Ag and Life Sciences Online
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Newsletter
Iowa State University
August 5, 2013 No. 761
College News
ISU Coordinates Stem Grant to Certify Teachers in Ag Ed
This summer nearly 80 Iowa agriculture teachers will be certified to help students advance in math and science with the leadership of Michael Retallick, agricultural education and studies. During the summer, Retallick works with teachers hired to train agriculture educators on how to implement new curriculum. More
Experienced Firefighters More Analytical Under Stress
Experienced firefighters took a more analytical approach than their less experienced colleagues when making making decisions under stress, according to research conducted by Nir Keren, agricultural and biosystems engineering, and Warren Franke, kinesiology. Dozens of virtual reality trials were conducted in which real firefighters with varying levels of experiences responded to fire simulations. More
CALS Plant Disease and Fungi Experts to Present at Joint Meeting
Plant pathologists and mycologists from around the world will gather in Austin, Texas, Aug. 10-14 for the joint meeting of The American Phytopathological Society and the Mycological Society of America. Presenting from ISU’s department of plant pathology and microbiology are: Gary Munkvold, Forrest Nutter, Alison Robertson, Erika Saalau-Rojas and Greg Tylka.
Bonning Named ESA Fellow
Bryony Bonning, entomology, is one of 10 named 2013 Fellows of the Entomology Society of America. Founded in 1889, The Entomological Society of America is the largest organization in the world serving the professional and scientific needs of entomologists, with 6,500 members.
What's Happening at the ISU Research Farms?
Here’s a recent update on activities near Ames and around the state on the ISU Research and Demonstration Farms:
- On the evening of July 22, a severe thunderstorm passed through the Ames/Boone area. An ISU hoop barn and Farm Progress Show pole barn were destroyed at the FPS site east of Boone. The Agricultural Engineering and Agronomy Research Farms and the BioCentury Research Farm had quarter-sized hail and wind damage to crops. The corn breeders reported tangled corn on the ground just as it was ready to begin pollination. Long-time corn breeder, Arnel Hallauer, states it was the worst he had seen in 54 years.
- Around 250 Nationwide Insurance employees toured ISU farms in the Ames area the week of July 22 as part of an agricultural update.
- Harvest of the Muscatine melons has begun for the 2013 season.
- A new water quality research project will begin an installation of 32 plots drained by a separate tile line into sumps. Tile water quantity will be measured and also sampled for quality. Matt Helmers, agricultural and biosystems engineering, is the primary investigator.
- New farm signs have been installed at most ISU farms (outlying and Ames area).
- A surplus machinery and equipment auction for all ISU farms is being planned for late November. Contact Tim Goode, trgoode@iastate.edu, with consignments.
Brazil Trip Strengthens ISU, UFV Partnership
In May, six faculty and staff from the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering traveled to Brazil to renew and strengthen a partnership with the Federal University of Viscosa. For years, the relationship has produced research collaborations, student exchanges, and has enriched the educational and cultural experiences of students from Iowa and Brazil.
Deadlines and Reminders
Sept. 10: CALS Convocation, 4:10 p.m., Harl Commons in Curtiss Hall
Funding Opportunities
Registration Open for Fall Grant Writing Workshop
The Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development will host an all-day grant-writing workshop on Oct. 3, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., in the Memorial Union Sunroom. The workshop will be presented by John Robertson. Faculty, staff, post-doctoral fellows and senior graduate students are welcome to attend. There is no fee for participating in the workshop, although participants are required to purchase a workbook.
NIH Program Official to Present Tips on Grant Applications
The College of Veterinary Medicine is hosting Manuel Moro, a program official at the National Institutes of Health, Division of Comparative Medicine, for the presentation, “Tips for a successful grant application to the NIH.” Moro will discuss different funding programs, present tips for successful grant applications and answer questions. The presentation will be held Aug. 9, 9-10 a.m. in 2226 Vet Med. Faculty from all colleges are invited to attend.
