COLLEGE NEWS
- Provost visits college, comments on dean search
- Paul named associate vice provost for research
- RFPs under development for new USDA funds
- Support available for faculty research exchanges
- Recent examples of faculty research exchanges
-Flora named to USDA group reviewing U.S. ag structure
- Event to mark 40th anniversary of Self-Help
- Essay-writing the topic of next AgComm workshop Jan. 25
- Livestock team takes top honors at National Western
- Biological limits to production? Next animal ag topic
- Three open forums remain for Leopold Center candidates
- Demo Jan. 25 of "mybites.com" faculty-student site
- Deadlines & Reminders
COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
- New ideas for searching the billion-page Web
INFOGRAZING
- Eating insects -- it’s a natural
EXTERNAL VOICES
- John Chrystal on ISU’s role in global economy
MARGINALIA
- Never lie in worm dirt and other spring thoughts
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C O L L E G E N E W S
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PROVOST VISITS COLLEGE, COMMENTS ON DEAN SEARCH
Provost Rollin Richmond visited the college on Thursday, spending time with faculty, staff and students in the departments of agronomy and biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology, and in the Brenton Center and Center for Crops Utilization Research. In an open forum, Rollin said he would work with a small recruitment team to bring in new candidates for the dean position. Members of the group are Diane Birt, food science and human nutrition; Susan Lamont, animal science; Harley Moon, veterinary medicine; Peter Rabideau, dean of liberal arts and sciences; Pat Schnable, agronomy; Connie Greig, an Estherville farmer; and Don Latham of Latham Seed Company, Alexander. Rollin said he welcomes ideas and comments on the process.
PAUL NAMED ASSOCIATE VICE PROVOST FOR RESEARCH
On Jan. 1, Prem Paul, associate dean of research and graduate studies in the College of Veterinary Medicine, was appointed associate vice provost for research. The appointment will continue through June 30, 2002. Paul will continue his positions as associate dean and as an assistant director of the Experiment Station until a replacement is identified.
RFPs UNDER DEVELOPMENT FOR NEW USDA FUNDS
The USDA has a new $120 million grant program called the Initiative on Future Agricultural and Food Systems. These one-time funds are expected to support projects that reflect the USDA’s interest in multistate, multidisciplinary and multifunction projects. Writing teams are working on 17 RFPs under six main topic headings. The main topics are agricultural genomics; biotechnology; food safety and the role of nutrition in health; new uses for agricultural products; natural resources, pest management and precision agriculture; and farm efficiency and profitability. Once RFPs are issued, ISU researchers should be prepared for a fast-track process for development and selection of proposals.
SUPPORT AVAILABLE FOR FACULTY RESEARCH EXCHANGES
The Experiment Station offers support for faculty research exchange visits with faculty at 1890, 1994 and Hispanic institutions. The deadline for the current round of funding, which will support visits through mid-June, is Feb. 29. The program supports up to four visits each semester. For more information: Mary de Baca, 4-8574 or mmdb@iastate.edu.
RECENT EXAMPLES OF FACULTY RESEARCH EXCHANGES
Two recent examples of Experiment Station-supported faculty exchanges: Ron Jones, area extension director in Mason City, visited Prairie View A&M, and on Jan. 14, A&M faculty member Amparo Isaza-Navarrete conducted diversity training at ISU for extension personnel working with Latino populations in Iowa. This spring M.A. Tabatabai, agronomy, and K. Kpomblekou-A of Tuskegee University will hold exchanges to develop a research proposal to study the effect on soils of trace elements found in broiler-industry manure.
>FLORA NAMED TO USDA GROUP REVIEWING U.S. AG STRUCTURE
Cornelia Flora, director of the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development, has been named to a committee to review the impact of publicly funded research on the structure of U.S. agriculture. The USDA's Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources convened the multidisciplinary committee to assess the role of public sector research on changes in farm size and numbers, with emphasis on the evolution of large-scale operations. The committee will make recommendations for future research and extension policies and access to results from research on new farm production practices and technologies.
