CALS Online and Dean’s Message
October 27, 2025
Dean’s Message
Hello CALS – Super busy week last week with lots of visitors and visits associated with the World Food Prize meetings, the ISU Alumni Association Awards and a Saturday of Cyclone football. As they are every year in October, the World Food Prize – Borlaug Dialogue meetings were terrific. I hope everyone will some year, when it works for you, take advantage of the opportunity to attend this world-class meeting held every year in Des Moines. It's a great chance to celebrate and encourage the fight against hunger worldwide and recognize the need for science, technology, understanding and care to take us forward…
Top Stories
New Research Could Help Optimize Crucial Tool for Genetically Engineering Crops
In a first-of-its-kind study, an Iowa State research team found that the way DNA is arranged in a bacterial species used extensively in genetic engineering can change how well it grows, survives stress and infects plants. “Our work is the first to directly test how chromosome structure affects bacterial growth, survival and ability to cause disease, and it opens the door for similar studies in many other microbes,” said Kan Wang, agronomy.
Research
SCN Coalition Helps Farmers Fight Relentless Pest
The microscopic, soil-borne soybean cyst nematode is considered the most serious biological threat to the U.S. soybean industry. In North America, it causes yield losses worth more than $1 billion annually. The SCN Coalition, established by Greg Tylka, director of the Iowa Soybean Research Center, and colleagues, includes university scientists from 28 states and Ontario, Canada, grower checkoff organizations and corporate partners.
Researchers Pilot Potentially Life-Saving Heat Alert App
CommHEAT is a multi-year collaborative project funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation to develop and test a community-focused, indoor heat emergency alert system to help vulnerable residents and city planners. The Iowa State research team that developed the app includes Jan Thompson, natural resource ecology and management.
Teaching and Students
Nominations for Senior Awards Due Oct. 31
The CALS Student Council is seeking nominations for fall 2025 senior awards. Every spring and fall semester, CALS Council recognizes graduating seniors through the following five awards. Nominations are due Friday, Oct. 31, at 11:59 p.m.
- Leadership and Innovation
- Academic Achievement
- Distinguished Service
- Outstanding Ambassador of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Outstanding Senior
Snow Blower Service Days Scheduled for Nov. 7-8
The Agricultural Systems Technology Club will hold its annual snow blower service days Nov. 7 (1-6 p.m.), and Nov. 8 (8 a.m. to 1 p.m.), at Sukup Hall. The $40 cost includes an oil change, a new spark plug and a power wash. Pickup and delivery (Ames zip code only) is available for an additional $25; send an email request to astservicedays@gmail.com.
Block and Bridle Summer Sausage and Cheese Sale Now Open
The Block and Bridle Club’s annual summer sausage and cheese sale is now open. Orders close on Nov. 1. Orders will be available for pick-up during the weeks of Nov. 17 and Dec. 8. The summer sausage is made in the ISU Meat Lab. Cheese curds and cheese blocks are sourced from Homestead Dairy in Waukon, Iowa.
Student Club Spotlight: Professional Agricultural Student Chapter
The mission of the Professional Agricultural Student Chapter is to unite education and industry in agriculture. The club hosts monthly meetings, attends conferences and competes on a state and national level. The intent is to provide a space for creating personal and professional connections, developing skills as leaders and learning more about agriculture.
Extension and Outreach
Iowa State’s Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic Earns National Accreditation
The Iowa State Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic has earned national accreditation from the National Plant Diagnostic Network, recognizing the clinic’s commitment to high-quality, reliable diagnostic services. Insect diagnostician Zach Schumm and plant disease diagnostician Chelsea Harbach successfully developed and implemented a quality management system that meets all requirements of the new NPDN Core Accreditation Program. With this achievement, Iowa State’s PIDC becomes one of only eight Core Accredited Labs in the country.
Engaging Youth to Inspire Change
Although the Water Rocks! team educates thousands of students each year, it’s not without the help and support of teachers statewide that multiply this impact by using WR! resources in their classrooms. Elizabeth Helterbran, a teacher with the Mount Pleasant Community School District, is a leading example of how WR!’s hands-on activities reinforce lessons by tying in real-world topics in a fun and engaging way.
Around the College
2025 Awards Presented to College Alums, Friends
CALS and the ISU Alumni Association presented awards to several college alums and friends at the 94th annual Honors and Awards Ceremony on Oct. 24.