Updated Grants.gov Website and New Training Video
The Grants.gov system, which houses information on more than 1,000 grant programs from 26 federal grant-making agencies, has released an updated website. Features of the site include drop-down menus for easier navigation, the ability to view newly announced funding opportunities on the homepage, and a new Grants.gov applicant training video.
Cayuse 424 August Training Webinars
August training opportunities for Cayuse 424 include two 30-minute training webinars. Getting Started with Cayuse 424 will be held Aug. 13 at 11:30 a.m. and Aug. 20 at 3 p.m. Detailed Budgeting in Cayuse 424 will be held Aug. 14 at 11:30 a.m. and Aug. 21 at 3 p.m.
Foreign Assistance Dashboard Shows U.S. Global Development Expenditures
The Foreign Assistance Dashboard eventually will make all U.S. government foreign assistance investments available in a standard and accessible format. Currently, the Dashboard contains foreign assistance budget planning, obligation, spent and transaction data for USAID, and some data categories for the Millennium Challenge Corporation and Departments of Defense, Treasury and State.
Funding Information, Opportunities and Deadline Reminders
Dates listed are application deadlines. Contact: Roxanne Clemens
Additional information is posted at CALS Funding Resources
Sept. 5 (letter of intent): NIH Gut Microbiota-Derived Factors in the Integrated Physiology and Pathophysiology of Diseases within NIDDK's Mission (R01).
Sept. 16: EPA Training and Technical Assistance to Improve Water Quality and Enable Small Public Water Systems to Provide Safe Drinking Water; 10 percent cost share, $1 million to $8.6 million per award.
Oct. 2: NIH Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Awards (K12); limited submission, one application per institution.
Oct. 4 (letter of intent): NIH Collaborative Interdisciplinary Team Science in NIDDK Research Areas (R24).
Oct. 5: NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01).
Oct. 16: NIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03).
Dec. 9: NSF Data-Intensive Research to Improve Teaching and Learning – An Ideas Lab to Foster Transformative Approaches to Learning and Teaching.
Communications Kiosk
AAEA Develops Ethics Curriculum
The American Agricultural Editors’ Association has developed a free, online curriculum to teach ethics to college students. There are seven modules: Introduction to Ethics, Codes of Ethics, Agricultural Journalism, Agricultural Advertising, Agricultural Public Relations, Agricultural Photography and Images, and The Law. Each chapter has lecture slides, printable slides, a learning activity, case studies that are relevant to the subject, and a video that enhances the chapter.
Infograzing
Step Inside an Interactive Art Gallery at ISU Fair Exhibit
Visitors to ISU’s exhibit at the Iowa State Fair (Aug. 8-18) will be ushered inside an art gallery where colorful content displayed on 22 iPads and iPad minis and four large video screens will demonstrate how Iowa State is “Framing the Future of Iowa.” More
Iowa Food & Family Project Fair Exhibit to Feature LEGOs
An Iowa Food & Family Project exhibit will represent connections between rural and urban Iowans about farming and food at the Iowa State Fair, Aug. 8-18, located in the south atrium of the Varied Industries Building. It will show Iowa’s landscape, including rolling farm fields interspersed with farms and towns surrounded by food grown, made and sold in Iowa. The exhibit will be made completely of LEGO pieces.
FDA Issues Standards for Gluten-Free Labeling
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday issued a standard for grocery manufacturers who label food products as gluten-free, bringing uniformity to supermarket items and certainty to more than 3 million Americans who have celiac disease. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and other grains.
Marginalia
Harl Commons is Anything But Common
Harl Commons, the new student-centered space in Curtiss Hall located beneath the auditorium, is heading toward completion. In addition to The Global Café and its adjacent seating, Harl Commons will feature two locations for student meetings, a public computer bank, lounge seating, study tables, men’s and women’s restrooms and, on the mezzanine level, staff offices for the Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative. The new space is scheduled to be ready for students by the first day of class. More
Ag and Life Sciences Online
Editor
Julie Stewart
jstewart@iastate.edu, (515) 294-5616
https://www.cals.iastate.edu/cals-online
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