College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
May 20, 2019
Top Stories
Genomics Research Transforming Poultry Breeding
Anna Wolc, animal science, is applying advances in the field of genomics to transform the poultry industry. Since 2013, she has had dual roles as an adjunct assistant professor in animal science and as a genomics geneticist for Hy-Line International. More
Research
Serb’s Research Highlighted on Smithsonian.com
Jeanne Serb, ecology, evolution and organismal biology and director of the Office of Biotechnology, was quoted in an article posted May 6 on Smithsonian.com. The article focuses on research into scallop eyes, which function similar to telescopes, and are even more complex than scientists previously knew. More
Teaching and Students
Agronomy, FSHN Lead Two of Five Faculty Learning Communities
The Center for Excellence in the Arts and Humanities and the Office of the Vice President for Research have announced five new faculty learning communities. Richard Cruse, agronomy, leads the water scholars learning community, which is aimed at banishing the barriers between the arts and sciences to help researchers think creatively and work together to come up with novel water resources research. Christina Campbell, food science and human nutrition, leads the sustainable peace learning community that will explore, learn and discuss the meaning of peace in the context of teaching, research and outreach.
CALS Brings Good Memories to Graduate Student from Kosovo
Albulena Basha graduated from ISU on May 9 after earning master's degrees in economics and sustainable agriculture and receiving the Graduate College's Teaching Excellence Award. She defended her thesis on April 1, hoping the good memory would replace a bad memory from April 1, 1999 - when she and her family were forcefully removed from their home in Kosovo by the Serbian paramilitary. Her major professor was Wendong Zhang, economics. She first learned about ISU from Curt Youngs, animal science, who taught a course in Kosovo. More
GDCB Postdoctoral Scholar Receives Two Academic Awards
Trevor Nolan, a postdoctoral scholar in genetics, development and cell biology, received two academic awards from the Graduate College - the 2019 Karas Award for Outstanding Dissertations and the 2019 Zaffarano Prize for Graduate Student Research. More
Senior in Forestry Featured by ISU Foundation
Abby Zabrodsky, a junior in forestry, was featured in the spring 2019 issue of Your Iowa State from the ISU Foundation. Zabrodsky was a Dean’s Leadership Scholar in CALS and recipient of the Elaine Boge Scholarship. She notes that taking advantage of experiential learning opportunities has helped her confirm her career goals. She competed in logrolling events at the annual Midwestern Forester’s Conclave and studied at the Rod and Connie French Conservation Camp in Montana. More
Extension and Outreach
Watersheds, Prairie Strips and Precision Ag: Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll
The 2018 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll summary report, now available online, focuses on participation in watershed management, awareness of and interest in prairie strips, and use of and perspectives on precision agriculture. More
Dean Robison to Speak at Field Day at Northern Research Farm
CALS Dean Daniel Robison will welcome farmers and agribusinesses to the summer field day at ISU’s Northern Research and Demonstration Farm near Kanawha on June 20. The program will focus on weeds, herbicides, cover crops and soybean gall midge. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the field day will conclude at 1 p.m. following lunch. More
Workshops Teach Food Safety to Gardeners
The ISU Extension and Outreach food safety team is offering Safe Produce for Donation workshops in five locations this summer. Each three-hour workshop will include in-field activities where participants learn about proper food harvesting and handling. More
Around the College
Syngenta Partners with Iowa Soybean Research Center
The Iowa Soybean Research Center announced Syngenta as its latest industry partner. In this role, Syngenta will have a seat on the ISRC’s industry advisory council, which advises the center on its research priorities. More
Agronomist Receives Posthumous Award from Alumni Association
Detroy Green, a member of the agronomy faculty from 1964 to 1995 and the college’s associate dean for academic programs, was named posthumously a recipient of the ISU Alumni Association Faculty-Staff Inspiration Award at a ceremony on May 17. Green died in 2010, but his legacy lives on. More
Dean Robison Shares Vision on Farm Bureau Podcast
Dean Daniel Robison shared his vision for the future of the college on the May 20 issue of the Iowa Farm Bureau’s Spokesman Speaks Podcast (7:32). More
Fresh Produce Available from ISU Horticulture Farm
Faculty, staff and students can order fruits and vegetables grown at the Horticulture Research Station through an online produce-ordering website. Pick-up is every Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Harl Commons entrance of Curtiss Hall, on the east side of the building. Produce will also be available for purchase without pre-ordering. More
Calendar
June 14: Dairy Farm Open House
The annual open house at the ISU Dairy Farm is scheduled for June 14 from 7 a.m. to noon. Tours will be given every 20 minutes, with stops including the milking parlor, the milk house and dairy barns. Visitors can sample free dairy products while learning about the dairy industry in the Ag Discovery Center. The open house includes demonstrations of current technology and best practices in animal care, product quality, safety and environmental stewardship. More
June 27: Iowa Swine Day
The Iowa Pork Industry Center and ISU Extension and Outreach are hosting the eighth annual Iowa Swine Day on June 27 at the Scheman Building. Four plenary speakers are followed by an afternoon of four concurrent sessions and 16 topics focused on issues facing U.S. pork producers. More
Infograzing
P&S Council Meet and Greet, May 21
The ISU Professional and Scientific Council is hosting a meet and greet on Tuesday, May 21, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Advanced Teaching and Research Building lobby. Staff are encouraged to drop by the informal reception. Door prizes will be available. More
Applications Due May 30 for I-Corps Summer Cohort
Faculty, postdocs and graduate students who wish to explore the commercial potential of their research are encouraged to apply for ISU’s National Science Foundation Innovation Corps summer cohort. The I-Corps program is an initiative to transition NSF-funded research from the laboratory to a product in the marketplace.
Farm Bureau to Host Economic Summit
Iowa Farm Bureau is hosting an Economic Summit on June 28 in Des Moines. The focus will be on “Managing through Challenging Times,” with speakers assessing the current crop, livestock, lending and land value landscapes, offering tips and projections, and sharing new revenue opportunities stemming from hemp, crop insurance and blockchain technology. Presenters include Lee Schulz, economics, and David Brown, human sciences extension. More
Marginalia
Seed Science Center Helps with FFA Edible Landscape Project
The Seed Science Center worked with Ames Main Street and Nevada FFA to provide a supervised agricultural experience for freshman Shieann Flores, which led to a large donation to a local food pantry. Cindy Hicks, communications specialist with the Seed Science Center, worked with Flores who planted spinach seed in early April in 25 downtown planters. On May 15, Flores picked more than 50 pounds of spinach and donated most to Food at First.
Use of GMOs Began in the Medical Field
“While most people may associate GMOs with food products, their use actually began in the medical field with insulin,” wrote Stacey Stearn, University of Connecticut Extension. GMOs have long been a contentious topic among consumers and producers. Stearns provides some background on its history in the May 14 edition of Morning Ag Clips. 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.