Ag and Life Sciences Online
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Newsletter
Iowa State University
Dec. 8, 2014 No. 828
College News
Dean Wintersteen Presents New National Report on Making Ag Research a Higher Priority
Last Friday, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., Dean Wintersteen presented a new report on why investing in agricultural research should be a high national priority. The report, published by the Charles Valentine Riley Memorial Foundation, encourages public and private organizations to work together toward a common goal at a time when global challenges require more investment in agricultural research. The “Pursuing a Unifying Message: Elevating Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research as a National Priority” report was developed by the Riley Memorial Foundation, Iowa State University and several other organizations. Go to a set of links on the Riley Memorial Foundation homepage to see an archived webcast of Friday’s presentation and program, download a copy of the report and view an infographic of the issue. The webcast page also has a link to a PDF of Dean Wintersteen’s presentation.
CALS Student Council Officers Elected for 2015
CALS Student Council officers for 2015 were elected Dec. 3. President is Jennifer Elliott, junior in agricultural education with a communications option; vice president is Drew Mogler, junior in agricultural business; secretary is Katie Klaes, junior in agricultural business; and treasurer is Michael Knight, junior in agricultural education with a communications option.
ISU Research Featured in Special Climate Issue of Journal
Climate change and agriculture is the focus of the latest Journal of Soil and Water Conservation with most of the papers in the issue authored all or in-part by researchers and graduate students participating in the USDA-funded Climate and Corn-based Cropping Systems Coordinated Agricultural Project, commonly known as the Sustainable Corn Project, led by ISU. More
Hipple Named Director of CSRL
Patricia Hipple, national program leader with USDA, has been named the new director of the Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods. She has worked at the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, where she served since 2002 as the national program leader for sustainable farm enterprises. Hipple starts her new duties on Dec. 8. More
ISU to Lead New Center for Bioplastics and Biocomposites
The Iowa Board of Regents approved the National Science Foundation Industry & University Cooperative Research Center for Bioplastics and Biocomposites on Dec. 3. The center’s research will develop knowledge about the production of an array of high-value products, including plastics, coatings, adhesives and composites, from agricultural and forestry feedstocks. The center will be led by ISU and funded through industry and NSF support. David Grewell, agricultural and biosystems engineering, is the center’s director. More. Also, a recent news release on Grewell’s research on bioplastic adhesives.
Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust Creates Endowment at ISU
The Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust of Muscatine, Iowa, has committed $1.5 million to ISU to create a research discovery endowment for instrumentation in the Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology. The endowment will maintain state-of-the-art equipment keeping the department at the forefront of discovery in biomolecular structure and function. More
USDA Funds Soybean Photosynthesis Research
A research project to study photosynthesis in soybeans, headed by Martin Spalding, genetics, development and cell biology, received funding from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture last week. Nearly $500,000 was provided through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program for the project Manipulating Rubisco Activase to Improve Soybean Productivity. The research intends to use genome editing technology to manipulate a soybean protein to enhance photosynthesis and crop productivity in variable light environments.
Career Services Releases Summer Internship Survey
CALS Career Services has released results of its 2014 summer internship survey, with more than 1,000 student responses.
Forestry Club Selling Christmas Trees
The Forestry Club is holding their annual Christmas tree fundraiser at the Reiman Gardens Parking Lot. Sales continue Friday, Dec. 12, 3 to 6 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 13, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 14, 12 to 6 p.m. The club will have Fraser fir, balsam fir, and white and Scotch pine, as well as balsam fir wreaths. Proceeds go towards club activities and student development.
ISU's Iowa Land Value News Conference Set for Dec. 18
A news conference will be held on Dec. 18 at 10 a.m. in Room 004 Scheman Building announcing the results of the 2014 Iowa Land Value Survey conducted by the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development at ISU. More
Biorenewables Poster Symposium Dec. 18 in Sukup Atrium
The Biorenewables Poster Symposium will be held Dec. 18 at 2:15 to 4:15 p.m. in the Sukup Atrium of the Biorenewables Complex. The symposium will feature student posters from: “Leading the Bioeconomy” fellowship recipients, TSM 325 Biorenewable Systems class and BRT Graduate Student Research Seminar BRT506C class. Light refreshments will be available.
