News & Featured Stories Archive

Deal Lecture: Following the leadership of great conservationists will create a better world

Larry A. Nielsen, professor emeritus of natural resources at North Carolina State University, will present the 2024 William K. Deal Leadership Lecture Oct. 8, at Iowa State University. His presentation, “Fowl, Fish and Forest – Leadership Lessons from Great Conservationists,” will begin at 7 p.m. in 127 Curtiss Hall.

Research aims to improve wine production, quality nationwide

Aude Watrelot, assistant professor of food science and human nutrition and extension enology specialist at Iowa State University, is leading a project to better understand the challenges faced by wine industry professionals across the U.S. The results of the project aim to improve future regional wine production.

Culinary Food Science program serves up new certification

Iowa State University’s culinary food science program has been cooking up an exciting announcement. Since November 2022, the Culinary Food Science Advisory Committee has been working with the Research Chefs Association to receive formal recognition as an approved RCA Culinology® program.

Ten tips to prepare for a successful CALS Career Day

 It's that time of year, when students re-read their resumes and practice their interview skills with their roommates. On Oct. 8, over 253 companies will be lined up and waiting to interact with students attending the Agriculture and Life Sciences Career Day.

Oatman heading abroad via Fulbright program

Arilyn Oatman ('24 global resource systems) leaves on Sept. 23 to embark on a prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program experience in Thies, Senegal. She will spend nine months teaching adults and college students the English language along the west African coast.

Change in leadership at BioCentury Research Farm

In September 2024, Andy Suby, assistant director of research administration at the BioCentury Research Farm, will transition to a new, part-time role as a process engineer with the university. Rob Hartmann will step into the assistant director position at the facility.

Students encouraged to submit abstracts for 2024 Borlaug poster competition

Poster abstracts are now being accepted for the 21st Annual Norman Borlaug Lecture Poster Competition for Graduate and Undergraduate Students. The competition and display of posters will take place Monday, Oct. 28, in the Memorial Union at Iowa State University, prior to the Norman Borlaug Lecture featuring 2024 World Food Prize Laureates Geoffrey Hawtin and Cary Fowler.

Department of Energy chief of staff surveys progress at Iowa State solar farm

In the form of a juicy red strawberry, a U.S. Department of Energy representative tasted the fruits of researchers’ labor Sept. 4 at the Alliant Energy Solar Farm at Iowa State University. The visit allowed Katie Hendrickson, chief of staff of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, to see the progress being made at the solar farm, which received a $1.8 million, four-year grant from the U.S. Department of Energy last year.

Iowa State leads 'dream' project to catalog livestock DNA regulatory regions outside genes

“This effort is a culmination of many years of dreaming about such an opportunity and finally getting access to the data and funding to make it happen,” said James E. Koltes, associate professor of animal science at Iowa State University. 

Koltes is referring to a new USDA-supported project he is leading with colleagues at Iowa State and several partner institutions to create a systematic catalog, or encyclopedia, of the DNA netherworld scientists call “genetic regulatory regions” for livestock species. The research sets the stage for important discoveries by identifying regulatory DNA variation that could be useful in breeding for improved animal efficiency and health. 

New artwork aims to inspire viewers to think about agriculture, life sciences

At its best, art can inspire, entertain and inform. The new mural and suspended bee mobile on the fourth floor of the Student Innovation Center at Iowa State University succeeds at all the above.

Kvidera selected as 2024 Emerging Iowa Leader

Sara Kvidera (’17 PhD nutritional sciences), a dairy technical consultant with Elanco Animal Health, is the recipient of the 2024 Emerging Iowa Leader Award. The honor is presented annually to College of Agriculture and Life Sciences alums in leadership positions, working to strengthen agriculture and life sciences and providing outstanding service as CALS graduates.

Iowa program tracks mosquito trends over 50 years: 2024 a big year

Despite a slow start following several dry years, mosquito populations in Iowa have ramped up this season due to regular rains and flooding in some areas of the state, according to Ryan Smith, associate professor of plant pathology, entomology and microbiology at Iowa State University. 

Smith leads the Iowa Mosquito Surveillance Program, which has been running since the 1960s. It is one of the country’s most active, long-running programs, and one of the few led by an academic institution.

BioConnect Iowa Joins Iowa Soybean Research Center at Iowa State University

AMES, Iowa — The Iowa Soybean Research Center at Iowa State University welcomes BioConnect Iowa as its newest partner. BioConnect Iowa will serve as a representative on the center’s industry advisory council, which provides guidance on research needs and funding priorities for the center.

AI tutor being developed to help Iowa State students find success

Coming soon: the AI tutor – a computerized personal assistant that can go over lessons, tailor study sessions based on students’ needs and quiz students on what they have learned in class.

Bug-themed everything at upcoming Iowa State Bug Village ’24 event

Get your best bug costume or bug-themed outfit ready for the Iowa State University Insect Zoo’s annual Bug Village ’24. The free event is open to the public and will take place on Saturday, Aug. 24, from noon to 3 p.m., in the Advanced Teaching and Research Building, 2213 Pammel Dr., on the north side of campus.

Grapes grown at Iowa State result in award-winning wines

The 2023 wines - La Crescent, Rosé, and Marquette - from the Iowa State University Winery have recently been honored with prestigious awards from international, regional and state wine competitions. The wines were bottled in March 2024 at the winery, located in the Food Sciences Building on campus.

Iowa Soybean Research Center welcomes Indigo Ag as industry partner

AMES, Iowa — The Iowa Soybean Research Center at Iowa State University welcomes Indigo Ag as its newest industry partner.

Economics graduate student selected as Outstanding Student Leader of the Year

Albulena Basha's efforts to advocate for and build community among fellow students earned her the Outstanding Student Leader of the Year Award for 2024.

Aspiring general practitioner sees need to focus on diabetes management

In the middle of her residency program at Genesis Health System in Davenport, Iowa, Anna Wilcox (’17 nutritional science, global resource systems) recently reflected on her pathway to becoming a family medicine general practitioner. As she shared her story, she realized that diabetes has been a common theme in many of her experiences.

Jamie Beyer, an advocate for bees and conservation, has been selected as the 2024 winner of the Spencer Award, presented by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University. This year’s award will be presented at the annual meeting of the Conservation Districts of Iowa, Aug. 19, in Ames.