CALS Online and Dean’s Message
July 13, 2026
Dean’s Message
Hello CALS – July certainly made a grand entrance, arriving with fireworks-filled celebrations of our nation’s founding, extreme heat warnings and torrential rains… Over in Curtiss Hall, we are having conversations with department chairs about their plans and goals, and reaching out to our various constituencies…
Top Stories
Senior Nutrition Workforce Faces Rising Need for Training
A new study co-authored by Sarah Francis, food science and human nutrition, points to a growing strain on the workforce responsible for feeding seniors – and a rising need for training. Francis and her research team recently helped develop and evaluate the Instructional Campus on Aging Nutrition – or ican! – a free online training program created with the National Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging, to strengthen the skills of senior nutrition professionals.
Research
Honeyberries Gain Interest as Nutritious, Resilient Fruit for Iowa
Graduate student Brooke Dietsch, plant pathology, entomology and microbiology, and others have been studying honeyberries since 2022 to assess the plant’s suitability for Iowa. The fruit, reported to have significant health benefits, is shaping up as a good Iowa alternative to blueberries, better suited to Iowa soils and weather conditions. The public can learn more about honeyberries and other fruit and vegetable crops at a field day, July 29, from 2-5 p.m., at the Horticulture Research Station. Registration is requested by July 24.
Teaching and Students
AI Tools Help Make Classes More Accessible, Innovative for Students
Karl Kerns, animal science, is leading innovative efforts to move the classroom experience forward. In the summer 2026 issue of the Iowa Stater, he discusses creating a custom AI tutor that leverages class teaching materials to help students review lessons, receive custom study sessions, and quiz themselves on course content.
CALS Students Enjoy Hands-On Aspect of AST and IT Programs
Agricultural systems technology and industrial technology are two CALS majors in the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering. The three students below answer a few questions about the programs and how they enjoy the hands-on experience:
Alum Starts One-of-a-Kind Support System for Veterinary Students
Sydney Paris (’22 animal science, microbiology) started the First-Generation Low-Income Veterinary Student Association at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, where she just began her fourth year. Believed to be the first organization of its kind, FiGLI VSA serves not just to bring together underrepresented veterinary students at Cornell, but also to build connections with practicing veterinarians who were once in their shoes.
First-Generation Student Focuses on Opportunity
As the first in her immediate and extended family to attend a university, Carly Lawler (’26 agricultural systems technology, international agriculture) learned to navigate the new environment and immediately began seizing experiences. “Opportunity is the word to describe my experience at Iowa State,” she said in an article for the summer 2026 issue of the Iowa Stater.
Alumni-owned Business Helps Bring Sustainable Seafood to the Midwest
Midland Co., a land-based seafood technology company, was co-founded by Jackson Kimle (’16 agricultural business) and Matt Ellis (’19 horticulture) in 2018. Collaborating with farmers, the company raises “sustainable, ethical and delicious” shrimp. With patented algae technology and strong consumer demand, Midland Co. is reshaping what’s possible for Midwest agriculture.
Iowa State Graduate Blends Agriculture and Coffee Expertise at Iowa Roastery
Third-generation Cyclone Danny Rittgers (’16 agricultural business, international agriculture) and his wife, Gigi, are connecting Iowa consumers with ethically sourced coffee from Peru. Their story about co-founding Curious Joe Coffee is in the summer 2026 issue of the Iowa Stater.
Extension and Outreach
MGWII Compiles Resources for Grape Growers and Winemakers
To support growers and winemakers throughout the season, the Midwest Grape and Wine Industry Institute has compiled a collection of ISU Extension and Outreach fact sheets, MGWII articles and trusted external resources covering topics from grape maturity and harvest preparation to sanitation and winemaking practices.
On-Farm Forestry Field Guide for Iowa Published
ISU Extension and Outreach has published the On-Farm Forestry Field Guide for Iowa, available at no cost. The guide covers tree-centric topics and provides detailed advice on approaches to forest management.
Steil Offers Advice on Helping Gardens Survive Summer Heat
Understanding how heat affects plant growth and taking a few practical steps can help maintain a healthy landscape during stressful hot summer conditions, according to Aaron Steil, consumer horticulture extension specialist at Iowa State.
Around the College
Zhu Named Interim Chair of Statistics
Zhengyuan Zhu, professor of statistics, Kingland Fellow in Data Analytics and director of the Center for Survey Statistics and Methodology, has been named interim chair of the Department of Statistics, effective July 1. The department is co-administered by CALS and LAS.