Online Tool Helps Farmers With Nitrogen Application Decisions
A federally-funded climate initiative that includes ISU has launched a new online decision support tool to help farmers and farm advisers manage the application of in-field nitrogen for maximizing crop yields and minimizing environmental damage. Chad Hart, economics, is the local project coordinator for the Corn Split N tool. More
Economists Weigh Effectiveness of Tax on Soda
Several states and cities have and continue to propose a tax on soft drinks in an effort to curb obesity. But ISU researchers question whether it will have the desired effect. John Beghin and Helen Jensen, economics, say it depends on how the tax changes consumer behavior. Ruth Litchfield, food science and human nutrition, is unsure if a warning label would be deterrent, which has also been proposed. More
Registration Open for 2015 Entrepreneurial Conference
Registration is open for the 2015 Entrepreneurship Agribusiness Executive Conference, hosted by ISU’s Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative. The conference is designed for decision makers in agribusiness. The purpose is to promote discussions and insight on issues related to agricultural business development, strategic innovation and leadership. More
AST Senior to Receive Outstanding Student Award
Gabriel Domingues, senior in agricultural systems technology, will receive the Multicultural Liaison Officer Outstanding Student Award for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the MSA Graduation Celebration and Recognition Ceremony on Sunday, Dec. 14, at 3:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union Campanile Room. The award recognizes Domingues’ outstanding leadership in the college and across campus.
Meat Judging Team Competes in Texas and Nebraska
Last month the Meat Judging Team competed in the Cargill High Plains Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest in Friona, Texas. Matt Schulte, junior in animal science, placed first in beef grading. The team competed in the final contest of the year, the International Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest in Dakota City, Neb., on Nov. 16. Bree Branderhorst, junior in agricultural and life sciences education, placed fourth in high individual and first in beef grading. Patrick Frank, senior in animal science, was selected by team members as the Rachel Hamilton Memorial Award Winner.
Deadlines and Reminders
Dec. 10: Science With Practice poster presentation and reception, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., Kildee Atrium.
Dec. 11: Retirement reception for Diane Birt, 2 to 4 p.m., Memorial Union Campanile Room.
Dec. 12: Deadline for orders of Block and Bridle Club’s summer sausage and cheese.
Funding Opportunities
Brown Graduate Fellowship Applications Due Jan. 16
The Brown Graduate Fellowship Program provides assistance for current graduate students or for recruitment of new graduate students to strategically advance ISU research in the areas of study that are governed by the Trust—science, agriculture and space science. Ph.D. students will be given preference, although exceptional M.S. students will be considered. The award is limited to one application per department or interdisciplinary program. Fourteen awards up to $10,000 are available. Applications must be submitted by Jan. 16 to Sue Shipitalo (sueship@iastate.edu).
USAID BAA for Amazon Biodiversity
The U.S. Agency for International Development has issued a Broad Agency Announcement for the Brazil Partnership to Conserve Amazon Biodiversity to address critical challenges in biodiversity conservation through collaborative efforts. Funding opportunities will be issued as addenda to the BAA. More
NSF Seeking Community Input for EFRI Research Topic Ideas
The National Science Foundation is seeking community input for topic ideas for Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation. Ideas are meant to generate potential topic areas that will be considered for the focus of FY 2016 EFRI Program Solicitations. Responses are due by Dec. 19. More
Funding Information, Opportunities and Deadline Reminders
Dates listed are application deadlines. Contact: Roxanne Clemens, rclemens@iastate.edu
Additional information is posted at CALS Funding Resources
Feb. 3: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation – Five Star & Urban Waters Restoration Program 2015; $20,000 to $50,000, 1:1 match required.
Feb. 27 (concept paper): USAID Partnering to Accelerate Entrepreneurship Initiative; $500,000 to $2 million.
Mar. 2: NSF Research Coordination Networks, $500,000 total up to five years. More
Apr. 30: Patagonia Grassroots Environmental Campaign; $12,000. More
July 31 (continuous until deadline): USFWS Ecological Services Program FY 2015 Recovery Implementation Fund. More
July 31 (continuous until deadline): USFWS Ecological Services Program FY2015 Candidate Conservation Action Funds. More
Sept. 30: USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program; $250,000, 1:1 match encouraged. More
Oct. 16: NSF Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation - Broadening Participation in STEM Education. More
Infograzing
Building Trust When Science and Consumers Collide
Overwhelming scientific consensus tells us that genetically modified foods are safe and that humans contribute more to antibiotic resistance than animals. Yet consumer skepticism about these and other issues is widespread. “Cracking the Code on Food Issues: Insights from Moms, Millennials and Foodies,” the new consumer trust research from The Center for Food Integrity, provides a roadmap for those in today’s food system to make complex, technical and controversial information relevant and meaningful to the decision-making process of today’s consumer.
Marginalia
John Deere Museum Opens in Waterloo
The John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum opened Dec. 2 in Waterloo. The museum is a tribute to the nearly century-long marriage of Deere and Waterloo, home to the company’s largest manufacturing complex worldwide. The history of that partnership is the essence of the museum tour. More
Ag and Life Sciences Online
Editor
Julie Stewart
jstewart@iastate.edu, (515) 294-5616
https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/agonline
Subscribe
Ag and Life Sciences Online, the newsletter for faculty and staff in Iowa State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is e-mailed every Monday. To subscribe, send your name, title, organization, email address and the message "Ag and Life Sciences Online subscribe" to jstewart@iastate.edu. To unsubscribe, send your name and email address to "Ag and Life Sciences Online unsubscribe."