- Floyd Andre Award – Lynn Henderson (’74 agricultural journalism), Henderson Communications, LLC
- George Washington Carver Distinguished Service Award – Pete (’74 agricultural business) and Dana (’87 home economics education, adult home economics education) Wenstrand, farmer
- Henry A. Wallace Award – Doug Ware ('74 MS animal science, '76 PhD), founder of Nutrition Physiology Corporation
- Outstanding Young Professional Award – Jimmy Kent (’14 agricultural business), president of KENT Nutrition Group and Grain Processing Corporation
CALS Opens Search for Associate Director of Career Services
CALS is seeking an associate director of Career Services to lead strategic initiatives that enhance student career readiness, employer engagement and post-graduation outcomes. The application deadline is Thursday, Oct. 30.
Medallion Ceremony for Carl Bern Professorship Oct. 31
Timothy Shepherd, agricultural and biosystems engineering, is the inaugural holder of the Dr. Carl Bern Professorship, endowed by Charles and Mary Sukup. A medallion ceremony honoring Shepherd will take place Friday, Oct. 31, at 3:45 p.m. in the Sukup Atrium, Biorenewables Complex. RSVP online by Thursday, Oct. 30.
Meat Lab Taking Orders for Holiday Hams
The Iowa State Meat Lab is taking pre-orders for whole hams and half hams through Nov. 18. Pick-up options are Fridays Nov. 21, Dec. 5, Dec. 12 and Dec. 19 between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Meat Lab sales room in Kildee Hall. Hams will also be available for walk-in purchase during normal sales hours while supplies last. Credit cards, check or cash accepted for payment.
Submit Story Ideas for STORIES 2026
It’s time to begin brainstorming content to include in the 2026 edition of STORIES magazine, the annual CALS alums and friends publication (anticipated publication date: August 2026). What one or two stories would you most like to be told? Stories that show impact, relevance, partnership and excellence. Any and all submissions are welcome to help tell the story of how CALS is:
- advancing efforts to recruit and educate the next generation of great thinkers and doers;
- conducting impactful research and extension/outreach that aligns with our local-to-global, ag and food, science and technology, innovation, legislative, and land-grant priorities;
- attracting funding and gifts to support our students, faculty, staff and facilities;
- and so much more.
Submit your story ideas to Whitney Baxter (wjsager@iastate.edu), editor of STORIES magazine, by Friday, Oct. 31.
Student Services Holding Winter Coat and Accessories Donation Drive
CALS Student Services is holding a winter weather coat and accessories drive (and new warm socks) starting Tuesday, Oct. 21, through Nov. 3. All sizes are needed. Items will be housed on a coat rack and in bins in Harl Commons. There will be a donation drop-off location outside of CALS Student Services (20 Curtiss Hall) during normal office hours. The bin will be brought in every night for storage in Student Services. All donations need to be clean and in good condition. Contact Carah Mabry (camabry@iastate.edu) with questions. Also, Iowa State's free Business Attire Pop-Up Shop, which has a permanent space in the east Memorial Union, is accepting new or gently used business attire in all sizes and styles to share with students in preparation for the spring career fairs. Donations can be left at the drop-off location in Curtiss Hall.
Calendar
Oct. 30: Water You Waiting For?
Urinetown: The Musical—a satirical Broadway hit about corporate greed, water scarcity and failed revolution—has become a cultural anchor for Iowa State’s interdisciplinary work on water resilience. This collaborative STEAM-focused presentation on Thursday, Oct. 30, at 6 p.m. in the Alliant Energy-Lee Liu Auditorium in Howe Hall, will serve as an introduction to Iowa State Theatre’s production of Urinetown as well as the work of the newly formed Water Resilience Collaborative. A moderated panel will bring together voices from theater, environmental science and communication to spotlight the urgent water crises in Iowa and around the world while showcasing how the arts can catalyze public engagement with complex research.
Nov. 7: CALS Staff Council Event
The CALS Staff Council is hosting “Fall into CALS” on Nov. 7 from 10-11 a.m. in 1330 ATRB. Learn about apple research at Iowa State and enjoy apple cider donuts and apple cider. Participants will earn 50 Adventure2 points. Contact Kathy Kiesling (kiesling@iastate.edu) with questions.
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
Reception for Wintersteen is Dec. 4
The university community will hold a farewell reception for President Wendy Wintersteen and her husband, Robert Waggoner, on Dec. 4 at 3 p.m. in the Memorial Union Great Hall. A 30-minute program will begin at 3:30 p.m., followed by a reception. Wintersteen will retire from the university on Jan. 1, 2026.
Marginalia
A Legacy Cast in Bronze
The World Food Prize Foundation unveiled a statue of John Ruan III at the opening of the 2025 Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue. Ruan served as chairman of the World Food Prize Foundation from 2000 until his passing in 2021. The statue depicts Ruan carrying the World Food Prize into the Hall of Laureates, symbolizing his instrumental role in shaping its legacy.
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.