CALS Transitions Uganda Program to U.S. Virgin Islands
Following the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and emerging cases in neighboring Uganda, the International Risk Management Office and the CALS Study Abroad Office made the difficult decision to cancel the summer service-learning program in Uganda out of an abundance of caution. CALS provided an alternative service-learning experience through the Fork in the Road campus in the U.S. Virgin Islands, coordinated by Julie Blanchong, natural resource ecology and management, and Jodi Cornell, Study Abroad director. Twelve students spent June 16-26 in the USVI partnering with Gifft Hill School, Friends of Virgin Islands National Park and the Island Green Living Association.
Video: Sneak Peek at 2026 STORIES Magazine
What was once a draft tucked in a "Secret Project" folder on Maddle Henrickson's computer is now a colorful and fun book that introduces children to the fascinating world of plant health. Learn more about the book in STORIES magazine, coming August 2026.
Save The Date – CALS Career Day Oct. 13
CALS faculty and staff are invited to the fall 2026 CALS Career Day on Oct. 13, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lied Athletic Recreation Center. Connect and network with more than 250 employers that hire student and alumni talent. Employers interested in attending can register in CyHire or visit the Career Day website for more information. For questions, contact Katy Griner at kgriner@iastate.edu.
In Memoriam: Phillip Baumel
C. Phillip Baumel, Emeritus Professor in Economics and Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture and Life Sciences, died on July 8 in Ames. He was 97. Baumel joined the Iowa State faculty in 1963, where he spent four decades building a renowned career in agricultural economics. His research on rural transportation and waterway infrastructure influenced policy across the Midwest and beyond. Visitation is Saturday, July 18, at 10 a.m., followed by a Requiem Mass at 11 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Burial will be at the Iowa State Cemetery.
Calendar
July 15: Art Walk in Curtiss Hall
University Museums is holding an art walk in Curtiss Hall on Wednesday, July 15, from 3:10-4 p.m., exploring everything from the terrazzo floor to the tributes to notable alumnus, George Washington Carver.
July 17: Hort Station Customer Appreciation Day
The Horticulture Research Station is hosting a Customer Appreciation Day on Friday, July 17, from 4-6 p.m. This family-friendly event includes a guided tour of the Horticulture Station and the opportunity to meet the staff and students who grow, harvest and sell the produce.
July 29: Fruit and Vegetable Field Day
The horticulture team with ISU Extension and Outreach will hold the 2026 Fruit and Vegetable Field Day on July 29 from 2-5 p.m. at the Horticulture Research Station. Participation is available at no cost, but organizers ask that you register online before July 24 to ensure an accurate food count.
July 30: Conservation on Tap
Iowa Learning Farms will host a “Conservation On Tap” event with the Iowa State Brew Lab on July 30 from 5:30-7 p.m. in 1951 Food Sciences Building. The event, which is available at no cost, includes complimentary food and samples of beverages from the ISU Brew Lab for attendees 21 or older with an RSVP. Reply by July 27 to ilf@iastate.edu or 294-5429.
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
We Can ‘Bring’ It if You Can ‘Take’ It
While bring often implies movement toward the speaker, and take often implies movement away from the speaker, either word is used when it's unclear or unimportant what the direction of the motion is: "Bring the Merriam-Webster dictionary with you to the pub" and "Take the Merriam-Webster dictionary with you to the pub" are both perfectly acceptable. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
Infograzing
University Selects New Museum Director
David Schmitz has been selected as the next Warren and Beverly Madden Endowed Director and Chief Curator of University Museums at Iowa State University. He begins today, Monday, July 13. Schmitz succeeds Lynette Pohlman, who retired in June after 55 years of leadership.
Baby Gnome Joins Elwood at Reiman Gardens
Reiman Gardens has unveiled a new addition to its gnome family: a 4-foot concrete Baby Gnome. It will join Elwood for this year’s "Big and Small" theme. Reiman Gardens is hosting a "Gname the Gnome Contest." Submissions will be accepted through an online form or a submission box near the front desk through July 31.
RMF and AAAS Invite Students to Submit Poster Presentations
The Charles Valentine Riley Memorial Foundation, in partnership with the American Association for the Advancement of Science, is holding its second poster competition for students to present cutting-edge research in agriculture, natural resources, food science and related fields. The competition will be held in conjunction with the Riley Memorial Lecture at AAAS in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 19. Sixteen posters will be selected. The deadline to upload submissions is Aug. 24.
Marginalia
A Scoop of History for National Ice Cream Month
During World War II, ice cream wasn’t just a dessert – it was a symbol of hope and normalcy for U.S. Navy sailors stationed far from home. In the 1940s, the Navy converted a decommissioned concrete barge into a refrigeration ship capable of producing and storing thousands of gallons of ice cream at a time. An article on the Intrepid Museum website states that this barge would supply smaller ships with the dessert, delivering gallons of morale-boosting goodness throughout the Pacific.
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.