College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
July 23, 2018
Top Stories
Jensen Helps Identify Scientific Breakthroughs in New Report
A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine identifies the most promising scientific breakthroughs that are possible to achieve in the next decade to increase the U.S. food and agriculture system’s sustainability, competitiveness and resilience. The urgent progress needed today, given challenges such as water scarcity, increased weather variability, floods and droughts, requires a convergent research approach that harnesses advances in data science, materials science, information technology, behavioral sciences, economics and many other fields. Helen Jensen, economics, is one of 13 experts on the executive committee of Science Breakthroughs 2030, authors of the report. More
CALS Helps Welcome RAGBRAI Riders on Tuesday
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is joining the College of Human Sciences, College of Business and University Library to welcome alumni traveling through Ames during RAGBRAI on Tuesday, July 24. The “Campus Central” group will be located in the Cycling Power Welcome Rally vendor area, outside Jack Trice Stadium (Lot 85E), from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. CALS alumni relations staff will give out “CALSproud” buttons. RAGBRAI riders and general public are welcome at the event. Cyclone pep rallies will take place in Lot 85E at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. More
University Dedicates Ugandan Training Center
A new rural training center dedicated July 11 in the East African country of Uganda will help the Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods expand food and agricultural programs that serve local families. It also will provide more service-learning opportunities for ISU and African students. The facility is the latest milestone in the 14-year history of the CALS Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods, which has become a model for university international ag education programs and an inspiration for students to address global hunger and poverty. The ISU center has impacted thousands of lives through programs that help rural Ugandans gain skills in farming practices, nutrition, sanitation, and income-generating and entrepreneurial opportunities. A video on the history and dedication of training center is available online. More
Research
Economics Study: Air Pollution May Influence National Park Visitation
Poor air quality may influence how many visitors travel to U.S. national parks, according to a new study by David Keiser and Gabriel Lade, economics. The researchers matched air pollution data to monthly park visitation statistics at 33 of the most heavily visited national parks and found that visitation responds most to ozone during months with poor air quality. More
Extension and Outreach
Conservation Stations and Water Rocks! Attend All 100 County Fairs
Iowa Learning Farms, a hands-on education and outreach program for farmers throughout Iowa, and Water Rocks!, a unique, award-winning statewide water education program, reached a milestone on July 19 at the Jones County Fair. This event marks the culmination of a multi-year effort to bring their conservation entertainment, education and demonstrations to every county fair in Iowa. ILF and Water Rocks! teams accompany three Conservation Station trailers to carry a culture of conservation message to venues across Iowa. From its first fair visit in 2007 to a record-setting 28 fairs in 2016, the organizations have packed in visits seven days a week during the short county fair season each year. More
Sausage and Processed Meats Short Course Celebrates 40 Years
CALS has celebrated the art of creating meat products through its Sausage and Processed Meats Short Course for 40 years. The annual course, which started July 16 and runs for five days, provides participants with information on new trends and technologies from industry professionals through a hands-on experience. Bob Rust, emeritus professor in animal science, started the Meat Science Extension program at ISU and developed the short course. Matt Wenger, animal science, is the current program coordinator. More
Ames Fruit and Vegetable Field Day Scheduled for Aug. 6
ISU Extension and Outreach’s annual Fruit and Vegetable Field Day will be Aug. 6, 2 to 6:30 p.m. at the Horticulture Research Station. It will feature research and demonstration projects on fruit and vegetable production for commercial growers, extension personnel, nonprofit organizations and Master Gardeners. More
McNay Research Farm to Hold Annual Field Day Aug. 7
The McNay Memorial Research Farm southwest of Chariton will hold its annual field day on Aug. 7 at 3:30 p.m. The program will provide updates on grazing cover crops, summer annual and alfalfa trials, pasture renovation and Canadian thistle control. There is no cost to attend and the event includes a grilled burger dinner prepared and served by the Lucas County Cattlemen’s Association. More
Around the College
Yin Named Chair of GDCB
Yanhai Yin, a researcher specializing in plant growth and stress responses, has been named chair of the Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology. He succeeds Jo Anne Powell-Coffman, who has returned to a faculty position in the department. GDCB is co-administered by CALS and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. More
CALS Diversity and Inclusion Programs Included in Annual Report
The Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost released the 2017-2018 Academic Affairs Diversity and Inclusion Report. Highlights from the college include beginning in fall 2018, CALS will pilot an online diversity and inclusion training course for students, faculty, staff and postdocs as part of a larger effort to promote cultural competency and inclusion through the college. A Multicultural Peer Mentor program, led by associate dean Howard Tyler, has also been established. The program features nine peer mentors who will work with incoming multicultural students in fall 2018. Highlights can be found on page 7 of the report, with more details on additional college programs available on pages 12-14.
