College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Nov. 27, 2017
Top Stories
Holiday Cheer: Block and Bridle Club’s Summer Sausage and Cheese
An online form is available for the Block and Bridle Club’s annual holiday summer sausage and cheese sale. The summer sausage is made on campus in the Meats Laboratory and the cheese (cheddar, Colby jack and pepper jack) is from Bongards Creamery in Minnesota. Money raised will be used for club trips, and shows and scholarships hosted by the club. Contact isussandc@gmail.com with questions.
Holiday Cheer: Horticulture Club’s Annual Poinsettia Sale
The Horticulture Club’s annual poinsettia sale will take place Wednesday, Nov. 29, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Curtiss Hall; Thursday, Nov. 30, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Beardshear Hall; Friday, Dec. 1, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Memorial Union; and Saturday, Dec. 2, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Reiman Gardens. The poinsettias are grown by club members in the Horticulture Greenhouses. Funds raised will be used for covering club activities, contest expenses and student enrichment.
Holiday Cheer: Forestry Club’s Christmas Tree Sale at Reiman Gardens
The Forestry Club is holding its annual Christmas tree fundraiser at the Reiman Gardens Parking Lot. Trees will be for sale Dec. 1-3 and Dec. 8-10. Hours are Fridays, 3 to 6 p.m.; Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sundays, 12 to 5 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.
Research
New Research Details Genetic Resistance to SDS in Soybeans
Incorporating a combination of genes from the model plant Arabidopsis may build high levels of resistance to sudden death syndrome in soybeans, according to Madan Bhattacharyya, agronomy. A recently published study points to one gene in particular as a likely candidate to bolster resistance. More
New Study Finds Timing is Key in Keeping Organic Matter in Wet Soils
Timing is key regarding the retention of organic matter in soils that get wet periodically for relatively short intervals of time. Findings in a new study from Steven Hall, ecology, evolution and organismal biology, show periodically wet soils don’t always protect organic matter from decomposition, as previously thought. More
Declines in Population Don’t Always Reflect Quality of Life
A new report from David Peters, sociology, looks at Iowa towns that have improved quality of life while populations have dwindled. The report draws on census and survey data to identify 12 “shrink-smart” communities in Iowa. More
Recent Patents for CALS Researchers
Matthew Ellinwood, Jason Ross, Christopher Tuggle and Jack Dekkers, animal science, were recently issued a patent titled, “Genetic Test and Genetic Basis for SCID in Pigs.” Matthew O’Neal and Russell Jurenka, entomology, were issued a patent titled, “Methods and Compositions Comprising Steroid Honey Bee Feeding Inhibitors.”
Developing New Ideas at the Drainage Research Forum
Matt Helmers, agricultural and biosystems engineering, talks about the importance of technology development and research on the performance of practices in a Nov. 16 blog post for Iowa Learning Farms. “One outlet for developing new ideas is the Iowa-Minnesota Drainage Research Forum,” he said. More
Teaching and Students
Dietetics Student Selected as Emerging Leader for Food Security
Alyssa Dougherty, a junior in dietetics, is one of 10 students selected for the 2017-2018 class of Emerging Leaders for Food Security, part of the Land O’Lakes Global Food Challenge. Dougherty will be matched with an academic mentor to explore critical food security issues and agricultural challenges during the school year; receive an 11-week paid summer internship to work with industry experts at Land O’Lakes; travel to key Land O’Lakes locations including headquarters in Minnesota, Washington, D.C. and Land O’Lakes International Development projects in Africa to learn about hunger, agriculture and sustainability; and present final projects and recommendations at the end of their internship in August.
CALS Student Part of Library Advisory Committee
Kelsey Culbertson, a junior in environmental science, is part of a Student Library Advisory Committee formed this fall. Members meet with Dean of Library Services Beth McNeil to discuss and offer input from a student perspective about library services, programs, and upcoming and ongoing projects.
Extension and Outreach
Francis Part of Initiative to Improve Rural Health
ISU researchers, including Sarah Francis, food science and human nutrition, are involved in reducing the gap in rural and urban health outcomes through research and ISU Extension and Outreach. More than a million Iowans are at an increased risk of dying from heart disease, cancer or a stroke, simply because they live in a rural area. More
Entomologist Joins ISU Extension and Outreach
Randall Cass, entomologist, has joined ISU Extension and Outreach to examine bee health in prairies and soybean fields. Cass has worked with bees and pollinators across the globe. The position and project are funded through a USDA grant for research and extension projects to sustain healthy populations of pollinators. More
Understand Basis Contracts for Opportunity to Maximize Profit
Knowing how to use basis contracts to lock in a sales price for grain is the focus of ISU Extension and Outreach publication “Understanding Risk in Basis Contracts.” The publication was revised and updated by Chad Hart, economics. More
Video: 4-H Youth Learn about Animal Science
Animal Science Round-Up, offered annually during the Iowa 4-H Youth Conference, provides the next generation of animal scientists the opportunity to examine their interests, test future careers and experience the Iowa State campus. Amy Powell, extension youth STEM specialist in animal science, coordinates the learning event in which youth focus on swine, sheep, beef or poultry. More
Around the College
Serb Named Director of ISU’s Office of Biotechnology
Jeanne Serb, ecology, evolution and organismal biology, has been appointed the new director for ISU’s Office of Biotechnology and chair of the Biotechnology Council. Her appointment begins Jan. 1. Serb replaces Jim Reecy who joined the Office of the Vice President for Research as an associate vice president for research this summer.