EVENT TO MARK 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF SELF-HELP
International Agriculture Programs and Phi Beta Delta are sponsoring a celebration for the 40th anniversary of Self-Help International, noon to 2:30 p.m., Feb. 22, Campanile Room, Memorial Union. Based in Waverly, Self-Help is a nonprofit organization that promotes technical training, agricultural self-reliance and sustainable technology in developing countries. In a continuing partnership with Self-Help, ISU’s Agriculture Study Abroad Office is developing a summer internship program in Ghana. Faculty and staff are invited to the Feb. 22 event to learn more about Self-Help’s programs. The luncheon is free, but please RSVP by Feb. 15 to Shelley Taylor, 4-5393 or sztaylor@iastate.edu.
ESSAY-WRITING THE TOPIC OF NEXT AGCOMM WORKSHOP JAN. 25
"Helping Students Write Effective Responses to Essay Exams" is the topic of the next AgComm workshop on Tuesday, Jan. 25, noon to 1:15 p.m., Room 8 Brenton Center, Curtiss Hall. A light lunch will be served. RSVP to Norma Hensley, 4-6614 or nhensley@iastate.edu.
LIVESTOCK TEAM TAKES TOP HONORS AT NATIONAL WESTERN
Last week ISU’s Livestock Judging Team won two contests held at the National Western Stock Show in Denver. The team placed first in the collegiate livestock judging contest (judging individual animals) and in the collegiate carload contest (judging groups of cattle). Twenty-eight university teams participated. ISU’s team is coached by animal science graduate student Eric Kinsley and agricultural studies undergraduate Ben Bobell.
BIOLOGICAL LIMITS TO PRODUCTION? NEXT ANIMAL AG TOPIC
At the next meeting of the Think Tank on Animal Agriculture, Susan Lamont, animal science, will address the question, "Are there biological limits to animal production?" The meeting will be held Jan. 31 in the Campanile Room, Memorial Union. A social hour begins at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. Register by e-mail: Don Beitz, dcbeitz@iastate.edu, or phone Jane Linn, 4-2063, before noon, Jan. 28. Meal cost is $11, payable at the door.
THREE OPEN FORUMS REMAIN FOR LEOPOLD CENTER CANDIDATES
Three open forums are coming up for the remaining Leopold Center director candidates. One candidate, Miguel Altieri of the University of California, Berkeley, has withdrawn. Open forums are: Jan. 25, Charles Francis, University of Nebraska; Feb. 1, Fred Kirschenmann, Farm Verified Organic, Inc.; and Feb. 10, Jean Steiner, USDA-ARS Natural Resource Conservation Center.
DEMO JAN. 25 OF ‘MYBYTES.COM’ FACULTY-STUDENT SITE
Jeff VanWagner of YouthStream Media Networks, Cambridge, Mass., will give a demonstration of "mybytes.com" on Tuesday, Jan. 25 at 11 a.m., 13 Brenton Center, Curtiss Hall. Available for free on the Web, mybytes.com offers faculty and students several educational resources. The site also lists searchable academic research directories, and has financial aid information and advice for students. For more information: Gaylan Scofield, 4-0045 or ggs@iastate.edu.
DEADLINES & REMINDERS
Jan. 25: Charles Francis, Leopold candidate open forum, 9 Brenton Center, 3 p.m.
Jan. 25: AgComm workshop: Helping Students Write Effective Responses to Essay Exams, 8 Brenton Center, noon
Feb. 1: Miller Faculty Fellowship proposals due, 138 Curtiss
Feb. 1: Fred Kirschenmann, Leopold Center candidate open forum, 9 Brenton Center, 3 p.m.
Feb. 10: Jean Steiner, Leopold Center candidate open forum, 9 Brenton Center, 3 p.m.