Volunteers Needed for Annual CALS Alumni BBQ; Free Shirts for First 20
CALS faculty and staff volunteers are needed for the annual CALS BBQ, to be held Sept. 1 at the Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center. Approximately 600 CALS alumni and friends are expected to attend. The first 20 volunteers who register will receive a red CALS half-zip pullover shirt in thanks for their service. Register to volunteer online or by contacting Haley Cook (hcook@iastate.edu) by Monday, Aug. 6. Volunteer opportunities include:
- Registration/Greeting (2:30-4 p.m. or 4-5:30 p.m.)
- Beverage Service (2:30-4 p.m. or 4-5:30 p.m.)
- Tear Down (5:30-6:30 p.m.)
Remember the CALS Fall Book Sale While Cleaning House this Summer
CALS held a book sale last year and raised $1,009 in support of the ISU/United Way Campaign. A similar fundraiser will be held this fall in Curtiss Hall and the Molecular Biology Building. If you have paperback or hardcover books, CDs and DVDs that you no longer need or want, consider donating them for this event. Items will be accepted throughout the summer at 138 Curtiss Hall (Carla Persaud) and 1210 Molecular Biology Building (Diane Jepsen).
FundISU: Support Sought for Entomology’s Monarch Tracking Project
A crowdfunding campaign has been launched in support of a monarch butterfly tracking project with Kelsey Fisher, a doctorate student in entomology. Contributions on FundISU, the crowdfunding site on the ISU Foundation website, will be used to support monarch tracking efforts in the field using radio telemetry. The data will provide insight regarding how far away a monarch can recognize milkweed and nectar plants. The project is part of a collaborative effort in Iowa to address conservation efforts for the monarch butterfly. The goal is $3,000 and the campaign runs through Aug. 20. More
Calendar
July 27: Cyclone Scholar Closing Symposium
The Cyclone Scholar Summer Research Experience Closing Symposium will take place Friday, July 27, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the CCUR Theater, 1951 Food Sciences Building. The symposium will highlight oral presentations from the 2018 scholars. The FSHN program provides undergraduate students the opportunity to perform interdisciplinary research with faculty mentors across the areas of food science and human nutrition to address solutions to childhood obesity. Hors d’oeuvres and cake will be served following the presentations. More
Research Development Announcements and Funding Opportunities
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.
Aug. 3 (pre-applications): USDA NIFA Innovations in Food and Agricultural Science and Technology Prize Competition, awards up to $50,000 per team. More
Aug. 22: NFWF Conservation Partners Program; $300,000, match of at least 1:1 non-federal cash or in-kind is required.
Aug. 24: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Australia, Regional Workshops on the Future of the U.S.–Australia Alliance. More
Sept. 21: NOAA FY19 Bluefin Tuna Research Program. More
Oct. 15: NSF Advanced Technological Education. More
Oct. 15: NIH Immune Response to Arthropod Blood Feeding (R21). More
Oct. 22: Dear Colleague Letter: NSF/NSFC Joint Research on Environmental Sustainability Challenges; Innovations at the Nexus of Food, Energy and Water Systems for U.S. and China. More
Infograzing
Iowa Food and Family Project Launches ‘Food U’
The Iowa Food and Family Project has launched Food U, a program to learn about agriculture and food production in Iowa. The event series is aimed at Iowans who are interested in gaining firsthand experiences and learning from experts in agriculture, food and restaurant industries. More
Marginalia
Waterloo Boy Tractor Accompanies Iconic Butter Cow at Iowa State Fair
The Iowa State Fair Butter Cow will be featured beside the Waterloo Boy Tractor to celebrate John Deere’s 100th anniversary of entering the tractor business. Both butter masterpieces will be on display in the John Deere Agriculture Building’s 40 degree cooler throughout the Iowa State Fair, Aug. 9-19. More
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Julie Stewart, Editor
jstewart@iastate.edu, (515) 294-5616
http://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.