CALS Online and Dean’s Message
January 26, 2026
Dean’s Message
Hello CALS – I hope you had a good weekend and kept sufficiently warm! Thank you for the effort to adjust your Friday classes… This week, while you endure the remnants of the cold, I’ll be in Florida visiting with alums and donors to continue building college relationships and support…
Top Stories
Advancing Fluid Power Education and Innovation at Iowa State
Fluid power has long been a cornerstone of the agricultural and biosystems engineering department, equipping students with hydraulic and mechanical skills. Saxon Ryan (pictured above left) teaches the fluid power course for students majoring in industrial technology and agricultural systems technology, giving them a foundation in hydraulics and fluid power systems. For those interested in going deeper, Ryan also advises the fluid power club, where students test their skills and network with fluid power industry professionals.
Research
Researcher Spotlight: Katherine Dentzman
Katherine Dentzman, sociology and criminal justice and research affiliate with the Iowa Soybean Research Center, studies the human side of sustainable agricultural systems by investigating how farmers’ demographics and social and cultural factors influence their perspectives on crop management practices. Her work has aided in better understanding the human dimension of farming from herbicide resistance issues to the pathways and barriers of success in agriculture faced by women farmers.
Teaching and Students
FAO Video Features Iowa State Study on Camelid-Based Systems
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations recently released a video based on a study by Iowa State students in the Dean's Global Agriculture and Food Leadership Program. In alignment with the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026, the video showcases why camel herders are key actors in climate adaptation and sustainable rangeland management.
Celebrate Student Scholars During CALS Research Day
Celebrate the research of undergraduate students, graduate students and postdoctoral scholars during CALS Research Day on Feb. 3 from 1-5 p.m. in the Student Innovation Center. The event will feature poster presentations, showcase finalists from the 10th annual Three Minute Thesis competition, and conclude with a social hour and awards ceremony.
NREM Career Fair Scheduled for Feb. 4
The Wildlife Society, American Fisheries Society and Forestry Club are hosting a natural resource ecology and management career fair on Feb. 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Science Hall II lobby. Students can speak with companies, graduate students and professors about summer job opportunities.
Student Club Taking Fudge Orders for Valentine's Day
The Food Science Club is making and selling 250 pounds of fudge to celebrate Valentine's Day. Pre-orders from the university community are accepted online through Friday, Jan. 30, or until sold out. The club offers six flavors in half-pound containers:
- chocolate
- peanut butter
- cookies 'n cream
- Cardinal and Gold
- chocolate mint
- orange cream
The price is $7 for one container, and $6 each for two or more containers. Orders can be picked up Feb. 11-12, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. outside of 206 MacKay. Funds raised will be used to cover regular club expenses and industry trips.
Extension and Outreach
Webinar Showcases Innovative Practices for Organic Gardening
A webinar on “Organic Gardening: Tips for Success” is Wednesday, Jan. 28, from 1-2 p.m. Kathleen Delate, horticulture and extension organic specialist, will share best methods for organic fertilization, pest management and postharvest strategies.
Workshop is Preparation for Drone Pilot Certification
Iowa State's Digital Ag Innovation Lab, in partnership with Terraplex Ag, will host a two-day drone workshop Feb. 24-25. The workshop is designed to prepare participants for the Federal Aviation Administration Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification exam. Enrollment is limited to a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 30 participants.
ISU Extension and Outreach Releases 2025 Impact Report
ISU Extension and Outreach’s 2025 Impact Report is now available online. “Our programs in Agriculture and Natural Resources, Community and Economic Development, Health and Human Sciences, and 4-H Youth Development have prompted more than $48 million in statewide economic activity through securing contracts, donations, fees and grants, and by mobilizing volunteers,” said Jason Henderson, vice president for extension and outreach. “We’ve also introduced new initiatives focused on entrepreneurial and innovative agriculture and food systems.”
Around the College
Wanted: Story Ideas
Plans for STORIES magazine 2026 are underway, and we need your story ideas that highlight innovation and entrepreneurship in the agriculture and life sciences fields. Whether it’s someone who launched a startup, invented a new product or drove positive change through innovative thinking, we want to showcase how CALS students, faculty, staff and alums are shaping the future. Submit story ideas to wjsager@iastate.edu by Friday, Jan. 30.
Seed Science Center Celebrates GWC Day with Free Popcorn
Faculty, staff and students are invited to enjoy a free bag of popcorn from the Seed Science Center in celebration of George Washington Carver Day in Iowa on Feb. 2, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Visitors are also invited to take a photo with Carver’s life-size statue located just outside the building.
Calendar
Jan. 26: RSVP for George Washington Carver Day
Iowa State will celebrate the annual George Washington Carver Day of Recognition on Feb. 2 from 5-7:30 p.m. in the Durham Great Hall, Memorial Union. Amanda Williams, visual artist and architect, will present how Carver invented and patented a way to create a famous blue pigment from clay and how she used his process and pigment for a renewal project in New Orleans and other art experiments. RSVP by today, Monday, Jan. 26.
Feb. 5: Arthur Memorial Seminar
The I.W. Arthur Memorial Seminar is Feb. 5 at 6 p.m. in the Memorial Union Sun Room. A panel consisting of Katharine Abraham, Benjamin Malin and Genevieve Signoret – three economic experts with ties to Iowa State – will discuss the state of the U.S. economy.
Feb. 9: CALS Chat with the Dean
Dean Robison will host a CALS Chat on Feb. 9, from 2-3 p.m. in 248 Bessey Hall. The informal, drop-in event will be an opportunity for casual conversation.
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
Merriam-Webster Announces New Edition of Collegiate Dictionary
For the first time in more than 20 years, and only the 12th time ever, Merriam-Webster has published a new edition of its Collegiate Dictionary. Updated and redesigned for students, professionals and word lovers, the 12th edition features more than 5,000 new words, 1,000 new phrases and idioms, enhanced entries for the top lookups, and more than 20,000 additional usage examples. The new Collegiate also introduces curated word lists, expanded usage guidance and word histories (e.g., calculate comes from the Latin for “pebble,” because Romans used little stones for addition and subtraction).
Infograzing
'Faces of Iowa State' Portraits Added to Morrill Hall
Twenty-four new portraits from the 2025 “Faces of Iowa State” series now hang in Morrill Hall's first floor, across from the entrance to the Christian Petersen Art Museum. Rose Frantzen painted this latest group of faculty, administrators, alumni and campus leaders, continuing the portrait tradition University Museums revived in 2016 that honors individuals who have shaped Iowa State. Those with ties to CALS include faculty member Lisa Schulte Moore and the late alum Bill Northey.
Study Abroad Fair Scheduled for Jan. 29
The spring 2026 Study Abroad Fair is Thursday, Jan. 29, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union Great Hall. In addition to learning about upcoming programs being offered and financial assistance, there will also be staff on hand to process U.S. passport applications.
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.