Feb. 24: GMO conference, Scheman
March 1: Proposal deadline, ISU computer-based instruction projects, 138 Curtiss
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C O M M U N I C A T I O N S K I O S K
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NEW IDEAS FOR SEARCHING THE BILLION-PAGE WEB
Reports of the Web reaching a billion pages means new challenges for online searches. ZDNet offers suggestions on searching the multitude of sites. A directory structure helps sort information at Yahoo (www.yahoo.com), the Internet’s most-used search site. About.com (www.about.com) has areas based on subject-matter specialists. LookSmart (www.looksmart.com) uses "Webrarians" to sort more than 100,000 categories. Blink (www.blink.com) is one of several online bookmark services that lets you access a database of favorite bookmarks. (See the ZDNet article on searches)
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I N F O G R A Z I N G
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CONFERENCE: GMO ISSUES IN THE SEED INDUSTRY
"GMO/Non-GMO Seeds: Policy, Science and Supply" is the theme of the 22nd annual Seed Technology Conference on Feb. 15. Keynote speaker will be Wayne Beck, president, American Seed Trade Association. Representatives from the International Seed Trade Federation, the World Bank, the USDA and Iowa farmers also will speak.
SUMMIT: EDUCATION’S ROLE IN IOWA AGRICULTURE
"The Summit on the Future of Agricultural Education" on Feb. 24 will bring together educators, agribusiness leaders and government officials to discuss education’s role in the future of agriculture. The meeting, at the State Historical Building in Des Moines, will center on implementing the "Grand Plan for Agricultural Education in Iowa," a report issued last year by the Governor's Council on Agricultural Education. Robert Martin, head of the agricultural education and studies department, chairs the council.
FORUM: E-COMMERCE AND RURAL AMERICA
How will doing business on the Internet affect agriculture and rural America? That question and others will be addressed at "E-commerce: The ‘Net’ Effect on Agribusiness," CARD’s 2000 Agricultural Forum. The Feb. 28 conference will examine how online business transactions are changing relationships among agricultural suppliers, processors, manufacturers, marketers, retailers and consumers, and how e-commerce may affect rural America.
CONFERENCE: WAKE-UP CALL ON WATER QUALITY
"Agriculture and the Environment: A Wake-Up Call for Iowans" is the theme for the annual water quality conference at ISU, March 7-8. The meeting will cover federal and state policies that may affect land management in agricultural watersheds. Speakers include Charles Fox, Environmental Protection Agency, and Paul Johnson, Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
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I N T E R N A L V O I C E S
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EATING INSECTS -- IT’S A NATURAL
"It’s kind of an adventure, trying new things -- and eating insects is just a natural part of that." Carol Fassbinder, a zoology and computer science student, in a segment featuring the ISU Entomology Club on "Ripley’s Believe It or Not," which aired this week on TBS. The "Ripley’s" crew was on campus in November taping the students preparing and eating insect treats. The show will air again at 8 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 22.
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E X T E R N A L V O I C E S
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JOHN CHRYSTAL ON ISU’S ROLE IN WORLD ECONOMY
"I intend to put the rest of my productive life into seeing how Iowa can partake in a world economy. Agriculture is the most important industry in the world today. And I believe Iowa State is the engine that will drive Iowa for the rest of my lifetime." John Chrystal, from a story in the College of Agriculture’s 1990 Annual Report. Chrystal, the Coon Rapids banker, farm leader and international affairs expert, was a visiting professor in the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development in the early ’90s, helping ISU develop relationships with Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Chrystal, 74, died on Wednesday.
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M A R G I N A L I A
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NEVER LIE IN WORM DIRT AND OTHER SPRING THOUGHTS
It’s bitterly cold. Time to think gardening. In the Reiman Gardens offices, there’s one of those collections of magnetic words that you rearrange to make poems or statements. The following magnetic lines were recently spotted there:
Never Lie in Worm Dirt
Fertilizer Is Gardening
My Nut Tree Always Hate Spring
Aphids Pick Farmer’s Flowers
Water Tomatoes Till Dark
So Grow Show Dahlias
Many Hope Winter Will Turn Over Dying Herbs
Me Hope Compost Won’t Smell
I’m Sure By Pruning He Thought I Would Kill Her Legendary Kumquat Beetle
Caution No Lily Tools
To Love An Arboretum Is To Photosynthesis
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