White and Woteki Receive APLU Awards
Pamela White and Catherine Woteki, food science and human nutrition, received awards from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities Board on Human Sciences during a ceremony on Nov. 13 in Washington, D.C. White received the Lifetime Achievement Award and Woteki received the Ellen Swallow Richards Public Service Award. More
Miller Named AAAS Fellow
The American Association for the Advancement of Science has named W. Allen Miller, plant pathology and microbiology, to its 2017 class of fellows. Miller is being recognized for “distinguished contributions to the field of plant virology, particularly in the areas of genome organizations, RNA translation, replication and movement mechanisms, and vector interactions.” More
Carriquiry Receives Women in Innovation Award
Alicia Carriquiry, statistics, received the Research Innovation and Leadership Award on Nov. 13 at the 10th annual Women of Innovation Awards hosted by the Technology Association of Iowa. Recipients were selected based on their professional experience, history of innovation, ability to think creatively and solve problems, and demonstration of leadership.
Video of Deal Lecture Available Online
Joe Kerns, risk management consultant and president of Kerns and Associates, presented the 2017 William K. Deal Endowed Leadership Lecture on Oct. 5 at ISU. A video of Kerns’ presentation on a tale of resiliency, entrepreneurship and the value of mentors is available online. More
Calendar
Dec. 6: Science With Practice Poster Presentation
This semester’s Science With Practice poster presentation open house will be held Dec. 6, 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Kildee Hall Atrium. Science With Practice is a CALS experiential learning and work program for undergraduate students in agriculture.
Research Development Announcements and Funding Opportunities
2018 ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit
The DOE’s ARPA-E Summit—the preeminent energy innovation event of the year—will be held March 13-15 at the Gaylord Convention Center, outside of Washington, D.C. Now in its ninth year, the summit offers a three-day program aimed at showcasing transformational energy technologies. Summit topics range from high-level overviews to focused discussions centered on the next generation of energy technologies. The Summit's Technology Showcase will feature more than 275 innovative energy technologies, including those from ARPA-E funded project teams. Early bird registration rates expire on Dec. 15. More
Funding Information, Opportunities and Deadline Reminders
Dates listed are application deadlines. Contact: Roxanne Clemens, rclemens@iastate.edu. Additional information is posted at CALS Pre-Award Resources.
Dec. 20 (pre-application): DOE Environmental System Science. More
Dec. 20 (pre-application): DOE Atmospheric System Research. More
Jan. 11 (abstract): DARPA Advanced Plant Technologies; Proposers Day will be held on Dec. 12. More
Jan. 28 (letter of intent): NIH Innovative Molecular and Cellular Analysis Technologies for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research (R21). More
Feb. 14 (letter of intent): NIH The Role of the Microbiome in the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (R01). More
Feb. 14: NSF Training-based Workforce Development for Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (CyberTraining). More
Feb. 20: NSF National Robotics Initiative 2.0: Ubiquitous Collaborative Robots. More
Feb. 28: NSF Resource Implementations for Data Intensive Research in the Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences. More
March 12: NIH Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award (Parent K25). More
Communications Kiosk
Develop Science Communication Skills with Reiman Gardens’ Fellowship
Scientists, engineers, graduate students, faculty, researchers and other science-based professionals are invited to participate in Reiman Gardens’ 2018 Science Communication Fellowship to develop their science communications skills. Applications are due Nov. 30. More
Infograzing
Lecture to Address Diversity in Science in a Global Economy
Sandra Hanson, professor of sociology at Catholic University whose work has focused on gender, race and ethnicity in the sciences, will present the Sigma Xi Lecture on Thursday, Nov. 30, at 6:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union Great Hall. Hanson will present “Science for All? Diversity in Science in a Global Economy.”
Project LEA/RN Workshop Scheduled for Jan. 3-4
Project LEA/RN is hosting a workshop on Introduction to Learning-Centered Classes and Meetings on Jan. 3-4 in 0550 Lagomarcino Hall. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss learning and teaching theories and brain research. Enrollment is limited to the first 20 educators who register. Contact Jan Wiersema, janw@iastate.edu.
Save the Date: 2018 Iowa 4-H Youth Conference
The 2018 Iowa 4-H Youth Conference, “Your Passport to Adventure,” is scheduled for June 26-28 on the ISU campus. Faculty and staff are encouraged to submit workshop topics for the event. Workshop proposals are due to the State 4-H office by Jan. 4. For more information contact Haley Jones (hjones@iastate.edu, 4-2748) or Lexa Janes (lmjanes@iastate.edu, 4-1017). More
New Map of Worldwide Croplands Released
A new map was recently released detailing croplands worldwide in the highest resolution yet. The map establishes that there are 1.87 billion hectares of croplands in the world, which is 15 to 20 percent higher than former assessments. The change is due to more detailed understanding of large areas that were never mapped before or were inaccurately mapped as non-croplands. The study was led by the U.S. Geological Survey and is part of the Global Food Security-Support Analysis Data @ 30-m Project. The map is built primarily from Landsat satellite imagery with 30-meter resolution, which is the highest spatial resolution of any global agricultural dataset. More
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Julie Stewart, Editor
jstewart@iastate.edu, (515) 294-5616
https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/agonline
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 Friday.
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