CALS Online and Dean’s Message
November 3, 2025
Dean’s Message
Hello CALS – The fall colors are incredible – hope you’re getting out to enjoy them! What a spectacular flourish we are treated to each year… As you may have heard, there is a campus-wide effort to ensure all digital content at Iowa State is accessible to everyone. This is the result of a federal ruling by the U.S. Department of Justice, which requires that all public entities must comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 at the AA level by April 24, 2026. To learn more…
Top Stories
(Photo © WFPF/Scott Morgan 2025)
McGrath Named 2025 Lambert “Hunger Fighter” Scholar
Surrounded by world leaders, scientists and change-makers at the World Food Prize Borlaug Dialogue, one Iowa State student stood out for her quiet determination to make a global difference. Ella McGrath, a junior studying horticulture and global resource systems, was named the 2025 Lambert “Hunger Fighter” Scholar in recognition of her unwavering commitment to fighting hunger through science, empathy and action.
Research
Iowa State Scientist Finds Long-Lost Ball-Nosed Planthopper
After nearly a century without documented sightings in Iowa, a tiny insect known as the Fitchiella robertsonii, nicknamed the “ball-nosed planthopper,” has been discovered in the state’s tallgrass prairies by Marlin Rice, plant pathology, entomology and microbiology, and a citizen scientist. The finding offers hope for prairie restoration and insect conservation efforts.
Small Steps Toward Big Change in Food Packaging
A recent study co-sponsored by Iowa State’s Polymer and Food Protection Consortium and Dow, and conducted in partnership with the Association of Plastic Recyclers, examined whether a dry recycling process could handle certain food packaging. By skipping a washing step, a dry process could save time, money and water usage.
Teaching and Students
CALS Co-Hosts Annual Food Insecurity Challenge
Students from across disciplines are invited to participate in the annual Food Insecurity Challenge, a team-based activity to generate new and innovative solutions to food insecurity. The kickoff event, including a hunger banquet, is Tuesday, Nov. 4, from 5-8 p.m. in the Memorial Union Sun Room. The pitch competition is Nov. 18 from 5-8 p.m. in the Memorial Union South Ballroom. The event is hosted by the Ivy College of Business, CALS and the Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship.
Success in Scholarship Workshop Scheduled for Nov. 5
A Success in Scholarship workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 5, from 4-5 p.m. in 0008 Curtiss Hall. In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn how to craft stronger, more competitive applications that can open doors to funding for education and experiences like Study Abroad and Study USA. Andy Zehr, CALS director for scholarships, will share insider tips on what reviewers look for and how to make an application shine. Register online. Light refreshments will be provided.
Snow Blower Service Days Scheduled for Nov. 7-8
The Agricultural Systems Technology Club will hold its annual snow blower service days Friday, Nov. 7 (1-6 p.m.), and Saturday, 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.
Three Minute Thesis Final Competition is Nov. 11
Presentations for the 10th annual Three Minute Thesis final competition are Nov. 11 at 6 p.m. in the Memorial Union Sun Room. The 3MT celebrates research being conducted by current Iowa State graduate students as they describe their research, in three minutes, in a relatable and relevant way to a non-specialist audience. Six of the eight finalists represent CALS departments.
Student Entries Sought for CALS Art Science Exhibition
CALS seeks student work in any material or medium on Agricultural Icons (open interpretation) for a Dec. 8 group exhibition. Two $500 prizes will be awarded to Best of Show, Graduate Student and Best of Show, Undergraduate Student. Email applications to CALS Art Science Curator Dior Kelley (dkelley@iastate.edu). Submission deadline is Nov. 19.
Extension and Outreach
Extension Introduces Donation Garden Network Initiative
ISU Extension and Outreach is involved in launching a statewide initiative to support community gardens that donate fresh produce. The Iowa Donation Garden Network is designed to connect and empower garden organizers through expert-led education, shared resources and collaborative programming.
