College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Aug. 19, 2019
Top Stories
Latest Issue of STORIES Features College Teams
The latest issue of STORIES in Agriculture and Life Sciences, the college’s alumni magazine, focuses on the collaborative spirit that brings together faculty, staff, students and alumni to move the college forward, together. Special to this issue is a discussion with Endowed Dean’s Chair Daniel Robison and former deans Joe Colletti (interim), Wendy Wintersteen, Catherine Woteki, Richard Ross and David Topel. More
Research
Research Continues on Sensor to Measure Crops’ Water Use
By measuring the water use of plants on an hourly or even minute-by-minute basis, researchers hope to better understand and eventually improve how crops respond to drought. Funded by a Breakthrough Technologies award from the National Science Foundation, James Schnable, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Patrick Schnable, Plant Sciences Institute, and Liang Dong, electrical and computer engineering, are trying to measure rates of sap flow in real time, in actual fields and in changing weather conditions. More
Teaching and Students
New Student BBQ Scheduled for Aug. 28
The CALS Student Council is hosting its annual Freshman and Transfer Student BBQ on Aug. 28 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Kildee Pavilion. Booths will be set up to learn about and join different CALS clubs. Free pork burgers, brats, chips, lemonade and cookies will be served. Vegetarian and gluten free options will be available. More
CALS Students Pitch Business Ideas at the Iowa State Fair
More than 150 ISU students pitched their business ideas to visitors at the Iowa State Fair this year for the chance to win up to $5,000. Students featured in a video released by ISU News Service include: Wesley Bedwell, senior in agricultural studies, pitching Made in the Shade; Rebecca Lyons, graduate student in agricultural education and studies, pitching Lunchsox; and Justin Wright, senior in agricultural engineering, pitching WashWright. More
Extension and Outreach
Allee Demonstration Farm to Hold Field Day Aug. 27
Fall cover crop seeding, cover crop funding and seeding covers into standing crops will highlight the fall field day on Aug. 27 at ISU’s Allee Demonstration Farm near Newell. Registration begins at 9 a.m. Lunch will be provided. More
Northern Research Farm to Hold Field Day Sept. 5
Insect and disease issues, along with an overview of 2019 production issues, will highlight the fall field day on Sept. 5 at ISU’s Northern Research and Demonstration Farm south of Kanawha. Registration begins at 9 a.m. Lunch will be provided. More
Around the College
College Calls for Innovative Teaching Proposals
The college released three internal Call for Proposals in an email sent to CALS faculty and staff on Friday, Aug. 16, for one-time grants to support the development of new courses. The goal is to continue to advance the quality of education for all CALS undergraduate students and provide opportunities for undergraduate students in other colleges to learn about the important work in disciplines offered through the college. For more information contact Alison Parker, aparker@iastate.edu, 4-3830.
- New 1-Credit Undergraduate Courses in CALS – Due Sept. 9. New special topic 1-credit courses to be offered during the second half of fall semester 2019 (and repeated in subsequent semesters). Hot topics related to faculty and staff expertise are welcome.
- Learning Across America – Due Sept. 30. Faculty and staff led groups of undergraduate students traveling to domestic locations to learn and earn credit. Provide expanded opportunities for students to learn about the diversity of cultures, food and agriculture systems, natural resources and life sciences within the U.S.
- New 3-Credit Undergraduate Courses in CALS – Due Oct. 14. New 3-credit courses to fulfill one of the following CALS or ISU requirements: advocacy, communication and media management for audiences engaged with agriculture, natural resources, food and life sciences issues; ethical decision making in agriculture, natural resources, food and life sciences; international perspectives; or U.S. diversity.
Egg Industry Center Announces Finalists for Director
The Egg Industry Center has announced two finalists for the director position for on-campus interviews. Both candidates will provide a public seminar titled, “Vision for the Egg Industry Center in Shaping the Future of the Egg Industry.” Mike Persia, animal science department at Virginia Tech, will present on Tuesday, Aug. 20, at 9 a.m. in the Ensminger Room of Kildee Hall (Room 1204). Richard Gates, agricultural and biosystems engineering department at the University of Illinois, will present on Aug. 29 at 1 p.m. More
Takle on Farmers and Carbon Management
In an Aug. 8 CNN report, Gene Takle, agronomy, said we need to think about farming as more than just producing food, fuel and fiber, but rather as carbon management. He points out that farmers could be key allies in the climate crisis fight. Takle is co-author of the Fourth National Climate Assessment report released by the U.S. Global Change Research Program. More
Farm News Publishes Tribute to Elwynn Taylor
A tribute to Elwynn Taylor, who served ISU’s agronomy department as an Extension climatologist for 40 years, was published in a recent edition of Farm News. Taylor retired in January 2019. More
Calendar
Sept. 11: Green Dot, Bystander Training
The CALS Office for Diversity Programs will host a Cultural Competency Learning Series workshop on Green Dot, Bystander Training on Sept. 11 from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in 1330 ATRB. Green Dot at ISU aims to decrease power-based personal violence on campus by using education, outreach and development as mechanisms for increasing awareness and competency around bystander intervention skills. Lunch will be provided. Please register online.
Sept. 17: CALS Fall Convocation
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Fall Convocation is Sept. 17 at 4:10 p.m. in the Memorial Union Pioneer Room. The program will include brief comments from Dean Dan Robison. Faculty and staff honorees from the 2019 awards program will be recognized. (The awards program originally scheduled for Jan. 30 was cancelled due to the closing of the university due to inclement weather.) Also, a medallion ceremony will be held for Kristine Tidgren, the Leonard Dolezal Professor in Agricultural Law. A wine and cheese reception will follow.
Communications Kiosk
Cement vs. Concrete
Cement is the powder mixed with water and sand or gravel to make concrete. The proper term is concrete (not cement) pavement, blocks, driveways, etc. (Associated Press Stylebook, 2018 edition, pg. 46)
Infograzing
Faculty User Labs Aug. 20-22 for Workday: Check them Out
To support new and returning faculty as they begin to explore Workday, six Faculty User Labs are available this week, Aug. 20-22, in different locations around campus. During these sessions, faculty are encouraged to bring real work to process using the live Workday system. Proctors will be available to assist with navigation, provide job aids and answer questions. Important: All attendees need to bring laptops (to access Workday), and cell phones (for Okta verification). Dates and more information is available online.
ISU Announces “Don’t Cancel that Class” Initiative
Several ISU offices have joined together to implement the “Don’t Cancel that Class” Initiative. Faculty and staff expecting to miss one or more class periods during the semester due to professional or personal reasons can request a presentation in their absence. More than 30 presentation options are available, including how to build a resume, career exploration and how to create a budget. More
Celebrating STEM at Blank Park Zoo
Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines is hosting a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math event on Sept. 12 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The event will focus on introducing students to different STEM careers. Activities are designed for K-5th graders. Admission is free, but participants must register to attend as space is limited. 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.