agriculture. During his 35 years at Iowa State, he was the source for soil information, conducted valuable research and helped farmers better manage crop nutrients.
P&S CYtation Recipients Recognized for Exemplary Service
At a March 25 breakfast and ceremony, 39 professional and scientific employees received the P&S Council's CYtation Award for their outstanding work and contributions during calendar year 2024. Recipients included: Wendy Borja-Diaz, CALS administration; Tess Howard, Seed Science Center; and Samantha Smith, ecology, evolution and organismal biology.
CALS Staff Council to Host Meat Lab Tour April 25
The CALS Staff Council is hosting a tour of the ISU Meat Lab on April 25 from 10-11 in 133 Kildee Hall. The Meat Lab is used for animal science classes, research projects and extension programs. The tour will include seeing how different meat is processed, smoked, cured and packaged. An opportunity to purchase meat will be available at the end of the tour. Registration is available online. Participation is limited to 50 people.
Join Colleagues for End of Year Gathering
CALS faculty and staff are invited to celebrate the end of spring semester at a gathering on May 13 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the Harl Commons patio on the east side of Curtiss Hall. Food will be provided, along with ISU wine and beer, and ice cream from the ISU Creamery. The evening will feature music by the Indigo Monks. RSVP by May 1. Plus ones are welcome.
Nominations Open for 2025 Cohort of CALS Staff Champions
Nominations are open for the 2025 cohort of CALS Staff Champions program. Staff (P&S or merit) will be selected to participate in a professional development program focusing on the college’s operations. Sessions will take place the second Friday of each month from June to December from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with lunch provided. Applications are due May 16.
Calendar
April 9: CALS Chat with the Dean
Dean Robison will host a CALS Chat on Wednesday, April 9, from noon to 1 p.m. in 3105 Snedecor Hall, with guest Ben Withers, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The informal, drop-in event will be an opportunity for casual conversation.
April 9: INRC Spring Seminar Series
The Iowa Nutrient Research Center will hold its next seminar in the spring series on Wednesday, April 9, from 3:10-4 p.m. The series highlights “Insights from Next Gen Water Researchers” with presentations by current and recent Iowa State graduate students about studies they are or have been involved with and how water quality research is helping inform their careers. The hybrid seminar will be presented online and in person at 1306 Elings Hall.
April 10: CALS Town Hall
Join Dean Robison for a Town Hall meeting on Thursday, April 10, at 1:30 p.m. in 1414 Molecular Biology Building.
April 15: Hertz Lecture on Emerging Issues in Agriculture
The Carl and Marjory Hertz Lecture on Emerging Issues in Agriculture is April 15 at 4:30 p.m. in Dolezal Auditorium, 127 Curtiss Hall. Mark Stutsman, chief operating officer and third-generation family member of Eldon C. Stutsman, Inc., will present “The Stutsman Journey: What We’ve Learned Over 90 Years in Ag Business.” CALS students attending the lecture will be eligible to receive one of five $500 Hertz Lecture scholarship awards by swiping their student ID at the lecture’s conclusion.
April 17: Rossmann-Manatt Lecture
The Rossmann-Manatt Lecture is April 17 at 10:30 a.m. in 2630 Memorial Union. Katherine Richardson Bruna, School of Education, will present “Behind the Scenes of Captain and Blue: A Science Comic About a Species in Decline.”
April 28: Retirement Reception for Gail Nonnecke
A retirement reception for Gail Nonnecke is April 28 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union Cardinal Room, with remarks at 3:15 p.m. Nonnecke has served as a faculty member in the Department of Horticulture for more than 30 years. She is a University Professor, Morrill Professor and Global Professor at Iowa State. She is faculty coordinator of Global Resource Systems, an interdisciplinary major in CALS, and associate director for education programs for the Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods.
More Events Listed on CALS Website
Find more events on the CALS Events webpage. Submit events for inclusion on this list to madelyno@iastate.edu or jstewart@iastate.edu.
Infograzing
Engineers Using ‘Digital Twins’ to Improve Agriculture, Health, Manufacturing and More
Building and studying digital twins is a major feature of the AI Institute for Resilient Agriculture, a research center based at Iowa State that launched in 2021 with a five-year, $20 million grant from the National Science Foundation and USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. “Using advanced sensor technology, scientists can create digital twins – virtual simulations that mimic real-world plants, crops and farms,” institute researchers wrote. “For every year of biological data, digital-twin based AI systems can create hundreds of reality-based simulations.”
Graduate School Fair at SIC April 10
The Graduate College is hosting the Graduate School Fair on Thursday, April 10, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the first floor of the Student Innovation Center. Undergraduate students and university staff are encouraged to attend and learn more about graduate program options at Iowa State.
Marginalia
Uncovering the Roots of the Horticulture Club
The Iowa State University Horticulture Club, the first departmental club in the College of Agriculture, is celebrating its 125th anniversary and featured in the April 2 issue of Cardinal Tales, a blog published by Special Collections and University Archives. The Horticulture Club was organized in 1900 by Professors A. T. Erwin and E. E. Little. According to the Horticulture Club records, on April 2, 1900, a group of seven individuals gathered for a meeting in the horticulture rooms “for the purpose of organizing a Horticulture Club.” The head of the Department of Horticulture, John Craig, briefly outlined the club’s objectives, which, although not stated in the minutes for that meeting, appear to have remained consistent over time: to foster horticultural education and interests among its members and the broader community.
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.