Webinar to Address Workforce Factors Affecting Iowa Dairy Farms
Workforce factors affecting Iowa dairy farms will be discussed at the ISU Extension and Outreach Dairy Team monthly webinar on Nov. 11 from noon to 1 p.m. Richard Stup, agricultural workforce specialist with Cornell University Cooperative Extension, will present.
New Estate and Succession Planning for the Farm Program Launched
ISU Extension and Outreach, in collaboration with the Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation, is launching a new educational program: Estate and Succession Planning for the Farm. The program includes a series of in-person educational workshops designed to help farmers and rural landowners take the necessary steps to implement a written estate and succession plan.
Registration Open for 2025 ICM Conference
The 36th Annual Integrated Crop Management Conference is Dec. 10-11 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 2026.
Around the College
Wintersteen and Tylka Honored by Iowa Soybean Association
The Iowa Soybean Association honored President Wendy Wintersteen with its Enduring Impact Award. ISA President Brent Swart said the award was “in recognition of more than 40 years of exceptional service to Iowa State University, Iowa soybean farmers and agriculture. Your visionary leadership and unwavering advocacy for agriculture will have a positive, lasting impact on Iowa’s communities and generations of farm families.” Greg Tylka, director of the Iowa Soybean Research Center, was presented ISA’s Distinguished Service Award “in recognition of 35 years of exemplary service at Iowa State University in support of Iowa’s soybean farmers; dedicated efforts as a teacher, researcher and industry advocate; for improving the production and profitability of soybean farming; and benefitting soybean farmers and consumers in Iowa and around the world,” Swart said.
CALS Award Nominations Due Nov. 18
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences recognizes the excellence and dedication of its faculty and staff through the conferring of college awards. Nominations are due to the college by Nov. 18 through the online submission portal. Nominations will be reviewed in December, and award recipients will be notified in January. Awardees will be honored during the annual CALS Awards Program in the spring. Contact your departmental awards committee or Julie Stewart (jstewart@iastate.edu) for additional information.
Town Hall Recording Available Online
Dean Robison held a Town Hall meeting on Oct. 15. A recording of the meeting is now available online.
Calendar
Nov. 5: Iowa Learning Farms Conservation Webinar
The Iowa Learning Farms conservation webinar on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at noon will feature Katherine Kral-O’Brien, natural resource ecology and management. In “Butterflies at Work,” she will discuss the many common—and maybe not so common—reasons that butterflies are targeted for conservation efforts.
Nov. 7: CALS Staff Council Event
The CALS Staff Council is hosting “Fall into CALS” on Friday, 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.
Nov. 12: Water Quality Research Seminar
The Iowa Nutrient Research Center’s next water quality research seminar is Nov. 12 at 3:10 p.m. Sara McMillan, agricultural and biosystems engineering, with collaborators at Polk County Conservation and JEO Consulting, will present "Engineering with Nature: Co-Designing Two-Stage Channels for Cleaner Water and Resilient Landscapes." Participants can attend in-person at 1306 Elings Hall or online.
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.
Communications Kiosk
Use of the Hyphen is Far from Standardized
Hyphens are joiners. Use them to avoid ambiguity or to form a single idea from two or more words. Use of the hyphen is far from standardized. It can be a matter of taste, judgment and style sense. Think of hyphens as an aid to readers’ comprehension. If a hyphen makes the meaning clearer, use it. If it just adds clutter and distraction to the sentence, don’t use it. (Associated Press Stylebook, 2024-2026 edition, pg. 399)
Marginalia
Tips from the Archives on Hosting Holiday Parties
With the start of the holiday season, McKenzie Reimer, a processing archivist for Special Collections and University Archives, wanted to know what past generations believed were important aspects for hosting a successful holiday party. A common theme found during her research was knowing the proper etiquette for hosting and attending parties. In the Oct. 27 issue of Cardinal Tales, a blog published by SCUA, she shares a list of party etiquette compiled by the Iowa State University Joint Social Council in 1935. In terms of refreshments, the archives have an extensive cookbook collection, with around 3,000 cookbooks dating back to the 1800s for Iowa, and about 100 historical America cookbooks dating back to the early 1700s.
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.